Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-01
LIFE A FAILURE,
KILLS HIMSELF
EMBEZZLER COMMITS SUICIDE
IN COURT HOUSE
T. ]. MouIton, Collector for South
Pasadena Firm, Takes His Own
Life While Facing
Prison

| MY lie Is a IdlluTe. IL mas USeH Iliy
own acts which have made it so."
These words of T. ]. Moulton, a COL
lector for the Pacific Screen company,
yesterday morning sum up a life
| time of misery, of sorrow and of care,
| for within two hours of having uttered
them Moulton lay in the receiving hos
pital a corpse, having shot himself in
the head rather than face arrest on an
embezzlement charge.
! Moulton has been employed by the
Pacific Screen company as a collector
| for more than year. Recently his en-
PIoyers became suspicious that all was
not right with his accounts and an eX-
pert accountant was set to work exam
lining his books. 1t soon developed that
a large amount of cash was not ac-
counted for, and Moulton was called
upon for an explanation. When ques-
toned Moulton is said to have admitted
that he was about $1,000 short, but said
he expected he would be able to make
up the sum if given time. Later he was
was again called upon and asked when
he was going to make good the amount,
and at that time Moulton is said to have
stated that he had found it impossible
to get the money he had expected to use
and feared it would be impossible for
him to make up the sum.
DTGdQS LOSS OF LIDGTIy
Early yesterday morning Moulton was
notified that he would be expected to
visit the district attorneys office in
company with his employer, George w.
Darlington, Attorney D. c. Porter and
r. J. Simpson during the day. Moulton
was told that the facts were to be laid
before the district attorney and that his
advice would be acted upon.
Moulton agreed to accompany the
men, and then left the Office of the conf
pany. A few minutes later Moulton met
Breen, a friend whom he had known for
several years, and in short conversa-
ton told him of his difficulties. Moulton
during the conversation expressed the
hope that all would be Strengthened out,
as he said he did not feel that he could
stand losing his liberty.
A little later Moulton returned to the
Office of the company and with Darling
ton, Porter and Simpson left for the
court house. The three men entered the
building together and went to the
fourth floor, where the district attor
ney's Office is located. Darlington and
his companions were in the lead. They
had just pushed open the door of the
Office to enter when a slight explosion |
was heard, and turning they saw the
body of Moulton pitch down the stairs |
leading to the third floor and land in |
heap on the first landing.
Deputy Sheriff j. D. Summers, who !
was standing a short distance away, |
sprang to the side of the wounded man |
and snatched a small revolver from his |
hand. DR.. George V. Campbell of the |
district attorneys office was then called |
and pronounced the wound fatal.
Mans Life Mystery
81 knew Moulton slightly" said Attor-
ney Porter when discussing the shooting
with the district attorney. II am the
attorney for the Pacific Screen company
and a few weeks ago was informed by
Mr.. Darlington, it's president, that one
of the employees had embezzled about |
$1,000. Later 1 met Moulton and was in
formed he was the man. At the request
of Fred S. Hughes of the American
company we were bringing
to this office when the man
shot himself. 1 did not see the shot
fired, but did hear the explosion. None
Of US suspected Moulton even thought of
killing himself"
II knew Mouton quite WELL" said M.
D. Breen yesterday afternoon
"He was about 40 years of age and |
was a hard working, Industrious man.
He has told me that he was divorced |
from his wife about five years ago, and
understand the woman now lives in
Denver. Moulton told me that his mar
ried life had been an unhappy one and
it was in Denver he was divorced.
II cannot understand why Moulton
should have embezzled $1,000. He did
not drink or gamble, but always pre-
ferred quiet life. He has many friends
In Los Angeles, but to none of them did
he ever tell much about his past life"
Moulton led rather lonely existence
in Los Angeles and was frequently short
IF money. He seldom roomed long in
0ne place, sometimes changing his abid-
ing place as often as three times in one
week. His last address was 5251s South
Main street, but he left there after a
discussion about rent.