Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-27
SUICIDE As A scIyycg.
A Gfrman'. Method in kllllna nIareIf.


New York Times, 2sts --.s,~a--ss'
In rear room on the second door OF the
hye-story fiat at No. i5A Norfolk street.
yesterday afternoon, was found the body
OF man seated In a comfortable, high.
backed rockingham. which had been
propped forward very carefully BIZ small
sticks OF pine placed under the rockers. A
bullet-hole was through the mans head
Just above the temple. His shirt. vest, and
pantaloons were saturated with blood,
which had formed large pool under the
chair. and ran back IN broad streams under
the bed, which occupied one corner OF the
apartment. The mans vest was open, aud
the sleeves OF his white cotton shirt were
rolled to the elbows. He wore no coat.
His LETT hand rested In bis lsp and firmly
grasred heavy revolver of German man.
ufacture. On his right leg lay another re-
volyer spattered with blood. His right
arm. rigid in death, rested on the arm OF
the chair near the elbow. The arm was
partially raised, and about the hand was
wrapped several times a heavy cotton shoe
cord, 10 which was attached small linen
fishing-line.
In front OF the body, which was at once
identified by the Mortified occupants OF
other flats in the building as that OF julius
Hollweg, was small table covered with q
brown cloth, and placed directly under an
old.fashioned mirror. To the table was
firmly tied with piece OF bed cord fine
large-bore rifle, made by Bosiel. OF Suhl,
Germany. The rifle was pointed at the
mans shoulder, and before the body
settled down after death came must
have been aimed directly at his
heart. Over the mans head, stretched
tightly across the room and held by
nsils IN either wall, was strong cord hold
ing an empty spool. Over this was run the
fshing-llne from the mans hand, whence
1t was passed through staple fixed In the
top OF the mirror, TO and around another
spool fixed to revolve ut the bottom of the
mirror, the end being tied to the trigger OF
the gun. The fishing-.inc was taut. but
the pull had not been sufficient to discharge
the gun. That the mirror, which was sus-
pended bya cord. might not tip forward
by = pull on the cord, piece Of fishing
line bad been fastened to the top and tied
TO nail In the wall. Taking the revolver
In his right hand, with another ready
cooked in his left, this deliberate, method.
cal suicide, raised II TO his head and fired.
He evidently expected that The fall Of his
hand would pull the tishing.ine enough to
discharge the gun through his heart. But
the first shot was enough. Death came so
quickly that the hand remained fixed half
way TO his head, the mirror gave slightly
despite his precaution; and, although the
rifle was fixed with a hair-trigger, which a
breath will almost discharge, 1t failed TO 90
of. With the mirror before him he made
sure OF his aim, propping the chair so that
his position would not be moved.
Is was Just O'Clock in the afternoon
when the shot was heard by occupants OF
adjoining flats. The door OF the room
where the suicide was committed was not
locked, but Hollweg was stone dead before
any one reached the room. The police
were informed and word was sent to the
dead mans wife, Doretta, and his son
Eyid, both employed in tie restaurant
at Chatham and Centre streets-the
former as cook, the latter as waiter. In
the mean time Coroner Merke arrived in
tine 10 inform the driver of the am
bulance from the Chambers Street Hospital
chat there had been no need OF call on
shat institution. Mrs. Holweg, who Is
sound-, pleasantfaced German woman OF
middle age, expressed little surprise,
though considerable grief, AS she vie we'd
the CORY remains OF her husband and the
mechanical contriyance arranged by him
to defeat any battle life might try to make.
Her husbands actions for some time had
led to the belief that he contemplated sui
eide.
Hollweg, who was fifty.seven years old.
was native Of Genthin, In the province
Of Brandenburg, Prussia. He was OF
well-to-do family. and received a good edu-
cation. For twenty-five years he ran a
saw-mill there. and built up competency.
But be was led into ill-advised investments
through a man named Nietgo, and be lost
his property. Seven years ago he came to
America with his wife and son, the latter
now twenty-three years OF age. The
loss OF his fortune made him de-
spondent, and he also worried great
ly over the actions OF his elder son.
now in Germany, whsm he thought
had used him very badly. lie drank 8
great deal, and often threatened to end his
life because he did not have enough money
10 live rs he liked. About three years ago
his younger son saved money enough TO
send Hollweg TO Germany, where he stayed
five months. Returning, he was given
charge Of the flats at No. l54 Norfolk street
about year and a half ago. Since living
there his neighbors say he had constantly
been under the influence Of liquor, and
used the earnings Of his wife and son very
freely.
Hollweg some time ago set the 4th Of July
as the day Of his taking-ofl, but as his wife
refused TO shoot him, as requested, he put
or the execution OF his plan. On Thurs
day night when bis wife returned from her
work be handed her one OF the revolyers,
saying: well. there's nothing more for
ne. ;: cot me-" As Mrs. Hollweg didn't
comply with this polite request, he dis
charged the revolver into the ceiling, As he
had done on the glorious 4th. In fact, on
that day he tried hard TO make colander
out OF the ceiling, as numerous bullet-holes
attest. when his wife and son went to
their work Yesterday morning Hollveg
was in bed. Young lIOliweg had not been
told Of bis fathers talk the night before, &c
says, or he would have taken away one OF
the revolyers, which belonged TO him.
"Well," remarked the young man as he
stepped into the roo m where his fathers
body still faced the glass, about 4 O'Clock
in the afternoon, "it's aboat as | expect
ed. knew IL be did it, he'd do it well.
II any trouble ever comes TO inc, that's
what I'll do.' With that he took the re-
yolyer out Of the left hand Of the dead man,
and. carelessly handling 1t, removed the
cartridges. All SIX barrels were found
charged. showing that the supposition that
Hollweg had discharged both pistols into
his head at once was incorrect. In the
other revolver, which was fiye-chambered
32-calibre weapon, Of Forehand & Wads-
worth make. one cartridge had been dis
charged. This passed completely through
Hollweg's head and lodged in the plaster on
the opposite wall, from where ii was easily
extracted. The rifle and revolver. OF Ger
man make, were brought from Germany
by Hollweg.
The suicide had quite mechanical turn
OF mind, as his elaborate arrangement for
bis taking-of proved. Some years ago he
secured patent on velocipede OF pecu-
liar shape, " hich was intended TO be worked
with crank OF his own invention. One
OF the machines was on exhibition for some
time at the Cooper Union, but Hollweg
failed to realize anything from his patent.
In preparing the suicide arrangement be
exercised the greatest care, and 1t is re-
maIkable that the gun was not discharged.
FAST TRAVEL.