The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-20

tragic ending of her life and the reasons
and motives assigned for the act are not
clear, There remain features Of the case
of which as yet nothing certain can be
learned, and which will not be known
until they are disclosed at the Coroner 5
inquest, set for Monday next.
Lillian Brandes was the only daughter
of William A. Brandes, 1924 Telegraph
avenue. The father, who works as a pa
trolman and nightwatchman for the resi-
dence portion of East Berkeley, returned
as usual from his night duties about 6
O. clock this morning. Soon after return
ing he was awakened by his wife, who
had heard unusual and mysterious sounds
from the basement, where their daughter
had her room. Dressing hastily, he hur-
ried downstairs, only to find the tragedy
already enacted and his childs life abso-
lutely beyond recovery.
There in a small square room, scantily
furnished, hanging to a bedpost in one
corner was the body of the girl The de-
tails of self-execution were perfectly SIM
pie. A rope had been improvised from
two kitchen aprons. This was tied around
the neck and the top of the post. The
spring had been made, apparently, from
the bed to the floor, causing death by
strangulation. The girl was still in her
night robe, with feet dragging slightly or
the f1oor. knees resting against the bed
side the body partly on the bed, the left
cheek touching the edge OF the post; NO
disorder whatever marked the condition
of the room; it was quite neat and tidy.
Dr. G. #. Whitworth was summoned
Immediately, but the young girls life was
beyond meoIcal aid.
ter's suicide was prompted by her own
peculiar disposition and temperament. He
said this morning: Il feared at first that
Lillian had used Strychnine before doing
what she did In order to be sure that the
terrible deed should succeed. But the
doctor finds no symptoms or traces OF the
OH
which she brought with her from the
country She was a girl of queer disposi-
ton and used to talk once in while of
taking her own life.
"She was morbidly fond of sensational
stories and would pore. over, newspaper
articles about Mrs. Botkin and Durie Hell
thier. She had mania MIA for e{ P,oisonlng
ed, so that we did not think of sending
her to school. She was to have left this
afternoon for visit to her aunt in Mon
terey = with whom she has often stayed
before"
the girls life in Berkeley was not of the
happiest, and the reticence both of the
Coroner and the attending physician
points to facts which may give a different
coloring to the story story; Several OF the ne
which they have been disturbed by cries
and sounds Of blows coming from
Brandes house.
Last Wednesday evening about o'clock
two young men, Louis Long and Jim Nc
Keown, were seated on the porch of the
house of w. J. Richardson, next door to
where Lillian Brandes this morning end
ed her life. They were startled by sounds
as of a child being beaten and cries of
'Oh, don't, don't" and child's voice
pleading for mercy. A man was heard
indulging in violent oaths and curses AS
the trouble went on the child was seen to
fan downstairs, the man following after,
continuing the blows and curses in the
basement
The day. following neighbors. noticed the
girl searching for something in the yard.
A mans voice was heard to exclaim. IF
you don't find that money I'll choke you. "
Later, in the day r. J. Wright, driver of
the Dwight-way Bakery wagon. came to
the door, and the girl begged him pitifully
to lend her a dollar: as she, had been
threatened severely if she failed to ind
the money she was looking for.
These stories will be repeated at the
Coroner's inquest to be held Monday The
night. When seen this evening, DIR. Whit
worth would say little about the state in
which the girls body was. found upon ex-
animation. He discovered quite a severe
cash on the right cheek, Commissions on
the knees and several bruises upon diff
ferent parts of the body, but as to the ex-
tent or nature of the latter he would say
not IN