Lansing Hunt
Los Angeles Times
June 11, 1886, page 4

LANSING HUNT,
The Determined Suicide of May 25th.
Light as to his Family and Friends.
A Texan Who was Inclined to Take a Gloomy View of Things -- Some Letters.

   Letters received here show that Lansing Hunt, who finally succeeded, May 25, in his determined efforts at suicide, has a brother-in-law in Terrell, Texas -- S. A. Shortridge, husband of the Mrs. Belle Shortridge to whom Hunt referred in the farewell note found upon his body.  Mr. Shortridge says that last fall Lansing deeded his interest in the Wm. H. Hunt estate to Mrs. S.  [It will be remembered that in his note Hunt promised this interest to a Mrs. Otto of this city].  Mrs. Shortridge also sent the following statement:
   "Being a friend and kinsman of Lansing Hunt, whose death occurred in Los Angeles, May 25, 1886, I feel it my duty to say something of his life and character.  He was a son of Col. W. H. Hunt, a prominent and honored citizen of Texas, who was a Colonel in the war of the Republic and Mexico.  Lansing Hunt was born February 3, 1841, in Fannin county, Texas, where he resided up to ten years ago, and was considered over the average of young men in sobriety and integrity of character.  Ever since he left Texas he has been in constant correspondence with his sister, Mrs. Belle Shortridge, the person referred to in note found on his body, and his recent letters have all been cheerful, hopeful and affectionate, and contained promises that he would yield to our entreaties to come home and spend the remainder of his days with his family and the friends of his boyhood.  I am in position to know that it was neither poverty nor his own unworthiness that caused his death, but I and his family feel convinced that it was the result of some late trouble or disappointment of the nature of which we stand in complete ignorance at present."
   A couple of letters from Hunt to his sister were also sent.  Both were written from Prescott, A. T.  One, dated January 3, '85, refers to some disappointment, over which he had "felt every way that anybody could feel--mad, sad, remorseful, revengeful, ashamed, discouraged."  At the time of writing, however, he said he felt better, and was comfortably fixed.  He referred to the subject of marriage in a casual way, and promised to be home in May.  The second letter is as follows:
        "PRESCOTT, A. T., April 12, 1886.
   "DEAR SISTER:  I have been waiting patiently for a letter from you a long time, so concluded to write again.  As usual, everything is dull, and the old saying, 'no news.'  Am well, and have very little work to do, as business is so bad.  Belle, write now more than you do.  It used to be just the reverse.  How are you making it with the tarnal land business?  Belle can not give me head or tail of it.  Did Mr. S. collect that $250 you spoke of?  I came near making a trade on the strength of getting it.  If I had, you see I would have been in a nice fix now.  I wonder if I could lump my interest off to Mr. S. or any one else.  'Tis a nuisance the way it is.  You see last summer I spent a small sum ($27) twenty-seven dollars, in trying to get things in shape so I could realize something, but have failed.  It seems I had just as well spendt the money or burnt it, I expect.  I am expecting my wages to be reduced every day, and if so will not stand it, but quit and go and try to do better, so would like to know something definite in regard to these notes.  Understand me, now, I am not finding fault with you or Mr. S., but with fate, as Belle calls it.  I know you have both done all in your power to get out of the terrible tangle of years of neglect.  Do you know the whereabouts of Aunt Bela or any of the children?  The reason I ask, I have a lady friend who intends visiting Los Angeles before long, and she as all women would like to see some of my kin--curiosity, you know.  How are Syl and Emma and all the Brenham folks?  We had another [storm] last night; eight inches; has snowed all day to-day, too, but melted as it fell.  Peach trees in bloom, too; looks so odd, but we can[not] tell what will happen in this Bob Ingersoll world now-a-days.  Be sure to write soon.  Will or Emma rather got the buttons I sent them, but not the ring, [which] was stolen, I presume.  With much love, your brother,           LANSING HUNT."
   Six weeks later the unfortunate young man ended his life, which his letters show to have been a gloomy and morbid one.
   Mr. Shortridge inclosed a draft to defray the funeral expenses, and ordered a plain marble shaft for the suicide's grave.