Came To Ann Arbor To End His Life

CAME TO ANN ARBOR TO END HIS LIFE

Fred B. Hooper, of Detroit, Commits Suicide at the Cook House

Formerly Resided in this City and Had Many Friends Here--Wrote Letters Stating Intention to Take His Life

Fred B. Hooper, a Detroit real estate dealer 68 years of age and many years ago a well known Ann Arbor resident, committed suicide at the Cook House some time between 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon and 7 o'clock Friday morning.

He write a letter Thursday afternoon from the Cook House to D. O. Rexford, of Detroit, stating that he was about to take his life, and it was a telephone message from Mr. Rexford Friday morning that led to the finding of the body.

Mr. Hooper was last seen about the hotel at 5 o'clock Friday afternoon, and as the report of the revolver was not heard, it is not known precisely when the deed was committed. Deputy Gillen received the phone message from Detroit about 7 Friday morning and he hastened at once to the hotel and inquired of Mr. Hooper's wherabouts from the clerk. It was then remembered that he had not been seen since the preceding afternoon and the clerk and Deputy Gillen went at once to his room. The door was locked, but was soon forced, when Mr. Hooper was found dead in a chair with an empty revolver at his feet. The barrel had been evidently pressed close to the right side of the head, just over the ear, and a hole in the opposite side of the head showed that the bullet had passed directly through the upper part of the brain. The revolver was an old-fashioned pearl-handled, 32-calibre weapon, of the English bulldog type.

Coroner Watts has a peculiarly said task, as Mr. Hooper was an old-time friend, and wrote to him a letter of farewell, which was found in his room at the hotel. The letter is as follows:

"When I called on you yesterday and asked you for a box to send away my watch and chain and diamond stud you had no idea what was on my mind, and when George Haviland came in he little thought that I might be one of the next that would be taken to the cemetery to be laid at rest with the Hooper family. But so goes the life of everyone. When I can't live in peace with the rest of the world there is no use in living. My dear wife and sister are the only ones I feel sorry for. My dear wife! God bless her! She is one of the best women't that every lived. But I am unfortunate and can't care for her as I want to."

Coroner Watts received a visit from Mr. Hooper in the afternoon, the latter saying that he wanted a small box in which he could send some jewelry. Mr. Watts found a wooden box, and with the remark that a jeweler can pack things better than one with no practice in that line, Hooper handed over his watch and chain and diamond stud. Mr. Watts wrapped them up in tissue paper and made the box ready for shipment, and then Hooper took it over to the express office.

Hooper remained in the Watts jewelry store for nearly two hours, talking in a hearty manner about former days in Ann Arbor. He did not say what his errand was in Ann Arbor, but in reply to a question remarked that he would probably be here the following day.

William H. McIntyre, of the board of public works, met Hooper in the hotel later in the afternoon, and talked with him for two hours or more.

"He was particularly jolly," said Mr. McIntyre, "and we went over together the old times when he was in Ann Arbor and his father was running the Hooper brewery. He didn't say why he was down here, but I asked him how long he expected to stay, and he replied that he hadn't yet decided whether to leave that night or the next morning. His demeanor was not in the least such as one wold expect of a man who expected to take his own life."

Financial troubles are considered without question to be the cause of the act. Hooper was formerly a wealthy man, but of late years his business ventures have resulted disastrously, and he was very much discouraged over the outlook.

F. B. Hooper was born in England, and was brought to Ann Arbor by his father, Richard Hooper, when a young lad. About 35 years ago he removed to Detroit and engaged in the real estate business, his present business address being 30 Buhl block, corner of Griswold and Congress streets. He left a widow and one sister, Mrs. Barbour, wife of Regent Barbour of the University, who lives in Detroit.

Mr. Hooper evidently came to Ann Arbor for the express purpose of taking his life, as shown by the two letters of farewell and the box of jewelry. The box is shown by an express receipt found on his person to have been sent to Attorney Rexford.

The elder Hooper established a brewery at or near the junction of State and Fuller streets on the Michigan central tracks and for many years conducted a prosperous business to which the son--Fred B.--succeeded. During the way he took advantage of the rapid rise in barley and other grains and soon became what was considered at that time a wealthy man.

The contents of the dead man's pockets consist merely of keys, a pocketbook and a bill book, a tobacco pouch, private papers and the express receipt, there being nothing to throw additional light upon the case.

Proprietor Wagner, of the Cook house, and the clerks, noticed nothing suspicious about Mr. Hooper's manner and paid no attention to the fact that he did not put in an appearance for supper and was not seen about the office in the evening. He greeted a number of persons in the hotel lobby in the afternoon, including William McIntyre, and appeared in the best of spirits. George Haviland, who is mentioned in the letter to Coroner Watts, is an employe at the Martin undertaking establishment, and saw Mr. Hooper in the afternoon.  He registered at the hotel in the morning.

George Field, partner of Levi. L. Barbour, came out from Detroit at noon, and Mr. Barbour himself arrived two hours later. Mr. Barbour left the arranging of the funeral to the care of Mr. Field and it was held from the undertaking rooms of O. M. Martin Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock.