The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-03
MURDER OR SUICIDE
The Mysterious Death OF am Eecen-
trio Old Jew.

Chicago, March 2.-The body of an old
Jew named Lazarus sierra as.found, under
circumstances which makes it doubtful
whether ii is case of murder or suicide.
He WAS an eccentric character and always
sough! as far as possible TO avoid society,
living entirely slone in dark but
rather we'll furniahed room on the second
floor of 347 South Clark street. He made a
living BY placing insurance policies on com.
mission for down town firms, but Wss not
regularly employed at anything. lie was
shout So years of ago and had occupied the
room in which ha died for the last four or
five years. Last Monday his friends noticed
that symptoms OF insanity were developed
and he became sOtllghty and violent that his
friends proposed 10 remove him 20 Mercy
hospital fof treatment. A carriage was
ordered to convey him there, but he sbso-
lutely refused 10 be removed from bis
room, They dnslly permitted him to re-
main on condition that he should allow Dr.
Macdonald to prescribe for him. During
the last two or three days he would not take
any medicine, and last night he told an old
German woman named Mary Keno, who oc.
was going TO die, and that he WAS g.sd of il,
for he was tired OF life. This morning shout
10 O'Clock she passed his door, and, noticing
that 1t was slightly ajar, sh9 looked,
and was Mortified at seeing that he was
dead, and lying across tho bed with his
hands and feet tied together. She hastily,
summoned John DieN, drug clerk, and
Thomas Brain, proprietor If drug store al
gf l l.>Al
of whom we're friends Of the deceased They
notified the police, and Sllers minute investl-
gait IN it was found that he was only partially
dressed, having an coat n pair Of drawers
and socks. Over his body was IN old quilt
and across the face n pillow. The hauds
vera loosely tied together with an old stock
ing, and the foet which touched the floor,
were tied with smell double-knotted cord
at the ankles. There were no marks of
violence about the body nor were there any
indications of his having taken poison,
though there were number of bottles and
tnmblers on stand near the bed
side. Everything in the room was
scattered about in tho utmost con.
fusion, but as far as could be learned nothing
was missing. La his trunk were found two
diamond rings and plain gold ring, while in
ono w HIS pooheSs WAS onoIner GOld ring, so
that it was evident that if the deed WAS done
by any one but himself it was not for the
purpose of robbery. Stern was something of
a miser, but it is not known that he had any
more property than that found in his room
and the sum Of Sl65 which he had locked up
in his friend Mr.. Braun safe. He had no rela-
tives living in this city. 1t is thought that
brother of his is living in Philadelphia.
The police are unable to solve the mystery
of his death, but they are inclined to believe
that he took poison of some kind, and being
eccentric or Insane bound and placed himself
in the position in which he was found for the
purpose of creating the impression that no
had been murdered. Others, however, think
differently. At oil events the mystery will
probably DO cleared away at the post-mor.
tenn examination 10 hn held to-morrow.