The San Francisco call., 1913-08-04
After Penning Pathetic Let
ters of Farewell to Wife
and Sister, William M.
Rhodes Kills Himself in
Room in Hotel Oakland
Rented the Night Before
PARTED FROM MATE
SEVERAL MONTHS
with Realization That / No
Longer Have Your Real
Love and Cornpanionship,
All My Energies Seem to
Have Been Sapped,' He
Writes-Death by Poison

OAKLAND. Aug. s.-After penning
pathetic letters of farewell to his wife
and sister. William NJ Rhodes formerly
Of 1e34 Sutter street. San Francisco, a
real estate man of that city. killed him
self in room on the fourth floor of
Tie Hotel Oakland which he had rented
the night before. by drinking glass
of whisky containing cyanide of potas-
sium crystals late this afternoon.
Grief over domestic difficulties. which,
led to the separation of himself and
wife several months ago. is believed
10 have been the cause of his rash act.
His body was found few minutes
after he had swallowed the poison by
Head Clerk Downs. summoned by oe-
cupants of an adjoining apartment
who heard Rhodes groans.
DOCTOR FINDS RHODES DEAD
DR.. Eva Harris. a guest of the hotel
was hastily summoned. She pronounced
Rhodes dead. evidently froms poisoning.
Rhodes was found lying on the bed.
On a stand beside him Was "a whisky
bottle. In the bottle were number of
white crystals.
Deputy Coroner Bert Sargent who
was hastily summoned. examined the
crystals and at once pronounced them
20 be cyanide Of potassium
Rhodes is the head of the william
Rhodes Real Estate company. with of
fees in the Russ building in Mont
eomery street. San Francisco. His
wife is manager of the BRAGG COM
pany 1s2 Post street. San Francisco
which is stamped linen and design
ing concern.
Three letters, which had just been
written. were found in Rhodes pocket
LETTERS TO WIFE AND SISTER
One to his wife. bidding her fare
we'll clearly indicated that he had
killed himself. as did also the second,
addressed to his sister, Miss Rather
inc S Rhodes. Hamilton. Madison
county. y. 7.
The last letter was to the manager
Of the Hotel Oakland, in which Rhodes
evidently attempted to give out the
impression that his death was from
natural causes
In this letter he informed the hotel
manager that he was subject to sudden
attacks Of heart trouble and that il
anything should happen to him to
notify his wife and .his physician in
san Francisco at once. This was dated
4:s0 o'clock Just few minutes before
he. is supposed TO have swallowed the
poison.
The letter TO his wife told of his un-
happiness in their separation. of his
loss of ambition and of his hopelessness
Of a brighter future. 1t read as fol-
lows:
LAST MONTHS UNHAPPY
Ny Own Dear Lady-The last few
months have been unhappy ones for
YOU and cruel ones for US both. And I
see no future brightness, for with the
realization that / no longer have your
real love md companionship, all my
energies and ambition seem to have
been sapped and only an intense bitter
ness and unrest remain
y have written home that | am
going on long journey. I think they
will write and ask you to visit them
for they love you. / know you are
worthy of their love and affection
i hope you can read this. but the old
foolish tears will spill over so / can
hardly see the penned words
"Oh my dear. dear love. the happiest
years Of my life were with you, my
darling sweetheart wife-BiIlie'
EoING On LONG JOURNEY
The letter to the sister read as fol-
lows:
MY Dearest Mayourneen Katherine
kate-I am going on long journey. !
know you will be grieved to hear that
she dear little Frau and I don't seem
10 hit Il off at all well together the
last few months J simply can not
adjust myself to be without her com
olete love and compa nionship. So
goodby.
Won't you write her one of your
own loving letters and perhaps she
would make you a visit this fall.
xnow my faults are legion and she is
worthy of all your love and affection.
In great distress. your loving WILL
Rhodes rented the room late Satur-
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