The San Francisco call., 1898-02-13
DIED FROM
 OPIUM IN
 THE BOWERY Young Henry Church May Have Taken
 His Life. Tragic Ending of a Man Who Made History
 in Oakland. After His Divorce He Went East and Started
 Business.
HAD FOUR STRENGTHENS.
Married Young Actress, but Was Divorced Short Time
 Afterward.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
90S Broadway, Feb. 12.

908 Broadway, Feb. 12
 From a home of wealth and luxury to death in the lowest of Bowery sa- looms in New York, Is the fate of John Henry Church Jr., who ten years ago was one of the best-known young men in this city.
 Probably no family on either coast has had more romance and tragedy in- jected in their history than that of the Churches of this city. John Henry Church Sr is now resident of San Francisco, is in poverty, and word has just been received that short time ago his favorite son either died from the effects of or committed suicide by talk ing morphine.
 At the time of his death the New York papers declared that there was "a mystery on the Bowery." A we'll dressed young man took room at the Klondike lodging house, 359 Bowery, and for two days did not go out. At the end of that time the door was forced open, and the dead body of the man was found on the floor by chair, upon which were syringe and a vial containing morphine. He had regis tered as Thomas McCarty, but an in- vestigation of his clothing showed that his name was either J. H. Church or G.. H. Granville. After the body was taken to the morgue Granville was discov- cred, and little later the dead man was recognized as Church. His step- father, Stephen Van Court of Mt. Yer non, made the Identification. Mrs. Van Court, young Church's mother, was formerly one of the five wives of J. H. Church, the wealthy saloon man of this city.
 About ten years ago young Henry, contrary to his fathers wish, married a young actress, who was then em- ployed at the Golden Gate Music Hall in this city, an institution which has long passed into history. Their mar ried life was short and unhappy, and young Church secured a divorce.
 Some time later Henry was arrested for an alleged theft of a watch and was sentenced by Judge Wallace to twenty years imprisonment. A new trial, however, was grant ed him, and his mother, Mrs Van Court, who had always maintain ed correspondence with young Henrys divorced wife, sent out 5000 to pro- vide for her sons defense. He was en- abled to procure attorneys and at his second trial was acquitted.
 After this incident young Henry went to New York, where his mother set him up in business, and for some time he had been doing tolerably we'll He had, however, contracted the habit of using morphine, and three days be- fore his death he disappeared from home, and, as developments showed he had gone to the room on the Bow cry under an assumed name either for the purpose of having a morphine de- bauch or taking his life. Whether his death was accidental or intentional is still matter of doubt.
 Young Church's father Is perhaps the most-married man in California. Years ago he started his matrimonial career, and at that time ne was said to be worth $200, 900. Periodically he has been divorced and married until he has had five or six wives. In nearly every instance a separation took place only in conjunction with the giving of a handsome sum to the aggrieved wife. consequently each time Church mar ried he was poorer than when he last appeared before the altar. Both he and his son have from variety of reasons been before the courts in this city and San Francisco as much as any two members of one family ever were.
 Young Henry's former wife is now living in this city, having been married to very worthy man.