The herald., 1898-06-23

earn some money with which to enable her
to take climatic change.
Some months ago he applied for and was
granted furlough by the governor at the
Soldiers Home, and came to this city to
pursue his profession. Like many another
good man, -Whittemore had great difficulty
in getting work, and, instead of being able
to amass funds to- send to- his wife, he
was able, during the last seven months,
to exc out seldom more than S. per week,
not enough for his own needs. He had
been working for John Austin, the archi-
tect in the California Bank building. Bust
ness became dull, however, SO Whittemorc
was laid off Stree then he has been work.
ing for Reese Llewellyn and others, taking
such odd jobs in his line as they had to
place at his disposal
Tired of the struggle. he finally decided to
give up the fight and return to the Soldiers
Home. He had another bugaboo at home,
in the person Of his landlady. Mrs. H. $.
Potts, with whom he had been boarding,
at 1920 South Main street. He had got in
arrears $780, and Mrs. Potts began dun
ming him for the money Finally she sue
ceeded, so he claimed, in getting hold of
SIS in money and his architectural papers.
'
and served to increase his dependency.
Last Monday he called on Mr.. Austin and
spoke about the demands of Mrs. Potts.
and told Austin that he guessed he could
not make go of it with his profession M
Los Angeles and would return to the home
His troubles preyed upon his mind. and
he evidently determined to try to end his
exis .ence. He had grown very melancholy
during the months he was practically ont
of employment, and had determined to kill
himself unless he saw some way out of
his trouble. Yesterday morning he decided
that the game was not worth the candle,
and attempted his life.
He retired about the usual time Tuesday
night and slept but little. Early in the
morning he arose, and, taking an old-fash-
toned derringer, of Al caliber, loaded the
weapon. Then lying in bed he placed the
muzzle of the gun against his heart, as he
supposed, and pulled the trigger. He had
misiudged the location Of that organ, and
the bullet did not kill him. He coolly
arose, reloaded the weapon. and. placing
the gun once more against his breast, fired
Even this second attempt proved unsuc-
cessful, and Whittemore sank back on the
bed almost too weak to move. He was
about to try third time, but his strength
proved unequal to his will power, and he
was found gasping on the bed by the
frightened people about the house who had
been alarmed by the shots and hurried into
his room.
The police station was notified and the
patrol wagon sent for the injured man.
He was taken to the receiving hospital,
where DR.. Hagan attended him. 1t was
found that both bullets had passed through
the left lung, one about an inch and half
below the heart and the other an inch and
a half below the first wound. The bullets
were located under the skin close to the
spinal column, having passed clear through
the body.
Whittemore said that the disgrace of
trouble with his landlady and his other
miseries had led him to attempt his life,
and that he was sorry that he had not COM
pleted the work. He expressed the wish
that his body be buried with those of form
err comrades in the Soldiers Home ceme-
terry, and not in the potter's field.