The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07
CARDOzA DIES
FROM REMORSE
Embezzliag Purser Unable
to Face the Ordeal of Trial
for His Delinquencies1
ASKS FOR FORGIVENESS
Writes to His Mother and
His Wife, Assuring Them
of His Sincere Devotion

81 could never go to jail and hold
up my head again." wrote Joseph F.,
Cardoza to his aged mother.
Then he shot revolver bullet into
his heart and went before the court
of last appeal.
Cardoza had been purser' for the Pa
cific Coast Steamship Company. He
was arrested for embezzling $12s from
his EMPLOYERS while he was purser on
the steamship California. He was out
on $500 bonds and his case was on the
calendar in Judge Cabaniss court for
preliminary examination yesterday.
His sister and her husband were to
make uD the shortage to the company
and the matter would have been
dropped. but the tone Of letter writ
ten by her wounded his sensitive spirit
and he desperately risked breaking the
hearts of his loving mother and trust
full wife by making away with him
self
The tragedy took place yesterday
morning at the family residence, 1874
Page street. Cardoza's wife and Mrs.
Mary Ford We're in a back room and
Cardoza in the front room A revolver
SHOt WdS HSdTu, anu WHGu N1IS. Ford
ran to the room she found the unfortu-
nate man writhing on the floor in the
throes of death, bleeding from a wound
over the heart.
He left two letters. The first, ad-
dressed to his mother, Mrs. M j. Car
doza. Sunol Glen, reads as follows:
HARSH LETTER THE CAUSE.
May 5, 1905.-My Darling Mother:
AS I write this / know that 1 am
breaking your heart, but you know
your boy better than any one else.
could never go to jail and hold up my
head again. Elias letter of yesterday
decided me. She might have been a
little more kind in writing what she
thought. l would have done my best
to pay back the money which she and
Al were going to pay for my liberty.
Be kind to Eva, mother She Is the
truest little girl who ever loved a man.
Bury me beside poor old Jim, and
please let me be buried in my uniform
Give my love to Ella, Annie, Irene and
poor old dad. Forgive me, mother, for
what l am going to do. 1t is best for
all. Good-by, mother. Your boy,
JOE"
The other letter was addressed to his
wife, Eva, and read as follows:
May 6, 1905.-My Darling Wife:
When I asked you to go out with me
last night for the last time you did not
know what / intended doing. 1t takes
lot of courage, darling, but I never
could stand losing you and going over
to serve time also. When 1 read the
letter which Ella wrote to mother 1
decided upon what 1 would do.
You will be free now, baby. but
please keep my memory sacred for
short time
COMFORT POOR MOTHER.
In spite of all my cruelties to you,
in spite of all my jealousies, 1 loved
you. dear. think I have loved you all
my life, and am dying loving you as
no wofhan. was ever loved. Comfort
poor old mother Eva She is the one
who never saw a fault in me- no mat
ter what did.
Please bury me in my uniform.
do not let any one speak i'll Of me,
Eva, for, believe me, / was not as bad
as people tried to make you believe. I
was envied from the day we We're mar
ried and there were those who tried to
make trouble between us, but when I
am laid away beside poor old Jim will
at least be clear of all their talk.
Forgive me for this act, Eva. and
ask your mother and all the rest to do
the same.
do not let them take me to the
Morgue."
A good, clean, wholesome medicine,