Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-06
MYSTERY Wells
HAYES SUICIDE
NAME is ASCERTAINED, BUT
NOTHING MORE
ACTION ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED
BY AcQUAlNTANCES
Coroner Anxious That Woman Who
Telephoned Decedent Recently
Shall Come Forward with
Information

While the true name of the man who
committed suicide Monday night in a
room at 1919 South Spring street by
taking cyanide of potassium is known,
almost as much mystery as existed
before still surrounds his identity.
Yesterday, by wishing nearly all OF
the laundries in the city and exhibit
ing the marks upon the clothing of the
dead man, employees of Peck & Chase,
to which establishment the remains
were taken, ascertained that the mark
upon the collar, cuffs, shirt and under
clothing was that placed by the An
geluS laundry upon clothes of w. b.
Hayes, a roomer at the Hotel Vidamar
Tenth and Broadway.
AT the hotel it was stated that w. b,
Hayes was registered there from Pres
colt, Ariz., and that he had been a
guest of the hotel for month.
The room clerk at the hotel visited
the morgue and identified tie body OF
the suicide as that of Hayes.
1t was stated that Hayes had been
at the Vidamar until Monday evening,
when he did not come home, but that,
as he had been absent from his room
over night on several occasions, no
uneaSineSS was felt.
1t was also said Hayes had been
cuesl of the house for a few days last
APRIL OuI dl Il11I @AAAAC AAO AAeAN NSC~~
tered as from Los Angeles.
A month agJ he returned to the house
and asked for his old room, stating
that he had come from Prescott, Whlcn
was now his home. He was assigned
room and was apparently of cheerful
habits and steady disposition. In casual
conversations he remarked several
times that he was a mine chemist and
also a druggist. At no time, and GER
tainly not on Monday, did he give any
evidence of being in despondent
mood, and the hotel people are at a
loss to account for his act.
Rents New Room
HAYES appeared at the South Spring
| street rooming house Monday evening
and rented a room from Mrs. A. E.
Vincon, the landlady, signing the name
| of w. B. Hanson, Los Angeles, on the
register. He retired early and Tues
day morning his dead body was dis
covered by the landlady when she made
the rounds of the different rooms.
Hayes apparently had been dead sew
era1 hours. and on a dresser was a
bottle containing a portion of solution
of cyanide of potash with which he had
taken his life.
He left a note addressed to the cor
oner of the county, in which he stated
that he was tired of it all and that
was his only reason 1or kllllIlS nlHlselI
lie asked to be buried in paupers
grave and signed the name wv. b.
Hanson" to the note.
1t is possible that further identifi-
cation of the remains may be made by
a woman friend of Hayes who lives
| in Los Angeles, or was here few days
] fore his death.
About ten days ago, while Hayes
was at the Vidamar, telephone mes
/ 60 h i'm q
man who requested that he be called to
! the phone Hayes declined to answer
the call and the woman was informed
that he was not in the house. She
Seemed doubtful of this and insisted
| that he answer the call. Finally she
hung up her phone, stating that she
would call again or look him up per-
sonally. Nothing more was heard from
her, but Coroner HartWell Is anxious
and tell what she may know of Hayes
and his family.