Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-17
REMORSE MADE
HIM A SUICIDE.
Theft and Desertion Of Wife and
Child Caused Man to Take
His Own Lite.
FLED IN FEAR TO SALT LAKE.
Imbezzled S225 In san Francisco and
Left In Disgrace--rhe Company
Wouldn't Prosecute Him.

Suffering keen remorse because he
had embezzled money from his en-
ployers; because he had deserted his
wife and baby, and because he could
find no work here, James Z. Watson,
an electrician from San Francisco, COM
mitted suicide yesterday afternoon ana
died az o'clock last night in the saliva
,ion Army mission house on CONNER
clal alley.
Watson killed himself by taking a
large dose OF morphine. His unconscious
form was found about o'clock In the
afternoon and medical assistance was
at once given him, but without avail,
GAVE HIMSELF UP.
Last Saturday, Watson gave himself
up 10 Officer Seager. lie informed the
oificer that be was wanted In san frah'
cisco for embezzling 1925 from the Mt.
shasta Mineral Water company. wat
son was taken to the station ana locked
up. a telegram was sent TO the man"
nger OF the company, asking II Watson
was wanted there, Chief Sheets received
n reply stating that. while II was true
that Watson had committed embezzle-
ment, the company did not want TO
prosecute hin,
The man was then given his liberty.
lie tried hard To secure employment but
failed. Yesterday he managed to get
enough money TO secure 20 grains OF
morphine which he took,
A PATHETIC LAST LETTER,
Waits N left a letter and enclosed a
newspaper clipping giving an account
OF his offense. In the letter he said
he had failed once 10 take his life. but
prayed that this time he would be sue
cegsful. He also expressed sorrow for
the disgrace he had brought upon his
family The letter follows:
1.-THE enclosed newspaper clipping viii
explain my reason for committing this
cowardly crime but can't live 10 have
others share my disgrace for which
alone am 10 blame. ] cannot account
for my actions of dishonesty, as / had
all in the world TO live for and even
more than great many others. My
home was one Of perpetual happiness,
my wife one OF unusual purity, and my
baby one OF the grandest ever born.
MY position which held and could
hold for "A lifetime was above the aver
age, aud my friends ana acquaintances
many. My greatest regret Is for the
suffering OF my wife and the shadow
this must cast upon my child.
i have one request 10 make, and thnt
Is TO notify my folks of my actions.
Please advise them by wire, for II will
surely be of some relief to them to
know that ] am dead than TO think I
am alive. My wife can be located
through Fred NJ. Classen OF the Grand
Rapids Furniture company of San
Francisco, or through my father and
mother at 40 Ellis street, San Francis
co,
Advise my wife that my last
thoughts were Of her and our babe, and
that In my prayers 10 God | asked to
he allowed 10 see her agan. This Is
my second attempt at my life In tho
last week. and although the first was a
failure. | shall endeavor 20 make this a
success. Say good-b bye to all Tor me, 10
my parents, wife and child.
JAMES p. WATSON"
Watsons body was taken to Evans
undertaking parlofs, where II was pre-
pared for burial. Word was sent to the
dead mans relatives and II Is likely
that the body Will be shipped to San
Francisco.