The San Francisco call., 1906-09-13
BULLET ENDS LIFE
Of MERCHANT.
P. f. Nolan, Once Promi-
nent Shoe Dealer, Said to
Have Received Fatal Shot
FOUND DYING IN ROOM

P. +. Nolan for many years one of
San Francisco's leading shoe mer-
chants, died little oerore 1 o'clock
yesterday afternoon from The effects
of shot in the head. which is said by
his family to have been entirely acct
dental. All the circumstances con-
nected with the shooting are not yet
made public, and even the Coroner,
who is an intimate friend of the fam
lily. is unable to give complete infor-
nation concerning the affair
Although the shooting occurred but
a little after noon, the news was not
given out until quite late in the even
ing. 1t was about 8 O'Clock before the
death notice was sent to the newspa-
pers, and it was not until after 10
o'clock before the Coroner gave out
the official statement of the death, hav-
ing been called to. the rcene but short
time previously.
BULLET ENTERS HEAD.
At first there was a rumor to the
effect that twas case of suicide. but
this was disclaimed by the family, who
explained that the unfortunate man
was trying to. get necktie from a bu-
reau drawer, when it became tangled
about the trigger of the revolver lying
there with it, and caused the weapon
to become accidentally discharged. The
bullet entered the right side OF the
head, little above the ear. and death
followed fifteen minutes after the shot
was fired.
According to the story told by the
family, Mr.. Nolan was preparing to go
for a ride in the park with John
Hughes, an intimate friend of about
his own age, who often accompanied
him on such occasions At the door
Nolan turned to Hughes and told him
to wait there for him while he changed
his collar and necktie
When Hughes heard the shot a little
later he went to investigate, and found
the old man lying on the floor of his
room in a dying condition
CORONER FINALLY CALLED.
Drs. Gallwey and Coffey were at once
called, but were too late to do apv-
thing for the wounded man. 1t was
1880 o'clock when the shot was heard.
and fifteen minutes later Nolan was
dead Coroner Walsh was called after
the undertaken was summoned, but the
former failed to gain much information
concerning the details of the affair
When asked late last nightjfor a state
ment he said:
1T looks like a case of accidental
deatn. / did not make many INQUIRIES
for preferred to wait until more quiet
is restored in the family. 1 will prob
ably hold the inquest in a couple OF
weeks. though I don't know Just what
date it will be-
Where was the revolver lying when
Nolan was found?" he was asked.
Il don't know. The body was living
on the bed when I arrived. I did not
learn all the circumstances"
DAUGHTER HEARS SHOT.
The only other person In the house
at the time of the shooting was NoIan's
daughter Katherine. AS nearly as can
be learned she accompanied Hughes at
the time he entered the room and
found the wounded man on the floor
All efforts last night to get an In
terview with some member of the fam
lily were unavailing, and only such in
formation could be obtained as was
given out by a friend of the family.
who was present. She said it would be
impossible to talk with any one else
in the house.
Nolan was formerly a member of the
firm of Nolan Brothers, shoe merchants
on Market street, but three years ago
he retired from business, and the firm
changed hands. He was sixty-seven
years of age, and leaves four children,
as follows: Katherine Nolan, who was
living at home; Mrs. Genevieve Tread
well, wife of Ivan Treadwell; and Jo-
seph and Leo Nolan.