The San Francisco call., 1904-06-17
HIS HEART WAS BROKEN.


man that he was.
HIS HEART WAS BROKEN.
He let no one know that his heart
was broken, but set about quietly TO ar
range his affairs preparatory to leaving
the world. He wrote a touching letter to
his younger brother. Robert Aspden.
and left all he had to his father. To
Coroner Leland he addressed letter
that tested with death, and named the
cause as temporary insanity.
A note sent to Miss Hadenfeldt the
night before he died hinted at his in
tention, and she telephoned the police.
A search was made for him, but when
found he lay under a tree in the park
with a bullet in his heart.
The following missive from Miss Ha-
denfeldt was found in Aspden's room;
Dear George: I have thought over all that
has happened and have come TO this conclusion
1 am going to do my work and only that l
shall pay all my debts and feel honorable l
hone when that Is done. OF other matters
will not talk I am mentally In no condition,
and II 1 am 20 do my work must have rest
for I shall send you one-half OF each week
salary after expenses are paid, and this money,
with your own salary, should give you enough
to work with. 10 further your own ambitions
/ hope Mr. Brady will look at that play
Mr. Bert said they would with pleasure 10
your work and 1 Will do mine. and there VIII
be great loss. Anyhow, the future VIII hold
wonders in store. 50 do not give up; but hold
TO your hopes and desires. AS feel now, my
work is uppermost and feel ought to do IL
and not have any regrets In the future There
has been so much expended that feel II Is not
right TO leave IL unfinished. I hope you are
Sincerely JOAN.
p s.I have secured a good. thorough cleo
trican. who can satisfactorily manage all.
Aspden was a native of England, 81
years old. He leaves a stepdaughter 10
Old faf q
gon and a brother. Robert j. Aspden,
employed in a downtown business
house.
JOKES WITH CORONER
The following letter was written by
Aspden to the Coroner:
June IS 1904
Dr. Leland Coroner San Francisco
Dear Sir: AS one may not take even one
own life without rendering account unto the
law / leave you this explanation OF my deed.
I know II viii be as much OF a bore 10 you as
Il is TO me, but II Is the traditional theory that
one might as well be dead out Of fashion
For the benefit OF your esteemed jurors, and
in order that they may get home TO dinner or
TO their several and various pursuits as soon as
possible after being dragged forth TO SIT on me
for which inconvenience / am sure i beg
their collective pardons (you yourself are paid
for this sort OF thing)-let US all agree that u
was due to "despondency over long illness.
or wouldn't temporary insanity perhaps do
better? Yes. let's agree that IT was tempo
even II Il doesn't please the curious The real
cause-if there should happen TO be the usual
suspicion that there is another reason-is no
ones affair but my own. / shall consider Il an
impertinent and a gross and ungentemanly
breach of the faith that 1 am reposing in you
all II YOU should cause trouble or sorrow TO
any one who knew me in life by attempting TO
probe deeper. ] can assure you, but never
mind-we have already agreed on temporary
insanity" whose-doesn't matter either.
II life were only as simple as death and as
attractive. what a bright old world II would
be- Respectfully. GEORGE II. ASPDEN-
This pathetic missive was left for
Robert Aspden. the younger brother of
the journalist:
Dear Old Dobbin: We've lived a strange
life YOU and l. what matter the endf I'm
sorry l can't leave you more. but haven't IL
now AS I came into the hotel watched You
strolling leisurely down the street with a boon
companion. head high. shoulders squared, look
ing the part no matter what you felt That's
the way, Live up TO your own estimate OF
yourself and make that estimate high. It
only when you're beaten that it's hard TO act
Give my salary--there is some still due me-to
dad The watch-my mothers gift 70 me
keep. and with II all else you may ind was
possessed Of God knows il isn't much now
Be good fellow; live your life well and
happily and give my love 10 all who may care
for IL. More lovingly than ever in this last
hour BROTHER JUD.