The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-02

Halls Of Congress.
SANTA ROSA. Feb. Thomas l..
Thompson, eX-MiniSter to Brazil, eX-
Congressman, ex-Secretary of State
and one of the most prominent Demo
Gratis in California. died by his own
hand while laboring under temporary
insanity this morning.
For several days he had been subject
to decisions and had worried over his
business affairs until he imagined he
as III serious trouble. Not only that.
but he had come to imagine that many
CID friends were now unfriendly to him.
which was very pronounced evidence
of his insanity, for no man in Sonoma
County had more friends. For the past
few days his mental condition had
been asmatter Of the g1avest solicitude,
although at intervals he seemed per-
fectly sane. His family exercised close
surveillance over him While he was Ia
boring under these temporary delu-
sons.
Yesterday he was down town and
called on several old friends, some OF
them remarking that he did not act
just right
Realizing his condition, Mrs. Thomp-
son sent for his brother. Robert a.
Thompson, on Saturday, and after that
time Robert was in the house constant
y with the ex-Minister.
This morning Mr.. Thompson arose
earlier than usual and went to the
room Of his brother Robert, asking the
latter. If he We're sure certain business
Il artaofnn
Robert assured him that the matter
was all right and Thompson then went
10 breakfast as usual. After the meal
he said he wanted to go to the toilet
room. His brother Robert said he
would go with him. but was deferred
by member of the family, who said
there was no necessity for such action.
AS Thompson went into the room il is
supposed he took ap bowie knife
which had been given him as souvenir.
Shortly after one of the family heard
him making peculiar sounds. and IL.
seemed as If the ex-Minister was Tom-
iting. One of his children went to the
door, when Thompson shut It and
turned the key in the lock. The next
moment the family heard his body fall.
When the door was opened the ex-
Minister was found dead in the room.
He had severed the jugular vein with
the knife and death must have been al
most instantaneous.
His widow and children are COM
pletely Frustrated by the awful event,
while the whole city is in deep gloom
over the sad death of one of its most
prominent and deeply beloved citizens.
A few days ago Thompson. who was q
Mason attended the funeral of Major
George c. futile. and when he returned
home he made several remarks which
y ere among the first expressions lead
ing his family to believe he was men
tally unbalanced After that time the
SPELLS of dependency and temporary
insanity became more pronounced until
the time Of his death this morning. The
fatal deed was done about $50 o'clock.
Mr.. Thompson leaves a widow and a
large family, consisting of his daugh-
ters. Mrs E. L. Whpple. Frances, Ethel
and Grace and his son. HUE Thompson.
The last named is now in the diplomatic
service at Rio Janeiro, Brazil
Thomas L. Thompson. had he lived
until May 31st, this year would have
been 80 years old. He was born in
Kanawha County. Virginia (Now West
virginia. At II years of age he en-
tered the office Of the West Virgin
fan" a paper published at Chatterton,
where he learned the printers trade.
He attended school at the Buffalo
Academy. in Putnam County He work
ed for time as a compositor on the
San Francisco Herald but afterward
located at Petaluma. establishing there
the Petaluma journal" In 1876 he
sold that paper and returned to work
on the San Francisco Herald. Two
years later he was appointed to a clerk
shin in the San Francisco Postoffice I'M
der c. l.. Weller.
In 1860 he quit work in the Postoftice
and came to Santa Rosa, where he
bought the "Sonoma Democrat" which
he conducted till 1866. when he sold It
to Peabody. Ferral & Co. He then
moved TO Solano County. where he pub
rshed the "Solano Democrat" and the
Vallejo Daily Independent"
In 1871 he returned to this city, re-
purchased the "Sonoma Democrat,
and established the first steam printing
house i'm Sonoma County. In 1919 he
started the Santa Rosa Daily Demo-
GRAFT which he continued TO own until
October 9th last. when he sold the pa
per 10 r. l.. Finley. c. Q. Dunbar and
G. O. Richards. proprietors of the
Evening Press OF this city, who. with
]. p. Overton and w ID. Reynolds. con-
stitute the company now publishing the
.Press- Democrat" of this city.
Mr.. Thompson always took vigorous
mart in the politics of this State. He
was elected Secretary of State under
Governor Stoneman. and in 1880 was
elected 10 Congress from the First Dis
trict. serving with distinction for one
term. He then returned here and re-
sunled the personal control and man
arement of the Democrat again. In
1892 he was appointed Minister to Bra
zil by President Cleveland. serving UNI
I'll a few months ago. when he volun-
+arily retired. He returned here last
cenfember. the event of his home-com-
ing being signalized by big celebra-
ton by leading citizens. irrespective OF
thk.;r political faith. Since that time
and the sale OF his paper he has been
irving here with his family.
The deceased was the third son OF