VALLEY, HINZ

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 05:55:33 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, May 20, 1909
Page 5

Kills Self In Fit of Despondency

Edward J. Valley, one of the best known engineers in the state and a resident of Mill Valley, committed suicide at his home on Lovell avenue in that city Thursday evening a few minutes past six o’clock by shooting himself through the head with a 38 calibre revolver. Although the bullet entered the brain the unfortunate man did not pass away until about an hour afterwards, and not before the last rites of the church at the hands of Father Sesnon had been offered.

The deceased is known to be one of the most competent engineers in the state. For the past eight years he has been on the train that runs into Mill Valley, but he lost his position about three months ago and since that time has shown signs of despondency. He was obviously very much depressed and several times during the past week had intimated that he would pursue the course that he took Thursday evening.

The day of the tragedy he was on the streets talking with friends in about the usual manner. At about 5 o’clock, however, he again grew despondent and attempted to borrow a revolver from a number of people on the pretext that he wished to kill a cat that has been making night hideous for a week past. The first few people he asked for the weapon, refused, guessing that he did not want to kill a cat, but wished to end his supposed misery. Finally he asked night watchman Young who gave him the revolver with which he ended his earthly existence. The deed was committed in the presence of his son, J. J. Valley, who made a frantic but ineffectual attempt to block his father’s hasty act.

The deceased leaves a wife, one daughter, Mrs. Henry Hinz of Mill Valley, and two sons, Jack and Edward, the latter being in Prescott, Arizona at the time of the tragedy, and coming as soon as notified.