Amador ledger., 1904-11-04
FLOATING IN THE BAY.
John Holtz Commits Suicide.

A message was received in jackson
last Saturday by John Strohm, stating
that John Holtz, an old and well
known resident of Jackson, had COM
mitted suicide by jumping in the bay
of San Francisco. The S. F. Chronicle
of Oct. % contained the following. sup
posed to refer to Holtz, but which still
left the matter involved in uncertainty
The bodies of two men were found
floating in the bay yesterday between
Fort Mcdowell and the fog bell, and
were taken charge of by Coroner Saw
yer of San Rafael One of them, ap-
parently German about 60 years of
age, had been in the water about two
days. In his pockets were found pipe,
knife and tobacco, and clipping from
local paper recording the death OF
Bernard Hoffman, who committed sui
eide at the Ainsley apartment house on
October 23d.
The following communication from
G.. A. Waltenspiel, druggist on Stock
ton street, formerly of Jackson, who
was we'll acquainted with Holtz, clears
up the mystery. The letter was ac-
companied by the above clipping from
the Chronicle;
The body of the German was identi-
fed by John Tampcke and wife of San
Francisco, with whom he at one time
lived, as that of John Holtz, former
resident of Jackson. John Holtz called
on John Tampcke Oct. %, and re-
quested him to take charge of his
trunk, which was at the Hum boldt
House, and to use anything in it he
wished. He was acting strangely at
| the time, but the next night he took
dinner with John Tampcke and family.
He was broke aud asked Mr.. Tampcke
to loan him 50. He gave him So, and
| would have given him more if requested.
On Oct. 25th, in the afternoon, John
HOltz called on me at the laboratory on
Stockton street. | instantly noticed a
queer. look in his eyes. After a few
minutes conversation Holtz asked
about the effect of carbOlic acid as a
poison. When asked why he wanted
| to know, said he had read of man
who had committed suicide by taking
it, at the same time showing the clip
ping which afterward led to his identi-
fication. The clipping was read and
returned to HOltZ, who put it in his
pocket. Holtz spoke of other poisons,
but the replies he got no doubt caused
| him to use the means be did instead of
the one contemplated to end his exist
ence. l remarked to some of my men
that Holtz would commit suicide, and
we watched the papers with the result
stated. The act was undoubtedly pre-
meditated, and the cause, lack of funds,
is the opinion of his local friends who
were interviewed. l notified Chief of
Police Whitman of my suspicious when
the body was found. Chief Whitman,
having known John Holtz, interested
himself in the case, with the result that
proper Identification was made and the
| friends of John Holtz know his end.
The deputy coroner of Marin county
came to the city and opened the trunk
belonging to Holtz, but found nothing
in it OF sufficient value to take away.
Holtz was thought to be worth con-
siderable property-enough to keep
him comfortable in his declining days.
This, however, is NOT borne out by
facts so far as known. Deceased was
pioneer of AmadOr county. For the
past few years he has moved between
Jackson, San Francisco and other
points, just as his fancy dictated, with
out any permanent home or occupa-
tion. This mode of life may have ex-
hausted his funds. 1t is reported that
friends who have seen him recently
noticed that he acted queerly, indicat-
ing mental alteration. He leaves no
relatives in Amador county.