The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-07-02
SUICIDE.
j. Siemsen, German of Long Resi-
dence, Shoots Himself.

Early on Sunday morning two young
sons of Mr.. Dowsett, while after horses
in a pasture near Oahu prison, saw a
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, a luna at the prison, who
went to the spot and found the dead
body of j. Siemsen, a German, who had
been at the prison looking for employ
ment a few days back. The body was
living face down and hands crossed over
the forehead, while an Old-fashioned
Smith & Wesson revolver, with four of
it's chambers loaded and the fifth con-
tanning an empty cartridge, was found
under the stomach. When the corpse
was turned over blood was discovered
underneath it, the source OF which was
found to be a bullet hole in the left
breast. In the pockets of the dead man
were a knife and a stone OF the bulk OF
goose egg. His hat and coat lay along
side of him, and were taken to the adj
iacent house of G. ROmhOltt, who was
known to have been friend OF SlemSen.
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 1t
was unnecessary to hold further post
mortem examination.
About half-past Z Coroner G.. L. Hop
kins had the following jury empanelled
for an inquest: Archie Gilfillan, Benz.
ID. Whitney, Fred. Philip, &. Freywald,
G. Johnson and w. +. Love. The evil
dence of DR.. Rodgers, Capt. Staples
warden of the PRISON., Melvin Staples,
Mary Siemsen (Widow of the deceased)
and c.. 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 Tor 6,OOO
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 Dy
the steamer Australia last week. The
OCH0r nllSSlV0 WAS dCuAOo0Ou ~ AAAS 0'
written very clearly and with very lew
errors. and showing unmlstakabie sulcl-
dial determination. 1t was as follows:
Honolulu, June 80, 1888.
DEAR NARY write you these few last
words You married man VINO loVeu
you and the children too well, put not
wisely l 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 COO Dless
you and the children. My blood wipes out
all debts of my contraction.
After this you will find plenty OF trleqds
to help YOU. | wasSonly in the way. You
loved me, / know; it is hard Tor me 10
part from YOU when life was sweetest TO
me. have contemplated this Tor the IasC
month. | have tried number or polsons,
but it would not kill me, so L have TO TAKE
to lead 1t is the memory OF you ana the
little ones that makes 1t hard Tor me 10
die; but as | cannot help you any more L
prefer death as YOU will be benefited by 1t:
Write to Auntie Anna; tell her dled
and that YOU are penniless. You Will get
help from them and from others. marry
a good man if YOU can; don't let my mem
DRY stand in the way. Teach the chlldTen
their prayers every night, ana may ooq
bless you. Day before yesterday, when l
came home so late, | walked up 10 the
Pail and intended to commit suicide there,
but my love for you called me back again.
You know now why / did not like TO talk:
l had quilted the world. Then my lasU
chance was this morning, but the DOT
tie of gin prevented me. DON'T eltner
you or the children ever touch lquor
again. Danish it from the house, IL was
partly my destruction. Now, with love 10
you and the poor little ones, am your
loving husband, j. SIEMsEN.