The herald., 1898-10-25
WHISKY AND GAS
DESPONDENT JANITOR DETER
MINED TO DIE
DRUNK AND DESPERATE
First Failure by the Gas Route, Then
Two Efforts at Strangulation.
Still He Is Not Happy

Made desperate by drink, and despondentt
over his discharge from employment, Daniel
Hicks, a janitor of the B'nai Birth taber-
nacle, corner of Hope and Ninth streets,
made an unsuccessful attempt yesterday
afternoon to take his life. He endeavored to
asphyxiate himself in the temple, but was
discovered in time and his life saved. Hicks
was, however, desperate, and intent upon
shutting off this mortal coil, tor when ne re-
gained consciousness in the receiving hos
pital five hours after he was found IN the
tabernacle, he tried to hang himself with
the bedclothes, but was prevented by the
attendants.
Hicks has been employed by H. Malinow,
the sexton of the tabernacle, as assistant,
his duties being to clean the church and care
for the lawn. Hicks has been employed 1or
two years and had proved a faithful man,
though it was known he had tendency to
drink On account of this weakness he was
given no money for his labor, but was pro
vided with room inside the church build
ing, clothes, tobacco and whatever articles
he desired, by Nalinow. For some weeks,
however, Hicks has had the political bee
buzzing around his bonnet, and has devoted
much of his spare time to laboring IN the
good of one of the parties. HIS pollticai
friends had represented that he would be
given employment at Nestlake park or
some other public institution. as gardener.
Hicks fell into the habit of drinking while
he was doing politics" like many another
He was enabled to crafty his appetite tor
in addition to the regular church work he
had received employment from private
family to water the lawn and take care OF
the flowers, being given S. a month for thus.
He had been warned by his employer against
spreeing. and for time braced up. but last
Monday, when he received his pay, Hicks
could not restrain his appetite any longer
and began to drink heavily. He was told
by MIR. Malinow that he could look else
where for employment. This appeared to
depress the man greatly, but instead OF try
ing to regain the good graces OF the sexton
by SOLDERING up Hicks continued drinking.
Hicks had gradually become morose, and
yesterday he determined to take ms life.
He wrote note to Alalinow and lett 1t at
the house, saying that he was tired OF living
and disgusted with the way he had abused
the friendship of the sexton. and asked ev-
ervbody to forgive him for what he was
about to do. He then went to the north
end of the tabernacle, on the second floor,
and locked himself in the study OF Rabb;
Solomon. He first closed all OF the windows
and then turned on the two gas Jets and the
burner of the gas stove, stretching himself
on the floor by the side of the stove, close
room and no doubt Hicks was soon over
come, for there was no evidence of strug-
Gle to escape. The farewell note was discov-
cred by Mrs Malinow and her daughter,
and naturally they became alarmed and in
stituted search for the janitor. He was not
in his room, but detecting the fumes OF
escaping gas the women hurried to the door
of the study and finding it locked guessed
the cause. The police were notified and OF
ficers Mckenzie and Richardson sent with
the patrol wagon to the church.
Richardson tried to get into the room
but finally had to climb through window
from the roof of Malinow's house. Hicks
was unconscious, but the officers removed
him to the wagon and he was hurriedly
driven to the receiving hospital. DIR. Hagan
went to work and soon had the man out OF
danger. Hicks regained consciousness, but
was not sufficiently sober to give much eN-
planaton of the reason for his act. He said
that he would turn on the gas yet, evidently
meaning that he would try to end his life
by the same method.
Early in the evening, while the attendants
were not watching him, Hicks arose and
grabbing towel wound it around his neck
and tried to strangle himself He was dis
covered by one of the TRUSTEES and the towel
taken from him. Soon after while Dr.
Hagan. was in the hospital. Hicks tried to
strangle himself with the sheets of the bed
but they were rescued from his clutches
after struggle. Hicks said he was dis
gusted at the way he had acted and wanted
to die. DR.. Hagan said the man was suffer
ing as much from the effects of whisky as
the fumes of gas, and he would be sent to
the county hospital today. Hicks is about
80 years of age and has no family residing
in Los Angeles.