Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-29
SUICIDE, IF NOT
A MURDER CASE
AGED MANS CORPSE SWINGS
FROM BEDPOST
Apparently Victim Cut His Throat
Then Strangled Hlmaelf with
strap-open Window Gives
Hint of Mystery

Suspended by a strap to the bed
post, the body of John Welter, 60 years
old, was found at 6.15 o'clock last
evening in his room at the Santa Rosa
hotel, Fourth and Los Angeles streets
A leather strap was wound about the
mans neck
Although there is every indication
that the dead man is a suicide there
is evidence that may lead to the dis
covery of murder mystery.
Welter apparently cut his throat from
ear to ear. then took off his coat and
trousers, tied two handkerchiefs around
his neck and then hung himself to the
bedpost
What battles explanation thus far is
how the man could live long enough
to take off his coat and trousers ana
then prepare the moose with which to
hang himself Two vital arteries in
his neck were entirely severed, allow
ing the life blood to pour out of the
wound
After questioning various persons in
the rooming house it was learned that
the man had not been seen after J
o'clock Friday afternoon. And in all
probability his remains would not nave
been discovered for some time had IL
not been by a peculiar fear that made
the chambermaid investigate the cause
of the door being locked.
Enters Through Transom
She raped loudly several times dur
ing the day, but could not get any
response. Fear filled the young woman
and she notified j. e. Wycoff, pro-
prietor of the lodging house. He gained
entrance through the transom.
One glance into the room gave wy
coff a glimpse of the ghastly sight, I'M
mediately the police were notified and
Patrolmen Humphreys and Lenox went
to the room at once. They noticed that
the window was open from the top
about three feet. This led out onto
a fire escape.
After investigating the case thorough
ly the officers gave out the statement
that the case was a suicide and re-
ported it as such to the coroner.
Others, however, made their own de-
ductions. 1t was learned from several
prominent physicians that If the throat
was cut as described in all probability
the man would have become uncon-
scious instantly and could not have
possibly been able to undress and tie
the handk kerchiefs around his neck
much less arrange the moose with
which to hang himself.
Bleeds but Little
That Welter was undressed, the
handkerchiefs tied about his throat and
that he was strung up to the bedpost
is made certain positively by the fact
that he bled but little after being
hanged. He tied string about the
handle of the razor in such a manner
that it could not slip if he killed him
self. Then two straps were taken from
a telescope and fastened to the bed
post. The mans throat was cut, he
was undressed, the handkerchiefs were
/ tied about his neck and the body was
& strung up ~..F
For three months Weter has been
LIVING at the Santa Rosa. During this
time he has been employed. Several
employment bureau receipts were found
in his clothing and a new suit of ovee-
alls were found in the room.
All of the men in the house say that
he was of a cheerful disposition and
they are skeptical of the suicide theory
Blood was found in two pools on
the floor" said a man present when
the room was broken into "His coat,
his vest and his trousers were saturat-
ed with gore and the bed looked as
though a struggle had taken place.
don't believe that Welter killed him
self +"