Imperial Valley press., 1930-08-04
AD0LPH DEBERC
COMMITS SUICIDE
IN BORDER CITY
Leaves Note Which
Shows Complete Indif-
ference To Rash Act.

Adolph DcBerg, probably u resi-
dent of Hollywood. ended his life at
CalcXico late yesterday, leaving be
hind him letter which showed q
complete indifference to the rash act
he was about to commit and contain
ing bit of grim humor here and
there about his approaching death
and failure in life.
made BY j. A. Thaanum. Of the dis
trict attorneys office. De Berg APP
peared in Calcxico several days ago,
announcing that he was advance
man for motion picture company
which was to film scenes at the b0l-
der.
lie became acquainted rapidly and
had made tentative plans for the en-
gagcment of hundreds of "eXtras. y
who were to appear in the proposed
film.
Saturday he visited the lunch
Schultz and asked to have check
for $50 cashed. Schultz communi
e;tted with Leo Watts, secretary OF
the Calcxico chamber of commerce,
who said that as far rs he knew,
De Berg was without credentials of
any kind.
ln the meantime, Bob Davis, cafe
Proprietor, had cashed the cheek
which had been endorsed by Schultz.
The latter hunted up De Berg and
compelled him to return the money
which had been given him.
The next heard of De Berg was
.lic finding of his body in the rear
of l068 lockwood avenue, by Frank
Weed of Calexico.
A letter, addressed to Schultz,
maitrc de Hotel Bristol, Mcxicaii,
hell and home of the dcvil,' was
the only thing found on De Berg's
person. 1t was written in indelible
pencil, with exceptionally good Eng
lish, indicating that De Berg pos
scssed a good education.
In the letter he stated that he
wished he had known Schultz better.
for the latter seemed to have sturdy
German characteristics which De
Berg admired and which he himself
completely lacked. ~ can make
friends, but have not the charactc:
to retain thcm,o the letter stated.
De Berg wrote of his impending
death with no trace of morbidness,
declaring instead that he was hap
pier at having made his decision to
a, Ia, fir,
! time. - have bought ant paste and
| will take it very shortly,' was the
way he expressed ii. - have done
at least one good thing in my life
by saving thousands of ants from
death which would have visited
them. ] thought at first of using
a gun, but guns are hard to get.
Besides, ant paste is a longer way
of going out.
He stated that he did not know
why he was writing to Schultz in
stead of to others nearer and dearcr
to him. but he preferred it that way.
II don't mind a grave in Potter S
field, in fact. l prefer it that way,
he wrote. "Don't try to find my
relatives. for they would begrudge
spending the money necessary for Il
funeral
Without Possessions
After taking the poison. De Berg
apparently went into Il ditch and
drank quantity of water, his cloth,
ing being damp when the body was
found and the letter badly smcared
where it had been wet. He then
went to a haystack nearby and
awaited death
A visit to the room in Il Calexico
hotel, where De Berg lived, showed
that he was without any possessions
and nothing by means of which he
could be identified.
The body is being held at Arnold s
funeral parlors in CaleXico, pending
an attempt to get in touch with pos
Sible relatives.
A postscript to De Berg's letter
reminded Schultz that in giving back
the money he had received for the
check. De Berg had given him 500
instead of the $50 called for by the
check. "You know what to do with
the other $10,' he wrote.
Several persons who conversed
with De Berg during his stay at the
border, stated that he appeared to
be perfectly normal and was Il like
able sort.