The evening world., 1904-06-08
Man Who Registered as W. C.
Parker, of San Francisco, at
BarthoIti, and Who Was
Found Dead, Is Harvard Man.
THEORY THAT HE
ENDED HIS LIFE.
Had Been in Financial Straits,
and Is Said to Have Notified
an Insurance Company of His
Intention to Die.

II has been discovered that tho ''W.
c. Parker San Francisco" who was
found dead In a room In tho Bnr.-
tholdi Hotel on Sunday morning was
Walter Basil Packer, a graduate OF
Harvard University and n member Of
the Bohemian and Pacific clubs, OF
San francisco. two of the most ex-
elusive clubs on the Pacific coast.
Packer was prominen: In legal circles
in San Francisco'beforec coming to New
York year ago. During his stay In
this city he lived in and about West
Eighticth street, his last residence be
ing Mo. l32 West Eightleth street
While the remains were lying at the
Stephen Merritt Burial Companys
rooms two prominent professional men
from the west side. who had known
and entertained Packer. called ana
Identified the body as that of their
friend. They protested against the Gre
nation which had been ordered. and
said the body would be claimed by rela-
lives.
Yelled Woman Calls.
Later n heavily-veiled woman called
at the undertaking rooms. She was
said to be Mrs. Packer. and was ac-
companied by young man, whom she
introduced as n cousin of Packer. She
gave directions for the body to he
buried in Kenslco Cemetery to-day.
The Coroner's physician who examined
the body found the stomach to be in n
raw condition. induced by some agency
with which he was not familiar. The
stomach Is being chemically Analysed
Packer was Of n pleasing disposition
and made many friends. For six months
after his residence on the west side he
introduced his wife to several now
friends. Six months ago he bald she
hal gone to Chicago to care for his
two children. who were In "A convent in
that city. All this time Mrs. Packer
was living at No. 132 West Eightieth
street
Tour or five weelns ago Packer began
to run short OF funds. He complained
that his remLttances were not arriving
with sufficient rapidlty. but he refused
to accept aid. 10 the proprietor of n
cafe he visited every day, however. he
that he was in sore fnan-
cla1 straits
Forced 10 borrow Money.
He borrowed money from this man
ror the purpose of going to Philadel-
phia to settle some legal business. He
said he would return on Thursday. On
Saturday he walked into the Bartholdi
Hotel and registered as wv. C. Parker. !
San Francisco" He was found dead in |
bed the next morning.
II Is known that lie carried consid- |
srable insurance on his life, but to |
whom he left 1t in the policies is not |
yet known. That he notified an insur- |
ance company Of his intent to die was
evidenced by the fact that a represen- |
ative Of the company called upon Mrs.
Packer and also informed the propr4- |
stor OF the cafe from whom Packer had |
borrowed money for his Philadelphia
Tip.
Packers business was a mystery. To |
his friends he said ne was engaged in
! legal matter that would eventually
ring him thousands of dollars He was
nnown to have been a member OF n
'arty In San Francisco that subscribed
o the tll.fated expedition in search OF
he buried treasure on Cocos Island. In
he Southern Pacific.