The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-07-03
SUICIDE.
j. siemsen, A German of Long Resi-
dence, shoots Himself.

Early on Sunday morning two young
sons OF Mr. Dowsett, while after horses
in pasture near Oahu prison, saw q
man lying on the ground. They sup
posed he was drunk and gave no alarm,
but, on finding the man in the same
] place in the afternoon, the boys notified
Mr.. Short, luna at the prison, who
went to the spot and found the dead
body OF j. Siemsen, German, who had
been at the prison looking for employ
ment few days back. The body was
lying face down and hands crossed over
the forehead, while an old-fashioned
Smith & Wesson revolver, with four OF
its chambers loaded and the filth con-
tanning an empty cartridge, was found
under the stomach. When the corpse
was turned over blood was discovered
underneath i, the source OF which was
| found to be bullet hole in the LETT
breast. In the pockets Of the dead man
were knife and stone OF the bulk OF
| goose egg. His hat and coat lay along
! side OF him, and were taken to the adj
| jacent house OF G. Romholtt, vino was
! known TO have been friend OF Siemsen.
DR.. Rodgers was called TO examine the
| body when it was taken to the Station.
| He found a gunshot wound about an
inch below the left nipple, passing be-
tween two ribs so as to gouge frag-
ment out OF one, and penetrating beyond
| the reach OF the probe to fathom. Con-
sidering that the wound was sufficient to
cause death, the doctor advised that it
was unnecessary to hold further post
mortem examination.
About half-past Coroner G. L. Hop
kins had the following jury empanelled
/ for an inquest: Archie Gilfllan, Benz.
D. Whitney, Fred. Philip, c. Freywald,
G. johnson and w. F. Love. The evil
dence of DR.. Rodgers, Capt. Staples
| (warden of the PRISON., Melvin Staples,
Mary Siemsen widow Of the deceased)
and G. Bomholtt Was taken. Two let
! tiers found in Siemsen's coat were also
produced. One was from his aunt in
Germany, informing him that she was
unable to send him any money by that
mail, in response to his request for 5000
marks; that she could only get together
| 600 marks, but the brokers named in the
letter would not give bill OF exchange
! for that amount This letter came by
| the steamer Australia last week. The
| other missiVe was addressed to his wife,
written very clearly and with very few
errors. and showing unmistakable suici-
dial determination. 1t was as follows:
HONOLULU. June 90, 1888.
DEAR MARY write you these few last
| words. You married a man who loved
YOU and the children too well. but not
| wisely. | am totally ruined. Instead OF
! disgrace l prefer death. You are not to
| blame for anything, You have been
| good loving wife TO me. May God bless
! you and the children. My blood wipes out
| all debts of my contraction.
After this you will find plenty of friends
to helpyou. l was only in the way. You
| loved me, | know; it is hard for me to
part from you when life was sweetest to
| me. | have contemplated this for the last
month. | have tried a number of poisons,
but it would not kill me, so | have to take
to lead. 1t is the memory OF you and the
! little ones that makes it hard for me to
| die; but as / cannot help you any more |
prefer death, as you will be benefited by it.
Write to Auntie Anna; tell her l died
| and that you are penniless. You will get
| help from them and from others. Marry
| good man if you can; don't let my mem
| ory stand in the way. Teach the children
| their prayers every night, and may God
| bless you. Day before yesterday, when |
| came home so late, | walked up to the
| Pail and intended to commit suicide there,
| but nv love for you called me back again.
! You know now why did not like to talk.
l had Quilted the world. Then my last
chance was this morning. but the bot
| tie of gin prevented me. Don't either
you or the children ever touch liquor
again. Danish it from the house, 1t was
partly my destruction. Now, with love to
you and the poor little ones, am your
! loving husband j. SIEMsEN.
Glucksburg, via Flensburg, Germany.
Mrs. Siemsen "a native woman) testi
fed in good English. She had been
married to deceased II years, and they
had five children. They lived very
pleasantly. The day after the steamer
/ Australia arrived Siemsen was away till
one O'Clock next morning, saying on his
return that he had been to the electric
light station and the Pail. Saturday
morning was the last time she had seen
him, when he bid all good-by saying he
was going to see Mr.. Schaefer He went
away happy carrying book with him
for Mr.. Welsh. Siemsen had no en-
ployment for the past year, previous to
which he worked on the Eleele planta-
ton, Kauai He was an engineer by
trade. The unfortunate woman on re-
ouesting the Coroner to send her fus-
bands body home, said that she had no
friends to whom she could appeal for help.
The jury returned a verdict that j.
Siemsen came to his death by his own
hands, by means of pistol shot dis
charged with suicidal intent, while under
mental depression.
Siemsen came to this country some
years ago as sailor on German vessel.
At one time here he was possessed OF a
respectable competence, but circum-
stances latterly went sadly against him.
He was about so years of age, of fine
physique, and intelligent above the
& -,lan