The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-26
He Had Been Drinking Heavtiy-
Writes q Farewell Letter to HIS
wife. saying He Could Not Give
Tn whisky, and Would End Ii All

tense with each recurrence. He complain
ed Friday evening OF beng Ill. Coroner
Sgarilng ard his deputy, DR.. VIII Powers,
say there Is not the slightest evidence TO
show suicide. but they did not know about
the letter.
/. is probable that the coroner vii. hold
a post rnorsem examination tomorrow af-
ternoon at Bonney & Stewards morgue TO
determine accurately the cause OF death.
kilograms have been received by the pO-
lice from the department Of Los Angeles
asking for information concerning Cover
death.
II was supposed at the New England ho-
tel that Mrs. colver was in Everett, while
as a matter OF fsaet she was AZ the North
eru hotel. and thought her husband was
in Everett Owing 10 The general n.sun-
Outstanding. 4 was not until after 5 o'clock
last evening that the wife learned OF her
husband death.
MIR. and Mrs. Co,ver arrived in Seattle
three weeks ago. and took rooms at the
Northern. At that tinic cir. Cover was
sober. Before nigh. came he was under
the influence Of liquor. II was the begin
for whisky and then asked his wife for
her purse. she pleaded with him. and did
everything In her power TO bring him TO
his senses. Her efforts were unayaiing.
Little by little her money went. and finally
she pawned her wedding ring. COVER took
the money and spent It.
Abused His Wife.
week ago yesterday Coiyer was forbid
den the hotel because he had abused his
wife, beaten her, it was said, and the hotel
people were afraid he might become still
more desperate. Mrs. Cover remained at
the hotel. her baggage being pledged as Sc
curity for the bill OF both herself and hus-
band.
away from the flowing bowl and took him
for a long walk. He had business AT Esv-
erett, and 1t was settled that he was to
go there the next morning on the Grey
Mound. His wife accompanied him 20 the
New England hotel, where he took a room
and lay down. The next morning Mrs.
Co.yer went 20 the boat, expecting 20 NEE,
her husband. He was not there. She did
not ind him during the day. and as he
did not send word 10 her she concluded
ne must be in Everett.
AL this tine Mr.. co,yer was in Seattle
Friday afternoon he complained OF being
unwell, and drank settler lemonades.
Weir, manager OF the hotel. visited him
in his room. Mr.. Cnlyer said he was suffer
ing from pains In ms abdomen. There was
nothing in his talk TO indicate that hts
condition was serious.
Yesterday morning Mr. Weir started
up stairs to see Mr.. Coiver. On the way
he met the porter. who was coming down
stairs three steps a, a jump. mfr. Colver
is dead gasped the porter Mr.. Weir
hurried to the room and found Mr.. Colver
lying on his back cold and stiff. Life had
lef; the body several hours previous
Deputy Coroner VIII Powers invest
gated. There was not a thing in the
room to Indicate that death was due 10
other than natural causes The dead man
possessed neither money nor Jeweiry and
only two letters were found in his clothes.
One related to business he had at Everett.
and the other was from the San Francisco
Call inS.ructing him to go TO Sacramento
from, Los Angeles to report the legislative
proceedings The body was removed to
Bonney 4 S,ewartis undertaking rooms as
it was understood at the hotel that AIRS.
Culver had gone to Everett
Inst Letter His Wife.
In the meantime she was at the North-
ern hotel only two blocks from the New
England waiting to hear from her hus-
band, whom she believed to be In Everett
Although Mrs. 1olver refused to talk
about letters il is known positively ina.
her husband left one in a box at the
Northern hotel which had reached her
last night. In il he said that he was gong
TO kill himself. The letter indicated taat
he realized his inability to reform and
thought he might as We'll end hts life. IL
he followed out his plan as h.s death in
dicates. he was careful 10 do away with
traces OF the poison.
Although Mg. Cover was only IS years
old he had lived twice that number IN
experience. He was born In Toledo Ohio
but had lived in California about fourteen
years. His home. during the greater pa-c
OF that time. was In Los Angeles. where
his father resides. He first won notorlety
in connection with a weekly newspaper
and politics. Finally he became reporter
the Los Angeles Times, Whisky
papers in the state and was discharged
the cause being whisky first ana last. He
took the gold cure twice and on each oc-
cas.on fell into his old habits trying to
sess the virtue OF the cure. tie became a
victim OF ep!lept3c hts, which increased
in Intensity every time he went on q
spree.
On one occasion after Il prolonged spree
ne appealed 10 sis friends and asked tia.
be he put under legal restraint, ne had
lost all faith In the so-calsed cures FOR the
la% <rsn 10 at hxA 49,.
sent To the state hospital at Highlands
Los Angeles. and there he remained some
months being released at his own request
and being apparently cured. In petition
ing for his release cover said that If kept
longer among the CRATES ne would go
crazy himself.
Trying to he Man.
Following his release from the ASYLUM
be VAS sober for about TWO years. Pregi-
; Gus 10 the conventions last fail be answer
ed his critics who mentioned his failing
ard life ia the hospital in editorial in
tire Capital. a weekly paper. He told the
whole story OF how he went there. and
took the position that Il was wrong tn
taHnT him iong he was trying TO
make man OF himself
The San Francisco Call finally gave him
employment in Los Angeles When shsa
state conventions were held at Sacrament
To last NJ pteSslasr he was sent there After
the conventions he went on q spree nat
sohered up ard returned to Les Angeles
y here he married Miss Claire L. Jesfnssry
octos~r < soon no was drinking again
HTS wsfe vert cat hunting fer him. and
would lead him herue. Epsieptis fits re-
came snora common One day last DE
center re came home one night intaxf-
Gated ara wegl; IL bed. He had So when
be LET. hoTue during the dag. Mrs. Solver
p&ekad GD his Clothes to see what be had
test He became enrsAxed and fred ;hre~.
shots al her. she escaped by doaglng be.
hind a trunk
When tfae legislature ne. Coiear was
se0s There ga report IT. He waS doing fine
work unfli re commences drinking Then
he was discharged. Subsequently hc cine
To Seattle.