Clark County NV Archives Obituaries.....TORRES, Esteban August 28 1921
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Gerry Perry missgerry@cox.net September 21, 2004, 10:40 pm

Las Vegas Age - 9/3/1921


MEXICAN KILLS SELF FOR LOVE OF WOMAN



ESTEBAN TORRES SENDS BULLET THROUGH BRAIN IN ROOM OF HIS INAMORATA



    Esteban TORRES, a Mexican employed as pipe fitter in the Salt Lake shops 

in the city, while visiting his inamorata, one Josephine YOUNG, an inmate of 

the Arizona Club, placed the muzzle of a revolver in his mouth and sent one 

or two bullets through his head.  The tragedy of unrequited love occurred 

Sunday afternoon shortly before one o'clock.

    TORRES was taken to the Las Vegas Hospital where he lived until about 

nine o'clock that evening.

    An inquest was held before Judge LILLIS Monday afternoon, M. J. 

SULLIVAN, John TRUAX and L. R. SKINNER being the coroner's jury.  A verdict 

of suicide was returned.

    The first witness examined was Dr. R. W. MARTIN, who testified that 

deceased died from the effects of a shot fired with the muzzle of the gun in 

his mouth.  The skull was in a broken-up condition as from an explosion 

within.  It was reported to Dr. MARTIN that two shots were fired.

    Josephine YOUNG testified that she had been acquainted with deceased 

about a year.  She saw him Sunday about 12:30 standing on the sidewalk 

outside the Arizona Club.  She next saw him as he came in her room and said, 

"I love you," took the gun from his pocket, put it in his mouth and shot. 

"I tried to grab it (the gun) and talk to him but he shot then."  she said. 

She only remembers one shot.  After the shot she walked out.  It appears 

from the testimony and from the statements of those who knew TORRES well, 

that he was infatuated with the woman, had on several previous occasions 

threatened to take his life on her account.  Miss YOUNG testified that she 

always thought he was bluffing when he made threats of suicide.  She saw no 

difference in his  general appearance or demeanor just before he committed 

the act from usual appearance.  There had been no quarrels between witness 

and the deceased and he never was quarrelsome.

    Cleto AGUIRRE, the interpreter, was called upon to read and explain a 

note found in the room of deceased and supposed to have been written by him. 

"He says, 'Good-bye to all my friends.'  That is about all I can figure out, 

it is so mispelled and badly written," said Aguirre.

    From an insurance policy taken out by TORRES, it was shown that he was a 

pipe-fitter and coppersmith by trade and was 29 years of age.

    Henry HERNANDEZ testiefied that he had been well acquainted with 

deceased for four or five years.  He had heard to talk of suicide, and had 

never seen him intoxicated.

    Jose ROMO testified that he had know deceased for about seven years and 

that deceased had not been drinking trhe night preceding the shooting.  He 

found the note in the room occupied by deceased and "a fellow named Backa."

    TORRES is given a good character by all his fellow associates.  The 

funeral held Tuesday afternoon was largely attended and regret was expressed 

by many at his unhappy end.  So far as known TORRES had no relatives in this 

section of the country.













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