Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-16
'ELST0N ENDS LIFE
IN POTOMAC RIVER
California Congressman Had
. Been Suffering From
Mental Depression
FEARED RUIN, SAYS NOTE

Washington, Dec. 1G.-The body Of
Representative John A. Elston, of Cali
iornia. was found floating in the Poto-
mac River late yesterday. A note found
in the Congressman coat said he was
caught in "a chain Of circumstances
which spelled ruin"
Mr.. Elston disappeared Tuesday
morning. but was found by detectives
thot evening. Within a few hours.
however. he again disappeared and that
was the last seen of him. It is be-
licycd he plunged into the river late
that night. He apparently had been
suffering under mental depression. al
though he had given no evidence of Il
until he disappeared Tuesday. uron
being found that evening he was given
medical attention.
Failure of the Government to under
take extensive development of the Ala
media, Calf. naval base project was
understood to have been cause Of great
concern to him. as he had from the first
given close attention TO that proposeo
development. Whether other matters
weighed upon his mind could not be
said last night, although it was asserted
that he had decided not to stand for re-
election next fall.
Mr.. Eson's hat and overcoat were
found on the bank of the river about
the time the body was recovered. The
note found on the body said:
"I am in n chain of circumstances
that spell ruin, although my offense was
innocently made in the beginning. ]
hope all the facts come out. Ny stay
means embarrassment to my district
nj tn n worthy napp1c c1onp md ,on
erous."
Mr.. Elston was elected to Congress
as Il Republican from Sixth California
District, and had been a member of
the House since the Sixty fourth Con-
gress. He was born at Woodland,
Calf, February 10, 1875. In 1899 he
was admitted to the California bar and
practiced law in Berkeley until 1908,
when he became secretary to Governor
Pardce. Later he was selected as at
torney for the California State Board of
Health, and was trustee of the Cali
fornia Institute for Deaf and Blind.
He was a member of the Delta Epsilon
and Phi Beta Kappa college fraterni-
ties. He leaves a wife and four CHI
dren.
San Francisco, Dec. 16.-(By A. P.)
Friends of Congressman Elston here
and a. his home in Berkeley, across San
Francisco Bay, expressed themselves as
r.ystitied today by reports from Wash
ington that ne had taken his life.
Mr.. Elston occupied a respected plnce
in the community and his career both as
an attorney and as member of Con-
grCSs was rewarded as successful. He
was serving his fourth term in Con-
gress. Mr.. Flston had been active in
California politics for some years. ITe
was one Of the original members Of the
Lincoln Republican League" which
was credited with cffecting the election
ct Hiram Johnson. now senior Senator
from California. rs Governor. He was
married in 1911 to Talulah lie Contc,
daughter of the first president Of the
University Of California. Three chill
dr"n were born to them, the youngest
CnIy two weeks ago.
Associates here agreed that Mr.. FL
>ton was disappointed keenly over fail
uro of legislative plans which would
have placed a proposed Pacific naval
base at Alameda, in his home district.
His business and financial Affairs were
in excellent shape, according to Frank
l.. Naylor. president of Berkeley bank
oil which Elston was a director.