The San Francisco call., 1908-09-11
DFSPONDENT BOY
LAYS HEAD ON RAIL
Professor Samuel Christy's Son
Commits Suicide at Towle
Station
SPECIAL DISPATCH 10 THE CALL


SACRAMENTO, Sept. 1o.-Stephen. F.
Christy. aged II, student at Agassiz
hall, Alta, in Placer county, committed
suicide at Towle station on the South
ern Pacific at o'clock last night by
placing his neck across a rail and let
ting a freight car wheel sever his
head from his body. He was found
shortly afterward.
Last evening Christy asked permis-
sion to go to Towle to mail a letter.
1t was supposed he had returned and
was in bed when news came to the
school Of his death He left two let
ters, one for his teacher and one for
his parents. Both were dated Septem-
ber 2. He expressed thanks to his
teacher for kindness and said he con-
sidered himself a failure and was
weary Of life. In the letter TO his pa
rents he said he had been a burden to
them and was miserable failure.
BERKELEY, Sept. 1O-Although
news of the death of Stephen Field
Christy, the II year old sen of Profess
sor Samuel B. Christy, dean of the col
lege of mining of the university, and
one of the best mining engineers on
the coast. brought no details to the
family here, beyond the fact that young
Christy had been killed by railroad
train There were rumors in this city
today that death had not been aeci-
dental, but intentional on account Of
despondency due to i'll health
Professor Christy. father of the boy,
denied that he received a letter fore
telling of his sons death. written by
young Christy before he placed his
head on the track and was instantly
killed.
SUFFERED PINAL.TR0UBLE
That young Christy has for the last
10 years been i'll is known here but
his sickness is said not TO have re-
suited in dependency and his friends
are loath to believe that his death was
self-planned
Young Christy was a student of the
class Of 1907 of the local high school.
but only attended for short time over
two years. At the time of leave tax
ing from the school he went to sani-
tarium for treatment. He has been
treated by physicians here number Of
times with spinal trouble, which has
effected his mentality.
My son was a good boy" said Pro-
fessor Christy today at his home. Il
cannot say more at this time, but I
have received no letter or word tell
ing Of the reason of his DEATH
When Stephen was a lad of years
Sc
verely injured. He has had spinal
trouble since that time and we have
had numbef of physicians treat him.
HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
He had however, fully recovered
from the trouble and was pronounced
cured by his physicians. During the
summer he became exhausted, and for
the betterment of his health we sent
him TO DR.. Prices school at Agassiz
Placer county. He was in bad shape
as he was suffering from a nervous
breakdown.
Il received a letter from him Sun
day, however, in which he said that
he was in the best of health and liked
the school"
The boy was popular with the
younger set here and as he was always
bright and cheerful even during his
frequent illness, his many friends are
shocked at the sad news of his death
Professor Christy is one of the best
known members of the university fac
ulty. Stephen was the only son, but
there are two daughters. Amelia and
Elizabeth, both younger. The Christy
home is at 2234 Piedmont avenue