Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-18
OLD SOLDIER
TIRED OF LIFE.
Calvin B, Potter Takes an Overdose
OF Morphine.
COULD NOT GET A PENSION.
"soIdisr, Onieer and Gentleman" IL
" hat Be styled Bimself-"so
Fail the arave +"

After an effort of ~ years to secure
a pension for valiant services rendered
in behalf of his country in the civil
war, Calvin b. Potter soldier, OFF,
Ger and gentleman crazed by the
thought of being dependant upon the
county for support and driven to des-
pondency by III health early this
morning ended his career BY taking
o dose OF morphine, from the effects Of
which he died at about o'clock.
Three attempts had been made by the
unfortunate man TO secure a pension,
but after " years work, all hope was
abandoned
That Mr.. Potter contemplated suicide
was very clear from remarks made on
Saturday 10 County Commissioner
Anderson, and also from a letter writ
ten by him to the commissioner on the
same date, but which was not received
until this morning A little over q
month ago Mr. Potter came TO the
county commissioners for assistance
Since that time he has been provided
with meals from restaurant UP town.
The commissioners at once cores
ponded with the pension bureau with a
view to helping him secure his pension.
A reply was received and was shown to
Mr.. Potter on Saturday 1t was very
unsatisfactory and the old soldier said
to Commissioner Anderson II plainly
see that there is only one course for
me TO pursue now
After some talk ne agreed to come
In today and see the commissioners
and make out a new application for
pension. After leaving however. he
wrote Mr.. Anderson long letter
thanking him and the other commits.
sioners for their kindness and stating
In conclusion In substance that be-
tween the two doors now left open to
him, namely, death and the poor
house, an honorable soldier would not
hesitate.
In his room was found
note that read as follows: III
] should be called away, / wonder II
anyone would be so kind as to express
this package to It's address. II contains
nothing OF special value to anyone else.
Open IL II you choose and verify this:
then | wish It could be sent as add
dressed | wish | could coin my blood
into money TO recompense those who
befriended me-"
The package contains some mementos
and was addressed to Rupert p. Pot
ter, st. Joseph, Michigan, who Is sup
posed to be brother OF the dead man.
Mr.. Potter was s. years Of age and
had been married, but II is not known
whether or not his wife Is living. II
Is said that he has a son attending
Yale university He has been living In
the house Of Mrs, Agnes Peterson for
the last three years and had been pay
ing no rental for the same, having been
in poor circumstances during that per-
lod lie also had law Office in the d,
f. Walker building
His army record Is as follows, Pn-
vate company q. Eighteenth N. Y. vol
unteer infantry from June. 1861 to 1868
private company ID. Fifty-second N. Y
volunteer Infantry Sept. 1868 TO July,
1864 second lieutenant, company +,
Forty-ffth IT, =. colored troops, July,
1854 to Jan. 1865; and first lieutenant,
company |, forty-fifth U. S. coored
troops, Jan, 1866 to Nov. 1865. Total
service over four years. He had re-
,eived pension OF Sc and had made
application and been recommended, be-
caus OF III health, an increase TO $40 per
month which increase he had spent the
last ~ years In trying 10 secure, but
without success.
He was very bitter against the late
Commissioner Of Pensions Evans,
whom he said thwarthed his efforts to
secure a pension because Of the fact
that he was a Democrat he having
served as member OF the state legis-
Iature OF Michigan. In one part OF his
attack upon the pension bureau Potter
wrote; II guess there was insufficient
evidence OF physical lncapacitv So fall
the brave. Exit soldier, officer and
At about 10 o'clock last night Pot.
ter was heard walking about IN his
room, and a little later he was heard
breathing very heavily, VIII Lyon and
his brother Roy entered the room and
found him lying on his couch with an
ashen hue upon his face They al once
sent for DR.. Mayo, who used every pos
slble means to restore him but without
success, He remained unconscious to
the moment Of his death. The body
was removed 20 s. d. Evans under
taking parloTs.