Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-04
ADDS SUICIDE
TO PRIOR LOSS
SALESMAN SHOOTS HIMSELF
IN DESPAIR
WEE sTERNLY DECLINES ALL
ovERTuREs TO RETURN
Intrigue with Waitress Leads to Sep
aratlon, Which eliminates in
Tragedy at Ceres Avenue
Roomlng House

Dependent because of the refusal OF
his wife, from whom he was separated,
to live with him again, Edwin c. Smith,
% years old a carpenter and boxmaker
by trade, but lately employed as a
salesman with the Warren Bailey Man
ufacturing company, committed suicide
last night by shooting himself through
the head.
The deed was committed in room in
the lodging house at 645 Ceres avenue,
which he had rented early in the after
noon.
Smith first appeared at the Ceres
avenue house about o'clock and rent
ed a room from Mrs. w. Fl. Vanouten,
the landlady, paying for it week in
advance.
AS soon as he had engaged the room
he left, stating that he would go and
get his baggage and return with 1t.
At what tune he returned is not
known, for no one saw him re-enter
the house, but shortly after o'clock
Mrs. Vanouten, who was on the first
floor, heard the sound of shot and
the fall of heavy body in the room
Immediately over her head.
1t was. the room which she had rent
ed to Smith, and when she ran up
stairs and opened the door she saw
the body of Smith lying in the center
of the floor with fast accommodating
pool of blood that had oozed from two
wounds in his skull.
From an investigation made by a
Herald reporter it was found that
Smith, after leaving the house on
Ceres avenue, walked over to a saloon
at Fifth and San Pedro streets, where
he took several drinks. He then
walked as far as the Arcade station,
taking In a number OF saloons on the
way up Central avenue.
He returned to his room, probably
between 4:30 and O'clock and within
a short time thereafter placed the muz-
zle Of a revolver to the right side of his
head, Immediately above the ear, and
fired. The bullet. which was 49,
caliber, passed completely through the
head, making it's exit just above the
left ear.
Smith stodd in front of the mirror
in his room when firing the bullet.
When the body was discovered BY
Mrs. Vanouten Smith was still breath
ing. She at once notified the police,
and the ambulance responded to
hurry call and removed him to the
receiving hospital, where he died with
ing twenty minutes after being placed
in the operating table.
The body was removed to Pierce
Brothers fnorgue, where an inquest
VIII Dc lclU NY OlOiACf AADA ~ S@@-
Smith was married nearly three
years ago to Miss Amelia Slater. Last
January he and his wife separated
because of his attentions to wait
ress of the name of Cora in Main
street restaurant. Mrs. Smith returned
| to her fathers home at 27lS East
Fourth street and Smith left for Sun
nyside where his father resides.
He worked for his father In Sunny
side for several months and then re-
turned to this city, where he made re-
peated efforts to get his wife to re-
| turn to him. She refused to see or ais
cuss the matter with him.
In his room at the Ceres avenue lodg-
ing house Smith left letter addressed
to Cora, who is presumed to be the
waiter girl with whom he had been
infatuated. The letter was as fol-
lows:
Good by Cora May you be happy,
for I made you so miserable. Take
what money have and divide it with
Amelia. My suit case is at Dicks
room. Let my father know, and may
God and man forgive me.
Good by forever. The baggage
check is for my stripper at the South
ern Pacific depot. Good by. and may
you be happy forever"