Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-06
ESS A Y s
SU ICIDE
IN COURT
Prisoner Attempts to
End His Life with
a Knife
Captain Henry Williams
Prefers Death to
Confinement
Wealthy and Respected Veteran Of the
Civil War PIunges Blade Into
His Breast In Presence
of Throng

Sentenced to spend the remainder of
his life in the Patton insane asylum
with nothing but the hopelessness Of a
living death before him, Capt. Henry
Williams, pioneer of Los Angeles, a
| resident of a fashionable local hotel,
with real estate holdings worth $4,000,
yesterday attempted to commit suicide
in department of the superior court
just following his examination for in
sanity.
Only the quick action of attorneys
present in the court room, who leaped
| upon the old man and wrested a heavy
| clasp knife from him, prevented the
| tragedy. AS 1t was Capt. Williams had
managed to infiict a slight wound in his
| left breast.
The story of the old mans life is pitt
full. For the past few years he has
lived in Los Angeles, occupying suites
il leading hotels. surrounded with
luxury. and with not friend or rela-
tive in the world.
His brilliant service in the Civil War
gave him free entrance to the Soldiers
home, but he refused to go there, and
rare were his visits to any of his old
comrades. i'
Capt. Williams owned valuable real
estate in Los Angeles. His estate is
valued at about $S0.0O0 and, according
| to the statements of Judge GIBBS of
| department 2 of the superior court, who
tried Capt. Williams yesterday Nthe
| estate has been mishandled by the
captains representatives here OF late
1 and Judge Gibbs stated that he would
! take immediate steps to have better
. protection afforded the old mans
property.
Attempts to Escape
Gradual loss of memory, his extreme
age and his troubles caused a. mental
collapse several days ago and war
rant of insanity was sworn out as last
measure and Capt. Williams was ar
| rested.
Yesterday when he appeared in court
the sight was pitiful. The prisoner is
above medium height and as straight as
an arrow. He scorned the association
of the other insanity patients and took
a seat somewhat distant from them and
sat there brooding over his troubles.
During the examination woman, one
of the insane patients UP for trial, be-
came unruly and fought off the depu-
ties who attempted to hold her. Deputy
Sheriffs Hubbard and Hutchinson seized
the woman, and while they did so Capt
Williams arose and crossed the court
room. His appearance was such as to
allay any suspicion on the part of other
court officers who did not know but
what he was a visitor to the court
room, and there was no show of haste
nor excitement until he reached the
door. There, just as he was disappear
ing, Deputy Hutchinson saw the escape
and dashed after him and brought him
back.
That closed the last door of hope for
the old man. He bowed his head and
seemed to feel his position keenly as
the commission Of insanity experts told
him that he must go to Patton asylum
for the insane. That was like a death
sentence to Capt. Williams, for the
physicians state that there is no disease
of the brain but simply a collapse.
AS the old man was motioned to
seat he bowed his head and turned
away. The officers paid no more atten-
tion as he arose and stepped to posi-
tion near the bailiff's desk. They did
not notice him as he bent forward He
had not been carefully searched because
he behaved so WELL and no one noticed
him at first as he leaned forward as
though to tie his shoe.
An attorney standing near however.
saw what was happening; he saw the
trembling fingers tear open the blade
of huge clasp knife. saw the old mans
eyes CLEAN as though he again fought
in the front ranks on the battlefield.
And then, as the madman plunged the
knife toward his own breast, the attor-
ney leaped upon him, and with the as
sistance of others wrested the knife
from the old mans grasp.
Capt. Williams was then strapped, for
he had become suddenly wild, and the
officers led him out and sent him to the
county hospital for treatment.
Last night the old soldier was taken
east on the Santa Fe to end his last
years of life within the walls of the
asylum.