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McKinlewille Man InjSatisfactory Condition Following Suicide TryA 32-year-old MrKinleyvllle man, protesting what he has termed the delayed disposition of a $70,000 inheritance, shot himself in the San Francisco offices of the Crncker-Citizens National Hank yesterday, after failing to secure any of the money.James Thornton, a member of a branch of the Modoc tribe, was reported in “satisfactory” condition last night at San Francisco General Hospital with a bullet in his upper right chest. Disposition of the money, left in a trust fund by his father, Harold Thornton, is tied up in litigation here in Humboldt County.The calendar overload in Superior Court has apparently delayed settlement of the estate, county officials said last night.Thornton, his wife and six children had picketed the bank last November, carrying signs saying: “This bank has $70,000 which belongs to me, yet my children have to go without proper food.”At that time, hank officials said: “The money is tied up in court and there is not a thing we can do about it. Why don’t they go picket the courthouse in Kureka?”Ralph W. McKenna, an assistant trust officer at the Crocker-Citiiens Bank, said the shooting occurred after he turned down Thornton's request to take his money out of the bank.Thornton, a lumberjack, reportedly has been unable to keep work.In November, donations were made to the children consistingMcKenna said he had offered of shoes and clothing. They had Thornton $100 to cover trans- reportedly been unable to go to portation costs back to McKin- school because they lacked cloth-leyville, when Thornton sudden- ing.ly drew a 38-caliber revolver, At that time, a bank official pointed it at his chest and fired.Thornton’s wife and six children were in the bank office when the shooting occurred, police said.Thornton’s wife, Patricia, 26, told police the family traveled to San Francisco by bus to meet with bank officials after they were threatened with evictionfrom their home for failing to pay the rent.She said her husband has not worked for two years.The trust fund came from the sale of 970 acres of heavily timbered Indian lands in Southern Oregon, owned by the elder' Thornton, for which the Federal •government paid him about$500,000.The money, about $400,000 ofiiiIsaid. “It’s always like this with an inheritance. You wonder how the people ever managed to live without it.”McKenna said he and other officials were in the sixth floor conference room, working out details of a plan to settle the family’s debts, when Thornton “barged in, rather dramatically.”Following a short conversation, McKenna made his $100 offer and Thornton pulled out the gun, saying, “I’ll show you what I think of banks.”McKenna said last night Thornton had not seemed “too emotionally upset during the action.”Mrs. McKenna told newsmen, “He (Thornton) has seen unableit, was placed in trust funds and . „ ._______..., , to work for two years,divided equally between four , ...“Everytime he gets a job thesons and a daughter.In November, Thornton saidcollection agencies move in andhe had received $2,000 from the attach his salary, so he leaves, estate in July, but added, “that’s They think he has a lot ofall gone now.” I {Co«tinu.d on Pagt 2)
Newspaper Details
Eureka Humboldt Times
Eureka, California, US
Thu, Mar 19, 1964
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
David A.
CA, USA 29 Jun 2021
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