The San Francisco call., 1904-07-19
Body Found in Lonely Spot
Is Identified as That of
DR.. Charles f. Hill, a
Los Angeles 0SteOpath
PICTURE RECOGNIZED
BY MRS. NJ. L. BURIAL
Conflicting Theories of Muir
der and Suicide Prevail,
With Many Facts That
Suggest Case of Foul Play
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
1915 Broadway, July is.

Oakland once san FRANCISCO Cali,
1915 Broadway, July is.
The body recovered from the Pied
mont hills Saturday night was to-day
identified as that Of Dr. Charles F. Hill
Of Los Angeles.
The identification was made by Mrs.
NJ. L. Burial Of 614 Sixteenth street,
but the mystery of the death is un-
solved. Theories Of murder and Of
suicide prevail
The investigation has been under
taken by the Sheriff Of Alameda Coun-
~, and Under Sheriff ]. ]. Hanifin Jr.
has been placed in charge. To-day he
made a complete search Of the desolate
location where the body was found.
Marks on the hill side as if a body
might have been dragged down were
discovered.
Mrs. Burial says she recognized the
picture Of the deceased in the morn
ing papers and that she Immediately
visited the Morgue. where she identified
the body. She says there is no doubt
that the man who was found in
the creek at the base of the Piedmont
hills is her late lodger, DR.. Charles
r. Hill, who came here six weeks ago
seeking a location, but whose quest
was unsuccessful.
Hill went 10 Mrs. Burran's house and
rented a room for one month and at
the expiration Of that time expressed
his desire 10 depart from Oakland. He
was a man OF quiet disposition, de-
parting from his room about o'clock
in the morning and returning home
a bout in the evening. He seldom spoke
10 any one, and had few visitors. His
occupation was given as that Of an
osteopath physician and little atten-
tion was paid TO his affairs
PAID RENT AHEAD.
One week ago yesterday Dr.
Hill informed Mrs. Burial that
he could not depart on the date he
had stated and paid his rent until to-
day. He was seen 10 return home last
Tuesday evening and to take his de-
parture on Wednesday morning After
that time, and until his body was iden-
tfed, nothing was seen Of him.
There is much conjecture as 10 the
cause of death. The physicians who
performed the autopsy are positive
the man could not have shot himself.
as the bullet passed in at the base
Of the skull and lodged in the center
Of the frontal bone. The theory of
murder is also sustained by the fact
that the hat Of the deceased was found
some distance from the spot where his
body lay, and that the body was COW
cred NTH f,-s 1, 1.
Gently cut from trees in the vicinity.
On an embankment six feet high and
sbove the body We're marks as Of the
dragging Of some object It remains
for the investigation now started to
prove whether the physician was
dragged over this embankment after
being the victim Of murder. or whether
his body toppled into the gully in the
event that he committed suicide
No PISTOL FOUND.
One point strongly in favor Of the
murder theory is the fact that the pis-
tol has not been found. Under Sheriff
Hsnifn and DR.. o. D. Hamlin caused
the creek in which the body was found
10 be drained to-day. but found no
trace Of a weapon. If the case is one
0f suicide the weapon may rest in the I
deep underground nearby, but this is
improbable. Death must have been in
stantaneous.
There was slight sinseing Of the
hair, but there were no powder burns
leaving it probable that the pistol was
held some distance from the body
when fred. The circumstance also that
the body was covered with freshly
cut twigs eXcites the authorities to sus-
picion. but what viii result from il all
can only be told by the action of the
sheriff's Office. The body was discov-
cred outside the city limits and the
Chief Of Police Of this city cannot as
sumo charge Of the matter
No HINTS OF SUICIDE.
The property Of the deceased physi-
clan remains at his lodgings on Six
tCenth street and nothing WAS found