The San Francisco call., 1905-04-09
SEEKS ESCAPE
BY GAS ROUTE
julius Peterson, Accused of
Attempted Murder, Tries
to End Life in Prison
WRITES HIS FAREWELL
Alarm Is Given by Trusty
in Time to Save Would
Be Suicide From Death

OAKLAND, April S.-Fear1nS 10
face the vengeance OF the law, which
he had incurred by a cowardly at
tempt to murder his wife. Julius
Peterson, a lineman, this morning
tried to commit suicide at the City
Prison. where he Is held awaiting
trial.
When the TRUSTEES were at work in
another part Of the jail Peterson care
fully covered all the cracks in his cell
with paper and taking the tip from the
jet turned on the gas and lay down
to die. The odor OF escaping gas was
detected by Cephas Oliver. the prison
cook, who gave the alarm just in
time to save the would-be suicides
life.
Jailor Tim Flynn found Peterson
unconscious, but the prisoner was
taken to the Receiving Hospital, where
he was quickly revived.
Peterson tried TO kill his wife, An
ME. on Friday, March 81, at the home
OF Deputy Constable George Green.
He fired five shots at close range, but
wounded the woman only in the hand.
Before MS attempt at self-destruc-
ton the prisoner wrote the following
letters in explanation Of his act. They
were addressed to his wife and his
brother-in-law:
WRITES LETTER TO WIFE
ITO Annie Peterson-Dear Annie:
AS this is the only way I have of send
ing you my last message, which Will
not reach you until 1 have passed
away, dear Annie.
Il feel as If was going mad, and
concluded to end it all. l rather die
than to spend another day of torture
in here and seeing that you cannot
forgive me for what 1 have done to
you.
Dear Annie, it was not for the
hatred Of you that 1 did what did.
mo, it was because l loved you
and could not bear to have you leave
me. But l hope. dear Annie, that you
will forgive me for all l did as / have
forgiven you; but remember, Annie.
that you will have to answer before
your God some day for this, and may
he have mercy on you.
You have driven me to my grave,
but L am not afraid to die. for death is
sweet to the agony 1 have suffered
since that most unfortunate morning.
And, Annie, 1 hope that these words
have written, and as you read them.
will never cease ringing In your ears
until your last dying hour. And hope
that you will never send another man
TO his grave the way you did me.
Now, dear Annie, If you had only
stopped to think and reason and listen
| to me. in place of listening to every
| body else, and stayed at home Ike an
other honest wife, things would have
been different. We had good home
and would have been happy. but hope
you will find out what vour-as you
call thenl-friends will do for you II
you should be in need. Then you will
| find out and see the folly of il all be-
fore you die.
But after all, Annie, 1 love you still
to this my last dying hour, and / die
happy and contented, with a smile or
my face, thinking of you. Bidding you
kind and last farewell, with love and
kisses, / am as ever, yours in death,
JULIUS"
WORLD A WICKED ONE.
j. A. Thompson-Dear Brothers, Sis.
ters and Babies: This is to me a mos
trying hour in sending you this, my
last message. This is getting unbear.
able and l have concluded to put ar
| end to it all. 1 feel keenly the disgrace
/ have brought upon myself and oul
family, and all on account of the WON.
an love.
But, dear ones, hope you will for
/ give me, as / have forgiven. My life
has been an unhappy one ever since
met that woman, which is now thirteer
years ago-which proved to be the un.
| lucky number for me.
But such is life in this wicked
world. Now, dear brothers and sisters
I hope you will not take this too hare
TO heart. for the parting is only TEN.
porary and we will soon meet again
and 1 hope that none of you will have
to die the way I did. But / am happ,
and contented with my lot and go Il
my death without fiinching. l wished
so much that / could have seen yol
and kissed you all good-by, but sucf
was not to be my pleasure.
Il have suffered much since / hav.
| been in here, but, thank God, It viii
soon be over with: and, dear ones.
hope you will take care of my bod,
| and grant me this last request-I wan
to be cremated. Then feel as il l wa:
always with you. Now, dear ones.
will bid you all last farewell, thank
ing you one and all for what you hav,
done for me. hoping that you will bea1
up bravely under the strain and forgiv,
me for all that I have done Kiss tn.
babes for me and please never let then
know how / died. With love and kisse,
to you all, from yours as ever, lovin,
brother in death. JULIUS.
"Good-by, dear ones"