Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-12
MAJOR STANTON,
NOTED ENGINEER,
KILLS HIMSELF
SENDS BULLET INTO BRAIN AT
HOSPITAL
HAD BEEN GIVEN WARNING OF
IMPENDING DEATH
Came Recently from Goldfield to OBJ
tain Medical Treatment, Being
Afflicted with Heart
Disease

IN ESPONDENT because ne reailzeu
that he had only a short time to
~ live and dreading the suspense
| that made each minute period OF
| torture, Maj. W. A. stanton, oo years
| old, a mining engineer of Goldheid,
New. formerly chief of the Salt Lake
| fire department, and an army onicer'
| sent a. bullet into his brain at the
| California hospital shortly after y
o'clock yesterday morning.
stanton came to Los Angeles from
| Goldfield six weeks ago and TOOK
private room at the CalIornia nospi.a''
where he was treated for an aggraVat-
| ed case of heart disease by Drs. Rae
smith and Charles w. Anderson. he
was accompanied by his wife, VINO
remained here several days but re-
| turned to Goldfield when Stanton's
condition began to show improve
ment.
A week ago Stanton began to grow
worse and Mrs. Stanton was sum
moned to his bedside, where she re-
mained greater part of the time.
Friday Drs. Smith and Anderson
made a thorough examination OF the
patient, and, after consultation, DE-
| Anderson informed the wife that stan,
| ton was in a critical CONDITION anu
that it would be well for MN 10
straighten all his business matters
and prepare for the end.
Mrs. stanton broke the news to ner
husband and Stanton arranged to have
an attorney visit him Sunday and put
his affairs In good shape. He worried
considerably about his condition, put
never intimated that he would 'end
his life.
Yesterday morning Stanton sent the
sneciaI nurse out of the room to find
DIR, Smith, who was in another ward
in the building. The nurse had not gone
ten feet from the room when the report
of pistol rang out.
Dr. Dudley Fulton was standing III
the hallway short distance from the
room occupied by Stanton. He heard
the shot and rushed into the room, en-
tering ahead of the nurse, VINO hao
started back to her patient.
II found Stanton lying against the
door and the blood was pouring from
his ears mouth and nose" said Dr.
Fulton In describing the AFFAIR. A pool
OF blood had formed on the noor.
turned him on one side ana feit ms
pulse. He was dead. The revolver was
wing under his feet and he evidently
had stood near the door, placed the
m1zzle. of the weapon In his mouth and
pulled the trigger.
"Stanton had his trunk, suitcase anu
other personal effects in the room. lie
unquestionably had taken his revolver
from a grip, which was partly open;
the moment the nurse left the room.
DIR Rae Smith reached the room
shortly after the body was found. he
was followed by others who had heard
the sharp report of the pistol.
The coroner was notified and. permis-
sion was given the hospital authorities
to move the body from its position on
the floor and allow the attendants to
clean the room.
Widow Learns of Death
Orr e. Edwards. undertakers, were
ordered to remove the body td their
establishment Meantime Mrs stan
ton had been notified of the tragic
death of her husband. She did not
visit the hospital, but went to the un-
dertaking establishment of Pierce
Brothers and made arrangements to
have the body taken there, not know
ing that its removal by another firm
had been ordered by the coroner. Later
the matter was Strengthened out ana
she consented to its removal TO UT q
Edwards parlors.
Strong efforts to suppress the news
of the suicide were made by the hos
pital authorities, and little information
concerning the case was given out py
the clerk, who said he was IN charge
of the institution during the absence In
Europe of DIR. Lindley, superintendent
of the hospital.
"Maior Stanton came to Los Angeles
six weeks ago from Goldfield." said Dr.
Anderson. "His condition was serious
and he soon realized that he was nght-
ing a one-sided battle with the odds
against him. Friday told Mrs. Stan
ton that her husband had best prepare
to settle all his business affairs, as the
end might come at any time. She
spoke to him about 1t and it was ar
ranged to have an attorney go TO the
hospital Sunday and fix up his business
matters.
NHe did not intimate that he would
end his life, although he was consider
ably depressed when he learned that he
had but a short time to live"
The clerk in charge at the California
hospital was extremely reluctant about
discussing the suicide. He refused to
allow newspaper representatives TO
view the body and the interior of the
room unless on an order from the
coroner and accompanied by an at
torney representing the widow"
The body was taken to the undertake
ing parlors last night and shortly
after it's arrival Mrs. Stanton APP
peared and selected casket. She did
not make arrangements for the fu-
neral. 1t is thought these arrange
ments will not be made until the son
and daughter, both of whom live in
Salt Lake City. are heard from.
Major Stanton was among the best
known Of the early residents of Gold
field. He went there from Salt Lake
soon after the sale of the Combination
mine, which marked the beginning of
the phenomenal prosperity of the
camp.
He opened an Office Immediately as
mining engineer. and during the ex-
citing days that followed figured prom
inently in number of important ven
lures which have become famous in
the camps history.
Decedent was one of the founders of
the Montezuma club and was promi-
nent in that organization during the
entire term of his residence in Gold
field. He was a member of the mine
owners committee which led the fight
against the labor unions, eliminating
in the conflict of January, 1907.
Among the best known of the min
ing concerns with which Major Stanton
was connected was the Florence Mill
ing and Mining company, which he
served for two years as consulting en-
gineer.