Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-18
CORONER HIDES
SUICIDE OF RICH
CHICAGO WOMAN
DEAD BODY GONE BEFORE IN
VESTIGATION OCCURRED
DEPUTY WILLIAMS SHOULDERS
BLAME FOR ACTION
Spirit of Law Violated In Case of
Daughter of Millionaire Who
Took Poison at Hotel
Van Nuys
mHAT deliberate attempt was made


to conceal the tragic suicidal
4 death of Mrs. Ada Otis, divorced
wife of Thomas Otis, was substantiated
by an investigation of the case yester-
day
Daughter of g. Chicago millionaire
and divorced wife of a wealthy Ari-
zona mining promoter, the young
woman drank a deadly draught of
hyoscyamine in her apartments at the
Hotel Van Nuys on the evening of
August T. She was taken to the Good
Samaritan hospital where she died
August 8. Her body was sent to Chi
cago August 8.
Despite the fact that the woman had
died a suicide, all facts in the case
were suppressed in the office of Coro-
ner Calvin Hartwell. 1t also has come
to light that a secret investigation,
without the aid of jury, was held by
Deputy Coroner Williams, in violation
of the spirit of the law.
That the beautiful horsewoman, golf
enthusiast and social favorite of Chi
cago had planned her death for sew
eral days was also brought to light,
in addition to the fact that powerful
influences, which evidently were sue
cessful, had been brought to bear to
keep the death of the suicide from the
public.
Deep Indignation Expressed
Deep Indignation was expressed in all
circles yesterday, that a person, be-
cause of wealthy parents and social
standing, could have the act of suicide
remain a secret from the public for
nearly ten days.
Despite the indignant denials of
Deputy Coroner Fred Williams that he
attempted to shield the suicide of the
woman, a close investigation of con-
ditions reveals the fact that 1t would
have been impossible for the death to
have remained a secret If Deputy Coro-
ner Williams had performed his sworn
duty as a public official
Mrs Otis was found in dying con-
dition at the Van Nuys hotel on the
afternoon of August I, and although
Deputy Coroner Williams admits that
he did not hear of the case until
August 8, the facts show that extraor-
dinary methods were brought into play
to keep the death of the Chicago So
ciety woman from the newspapers or
any one else.
Death Not Yet Explained
That there is a great deal more be-
hind the tragic. death of Mrs. Otis is
certain, for in the possession of Deputy
Coroner Williams, according to his own
admission, is a note, sealed and ad-
dressed to William Coleman, which
Williams refuses to make public.
Williams refused to say whether this
note would solve the mystery surround
ing the suicide, but stated that he had
personally given his word that the let
ter should not be made public and in
timated that all attempts to have him
divulge the contents would result in
vain.
Mrs. Otis was found dying in hex
apartments at Hotel Van Nuys with a
bottle that had contained hyoscyamine,
or tincture of henbane, a sure but slow
poison, in one hand and sealed letter
in the other. This happened on August
z, and yet it was not until August 16
that the true facts of the case were
made public.
Deputy Coroner Williams stated that
If a mistake had been made in giving
out the account of the death it was
not intentional, yet does not ascribe
a reason why the result of the in
vestigation was not made public.
Private Investigation Held
1t is admitted that the investigation
into the death of Mrs. Otis was held
privately in the coronor's office August
10, and was held without a coroner's
jury, which is said to be legally right,
providing no suspicion is attached to
the death.
AS a result of the investigation, a
record of death was made out, ascribing
the cause as death due to hyoscyamine
poisoning, but before this time the body
had been shipped to the parents of the
suicide in Chicago.
The real facts in regard to the mys-
terious death were brought to light
upon the appearance of Joseph e. Tilt
of Chicago, friend of the family, who
came to Los Angeles to investigate the
circumstances.
It is said that the note left by Mrs.
Otis was to the effect that she was
tired of life and decided that the game
was not worth the candle"
That a deep mystery surrounded the
young woman's life and prompted her
to commit suicide and not to worry
over the obtaining of divorce from
her husband is indicated by the reti-
cense of the authorities to make pub
lie the note written by the suicide
shortly before her death.
Circumstances Are Peculiar
1t has been said that William Cole
man, who is connected with the Pot
finger sanatorium of Monrovia, was
frequently in Mrs. Otis company since
her arrival in Los Angeles.
Coleman claims InaI MrS. OIlS was
casual acquaintance and that he did
not know her relatives. Yet 1t is a
strange circumstance that the farewell
note of Mrs. Otis was addressed tC
Coleman; that it was Coleman who is
supposed to have wired the news tC
Chicago; that it was Coleman who took
charge of the shipping of the body, and
that it is Coleman, according to Deputy
Coroner Williams who refuses to make
public the contents of the note adj
dressed to him and which was found in
the hands of Mrs. Otis while she was
dying.
Deputy Coroner Williams admitted
that he signed the death certificate.
He Indignantly denied that he at
tempted to suppress the death and said
that it was due. to an oversight that
the account of the suicide was not
made public as soon as it came to his
attention.
Mrs. Otis is said to have taken the
fatal potion August and died early
the next morning. According to VIII
liams, Bresee Bros. were notified of the
4