Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-28
Unjustly Suspected
He Becomes
MorOse
Had Been Discharged
After Fifteen Years
of Service
Was Known as Most JovIal EmpIoye
on clty's Street Car System,
and Familiarity Called
"Old Dad"

AS the result Of brooding over his
dismissal three days ago from the serv-
ice of the Los Angeles railway, for
which company he had worked fifteen
years as conductor, Vernon Hunt,
aged 60, famiiarly known to thousands
of street car passengers as "Old Dad"
ended his life at 30 last night by
shooting himself through the right tenn
pie in his room at the Golden State
hotel, Fifth street and Central avenue
He was found by the proprietor pros
trate on the floor of his room a few
moments after the shot had been fired
and was taken to the receiving hospital
In an ambulance, but was past all
medical aid when he was placed on
the operating table, and died early this
morning.
Mr.. Hunt left two notes addressed
to A. Leary, the proprietor of the ho-
tel, both inscribed with the time of the
shooting, 11:20.
About 11:20 man occupying a room
next to that of Mr.. Hunt heard a
pistol shot, followed by the falling OF
rushed down to notify the proprietor
| Going to Hunts room the door was
found to be locked and was pried open.
Then the horrible tragedy was revealed,
| for on the floor in puddle of his own
blood, which oozed from the bullet hole
in his brain. lay the form of Hunt.
Dictates His Burial
On the table were found two notes
| addressed to the proprietor of the ho-
| tel. One Of the notes read: please
| turn over all my belongings to my
| son, Jed, as soon as he arrives here
from Chicago" The other: Notify d.
Samson & Co., 1882 South Flower street.
No funeral whatever. To Rosedale
crematory at once. Money and bank
book in trunk near window in my room
to pay all expenses"
The son alluded to in the note is said
| to be wealthy business man in Chi
cago. He will be notified at once of
his fathers death. He also has a sis
ter in Denver who is the wife of a
prominent citizen there. Hunt had been
married, but his wife died several years
ago.
Vernon Hunt was conductor on the
University car line for many years, and
for the past year had been on the Sec
ond street line. To the passengers of
these lines he was known as a man of
jovial disposition, always having a
merry word and a jest for everyone.
His fellow employees say he was called
the 'jolliest man on the road" He de-
lighted in giving streets along his route
nicknames and when passing such
streets as Flower and Olive he would
call out Bouquet" Green Plum" etc.
Suspicion Causes Dependency
Those who knew him we'll say that
he was never known to be morose until
after his discharge from the employ of
the street car company. The proprietor
of the Golden State hotel says that on
the day of his misfortune he confided
his trouble to him, stating that his en-
ployers believed he had been dishonest
in turning in his cash. This seemed TO
cause him more concern than the loss
of his position, and he lamented the
fact grieVously.
He never mentioned suicide, however,
but would talk hopefully of securil e
work. But yesterday afternoon b."
talked more diseonsolate than ever to
the proprietor of the hotel and Mr..
Leary said that he feared at the time
that the old man would do something
rash.
Aged Man Attempts Suicide
William A. Compton, aged rs, resi-.
dent of Graham Station, attempted to
commit suicide at that place about s
o'clock last night by stabbing himself
three times in the intestines and once
in the stomach.
He was hurriedly brought to this city
and placed at the county hospital. His
chances for recovery are thought to be
slight.
No reason is known for the mans eff
fort to take his life, but it is believed
that despondency over i'll health is re-
sponsible.