The Tragedy of William Hatton: A Lost Soul in Seattle

On Friday morning, about 9 o'clock, the body of a man was seen floating in the water near the foot of Jackson street by a fisherman, who at once notified the police. The body was towed to the Washington street slip and pulled ashore. The victim was identified as William Hatton, a man about 24 years of age. Hatton had been in jail since last August for assaulting and attempting to kill Thomas Boyd, a fellow sailor on the steamship Queen of the Pacific. He remained in jail until October 21, awaiting trial, on which date he pleaded guilty to a simple assault and was fined $100 and costs. Being unable to pay, he was returned to the county jail to serve it out. Hatton was addicted to the use of opium, and his mind was somewhat weakened from the long-continued use of the drug. While in jail, he would become particularly despondent. He claimed to have a mother and child in San Francisco, and upon his discharge from jail, he told the Sheriff he would take the first steamer for California. He even applied to several firms to assist him in securing a passage. Hatton had $25 in his pocket when discharged. No one could be found who remembers seeing him after the evening of January 6th, and it is very probable that during the dark hours of that night, he either fell or threw himself into the bay. Before his incarceration, Hatton possessed a sailor's canvas sack or bag containing clothing, which he prized highly. When he was discharged, he asked the Sheriff if he might leave his sack at the jail office, which was granted; but he never returned for it. When found, the body still carried a watch and chain, a ring, and other articles of little value, suggesting he had not been robbed.