The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1911-11-15
BANK employees
suicide REvIVES
LEPPO MYSTERY
Cousin of Mrs. M. B. Leppo of
Santa Rosa Shoots Himself
Following Conference
Note Says Demanded Dismissal
of Widow Whose Name Was
Linked With Leppo's
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

Especial Dispatch TO The Call
SANTA ROSA, Nov. 14.-Following a
conference between officials of the
Santa Rosa bank this afternoon. AS
sistant Cashier W. Thomas Hopper of
the institution shot himself in the head
with a revolver at his Orange street
home and died soon afterward. The
circumstances surrounding the shoot
| ing have recalled the suicide of Hop
per's cousin. Mrs. Minerva Belle Leppo,
last month, and a note left by Hopper
would tend to connect the two suicides.
The conference at the bank was at
tended by Hopper President w. d.
Reynolds. Cashier Frank M. Burris and
Directors Jesse II. Rurris and ]. f..
Einhorn.
1t was learned that after the meet
ing Hopper bought the revolver and a
box of cartridges on his way home
from the bank.
When he arrived home he wrote a
note to hrs wife, in which it is alleged
that he confessed that he was the
writer of note to Rohrer. Einhorn Il
Co, demanding the dismissal of Mrs.
Doris Lincoln. the widow whose name
was connected with that of o. Frank
Leppo 1t is said that the writer in
timated that he ended his life because
he had written a threat that he would
have the firm boycotted by the So
eiety people of Santa Rosa.
After writing the note he called his
daughter. kissed her and sent her with
it to his wife. Hopper fired one shot,
possibly to test the revolver. then faced
a mirror that he had placed on the
bed and fired a bullet into his brainE
The body was found by Mrs. Adams,
his mother in law. to whom Hopper's
note had been delivered.
1t was learned that when the bank
officials met, Attorney Leppo read the
following note, alleged to have been
written by Hopper to Einhorn:
For Gods sake. Joe, get next to
yourself and get rid of that woman or
you will lose all your best trade
Leppo declared that the note was
written. on the same paper as that
used by the bank and written on a type
writer owned by the bank. He made no
charges, but left it to be determined
by the bank officials whether or not
Hopper was the author.
Hopper, 1t is said, denied having any
thing to do with the preparation of the
note or any knowledge of its having
been sent, and said he was willing to
take an oath on his dead mothers grave
that he was innocent of any part or
knowledge of the matter. When Hop
per went home at noon to lunch he
informed his wife of the incident and
she advised him to dismiss the matter
from his mind, as it was not of suffi-
cient Importance to worry about.
That she attributed little Importance
to the matter is evidenced by the fact
that she came uptown during the after
noon with her sister, Mrs. John L. War
boys, and spent some time shopping,
and showed no sign of worry. 1t was
during her absence from home that
Hopper left the bank and went home
Finding his 10 year old daughter. Por-
tia, there, he wrote a short note to his
wife and sent his daughter with 1t to
her grandparents. Mr.. and Mrs. Lynch
burg Adams several blocks distant.
Deputy Sheriff Don Mcintosh, who re-
sides in the rear in Davis street. was
notified and took charge of the body
pending an inquest. President w. D.
Reynolds of the Santa Rosa bank stated
that Hopper was straight" in every
respect with the bank and was under
heavy bonds. while he carried $4,000 in
surance in the Bankers Mutual for his
wife and daughter. Reynolds seemed
greatly affected by the death Of Hopper.