Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-30
EXTON DIES BY
HIS OWN BULLET
WELL KNOWN MUSIC DEALER
SHOOTS HIMSELF
Expires Without Recovering Con-
sciousness-Sister Combats Theory
of Suicide, Declaring No
Motive Can Be Found

Coroner Calvin Hartwell will hold
an inquest over the body of George t.
Exton, manager and part owner of
the Exton Music company, ZIG West
Third street, who was found in the
basement of the store yesterday morn
ing with a bullet hole in his right tenn
pie, and will attempt to determine
whether death was accidental or the
result of suicide.
Exton was found unconscious in the
basement of the store by two of his
clerks, Park Jones and James Daugh-
erty, who rushed to the basement after
hearing a shot.
They found their employer lying on
his right side, the blood pouring from
q wound in the right temple. Nearby,
on the floor, lay new revolver. An
examination of the weapon revealed
the fact that it had been discharged
recently and there was an empty shell
in the cylinder.
The frightened clerks rushed from
the scene, one summoning a physician,
while the other notified the police.
On the arrival of the physician Ex-
ton was found to be unconscious. He
was taken to the receiving hospital.
where it was found an operation would
be useless, and Exton was placed in
the ward with an ice pack on his
head, to check the hemorrhage.
The bullet entered his head almost
exactly in the center Of the right tenn
pie and prolonged it's way through the
brain in the direction of the left tenn
pie. The nature of the wound caused
an internal hemorrhage and the face
of the unfortunate man was swollen to
twice it's normal size.
Exton was shot about $3.50 o'clock
and died at 1920 o'clock. He lived with
his sister, Miss Annie Bxton, at 1853
- TIL IL.
notified of the affair and arrived at
the hospital just a few minutes after
Exton died. Because of the distorted
condition of her brothers face she was
not permitted to view the body.
Sure Death Was Accidental
Miss Exton was positive in her dec
laration that her brothers death was
accidental. 1.-THE only thing that
would cause him to end his life would
be worries and he never gave any in
dication of having any troubles she
said. HE was cheerful Monday night,
and when he left home at o'clock
this morning he did not act in an I'M
usual manner. He had just moved his
store to it's present location and had
good trade. He was afraid of being
robbed, and on account Of the recent
numerous holdups bought a revolver
and carried it when he went to and
from his business"
Another who believes Exton came to
his death as the result of an accident
is G. w. Hersee, a piano tuner with the
Exton Music company At first he
thought it was suicide, but he now be
lieves it was an accident.
The revolver with which Exton was
shot was purchased by the dead man
December II from L. A. Henry of the
DyaS-Cline company. EXton is said to
have made a remark to the effect there
were a number of robberies and he
wanted to protect himself.
There are others who hold to the
theory of suicide, founded on the con-
dition of the basement. A small mir
ror, it is said, hung on the wall near
where Exton fell, and the course of the
bullet is such that only deliberate aim
could have caused it.
Although friends and the sister of the
dead man say he had no worries of
any kind, and he was not financially
embarrassed, several facts may be
brought out at the inquest that will
throw more light on the case.
Lawsuit Goes Against Him -
Exton was appointed special admin
istrator of the estate of A. B. Cameron,
who called himself "King of Garvanza"
and Duke of Klalou." The contest
over the will ended last week in Judge
James court in favor of w. B. Miner.
Last week some of Exton's property
was attached, the writ being issued by
Justice Summarized. Whether or not
these circumstances have any bearing
on the case remains to be seen.
Exton was AZ years old. He was born
in England and had been in business
here the last eighteen years.
For nearly ten years he had an estab-
lishment at 331 South Spring street.
Three months ago he moved to the
present location. Miss Exton was a
silent partner in the business.
The dead man is survived by three
sisters and two brothers. OF the for
mer one lives in San Francisco and
one in Arizona. One of the brothers
is in Australia, but the address of the
other is not known
The body was removed to the I'M
dertaking establishment of Robert
Sharp & Son, where the inquest will be
held.