Fremont County, Iowa

The Ghost of The Hotel Del Coronado
"The True Story of Kate Morgan"

Written and copyright by Terry Girardot, 2001;
All rights reserved by Terry Girardot, published 2001, Dallas, TX; used with permission

Chapter Eight
A Possible Clue

Saturday, December 3, 1892
San Diego Union
A Telegram From Detroit Relative to the Coronado Suicide

The only new feature presented up to this morning in the suicide case of the pretty and mysterious Lottie Anderson Barnard was the receipt of a telegram from Detroit, as follows:

DETROIT, Nov. 30.
Chief of Police, San Diego:
Telegraph full description lady’s body found on beach. Had short hair, black corset, large black hat, gold buckle.

MISS MAY WYLLIE

Deputy Coroner Stetson replied, giving a full description. The description in the telegram is partially applicable to the dead girl. She wore a black corset, and a large black hat, but her hair was of medium length and there was no gold buckle on her hat. No telegram has been received from any other source, though inquiries were sent yesterday to James P. Beach, president of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ bank at Hamburg, Ia., regarding the identity of G. L. Allen who wired $25 to the girl through the bank.

An examination was made last night of the three trunks lying at the D-street depot, which arrived from Omaha, via Denver, about Thanksgiving day. The key found among the girl’s effects partially fits the lock of one of the trunks, but permission was withheld to open them until proper authorization from the division baggage agent. This will be secured today.

The Seaport News

Coronado Items: Weary of Life: Mrs. Anderson Bernard a widow, twenty-four years of age, arrived at Del Coronado alone last week. She was reserved and mingling not with the other guests, made few acquaintances. It was known, however, that she was an invalid. On Monday she resolved to end her sorrows and sufferings, so, crossing the bay purchased a revolver and cartridges. Soon after dark on that evening she deserted the warm, cheerful rooms of the hotel for the darkness outside, and on the steps at the rear in the cold, drizzling rain, took her own life. The lifeless body of the unfortunate woman lay there all night, not being discovered until early morning.