Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-11-23
cHAR|7YW0RKER
WELL KNOWN N
CITY A SUICIDE
Rev. H. W. Lewis, Who Sew
eraI Years Ago Cared for
Orphans in Albuquerque,
Kills Self in Los Angeles,

Word has boon received here of the
death by his own hand Of Rev II. W.
Lewis, for several years charity
worker In this state and Arizona, In
both Of which communities he WA,
well known. Rev. Lewis took poison
IN Los Angeles park after he had
been arrested ON complaint Of a girl
In San Franclsco and shortly before
he was to have appeared IN court in
habeas corpus proceeding Sar
Francisco paper carried the foIlow'ng
account of the affair, under Los
Angeles date:
"A man Identified as Herbert W
Lewis. the charity worker arrested
sunday on complaint OF girl Of San
Francisco. was found dead this after
noon in Westlakc park. lie had com.
mitted suicide. Lewis cas- TO have
been In court this afternoon on
habeas corpus proceedings, but failed
to appear. he had protested his IN
nOccnee.
'The body was found lying nj
length under a tree. Children had
been playing all around and believed
the man was asleep. violent poison
had caused death.
Lewis was 50 years Of age and
head OF the Children's Home Society
of California. He was formerly 81.
perintandent OF the Boys and Girls
society of san Francisco and prew-
ously had been with the Red Cross
of which he was o worker az the tine
of the Galveston flood. lie also had
been supervising agent Of the Mime
sofa state board OF charities. lie was
married and had two children.
1.-The charge against him was made
by Ida Niles, a 15-year-old girl,
whom Lewis described as little van.
pire, who appeared TO be twice her
age and had the wisdom OF q woman
four times her years.
"He was alleged TO have taken her
to San Francisco July IL. He denied
this and declared that man In his
position must always expect charges
such as the Niles girl preferred
against him. but that he could prove
his innocence.
Lewis left his home today, saying
that he must hurry to the courtroom
to attend the hearing on n writ Of
habeas corpus issued in his, behalf
''IIe spent the morning at the office
of the Childrens Home society.
where he wrote out his win in long
hand. leaving 1t on his desk, adj
dressed 10 his attorney. In 1t he made
no reference to the charges against
him. He concluded ii with the SEN
tence: II owe no man any debt OK
cept that of gratitude for the inest'-
mable friendship and wise Counsel oil
friends"
Two children. Howard, a studeit
at Stanford university, and Camilla,
attending high school here, and he
widow survive him.
Before leaving home Lewis gave
his wife roll of bank notes amount
ing to nearly $1,000.
Records of the California hospital
here show thai Lewis underwent an
operation three years ago which made
the act with which he IS charged I'M
possible, according to his physician
IN explanation of the large
amount of travellers checks and cash
found in his pockets when arrested
julius Brown. president OF the society
said that Lewis had just returned
from trip to Utah. Sunday, when he
was arrested. He said that Lewis Few
journeys made 1t customary for hin
to carry large sums.
Rev. Lewis was well known in TINS
city. he and his workers having spent
some time here and in Arizona lev
years ago. when they were engaged
in caring for orphaned and homeless
children.