The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-05
BY A BROTHER'S HAND.
Jacob Schlapfer Shot Dead
in His Own Home.
THE MURDERER COMMITS SUICIDE.
He Was Insane and Dreaded Being
Taken to a Madhouse.


In darkened room of his pretty little
cottage, No. 43 Humboldt street, Union
Hill, great hearted Jacob Schlapfer lies
dead with two bullets in his brain, the
victim of his own brothers rage.
John Schlapfer, the murderer. has been
in weak state of mind for years,
and his brothers best efforts to
aid him have but enraged him
the more. Last evening Jacob came home
from his office and eat his supper He
then threw his coat off and leaned back
in his easy chair to read the evening
papers. His wife cleared away the sup
per dishes and his little blue eyed
daughter prattled nonsense to her pet
doll at his feet.
THE MURDER.
Suddenly the door burst open. John
rushed in with madman's CLEAN in his
eve and before Jacob could rise from his
chair, q bullet whizzed by his head and
crashed through the mirror behind him.
my God, be cried, "John.do you mean
to kill me?''
His brother for answer grappled with
him, put his right arm around his neck,
and placing the smoking muzzle of the
pistol to his head, yelled:--'I said I'd set
tie you yet, and Pm going to do it now
and pulled the trigger twice.
Jacob fell stone dead without another
word.
THE SUICIDE
His murderer first assured himself that
his victim had ceased to breathe, and
then, pushing his brothers screaming
wife out of the way, put the pistol to his
own head and in another moment he fell
to the floor, self-murdered.
The neighbors rushed into the house
and with great difficulty managed to drag
the fainting wife from the body of her
dead husband. Coroner Brackner was
summoned Immediately, and he, after
viewing the bodies, had Johns removed
to Undertaken Beyer's morgue, while the
body of Jacob is still lying at his desc
lated home.
INSANITY.
The trouble between the brothers has
existed for years Johns erratic conduct
was source of endless trouble to his fam
ily, He received the contract on the
Liberty street sewer three years ago, and
after he had received the first instalment
of his money from the town, disappeared.
Jacob, who had signed his bond, assumed
the responsibility and finished the work
at a loss.
Nothing was heard of John for a time,
and his brother, after long search,
found him in an insane asylum at Stock
tor, Cal. He brought him home, cared
for him and finally gave him position
in the empoly Of the Weehawken Granite
Company, of which he was secretary.
John did not keep this very
long, his conduct causing the
manager to discharge him. DR.. De Croft,
who was interested in the company, adj
yised Jacob to have his brother put into
an asylum but he would not hear of it,
A BROTHERS. CHARITY.
ssMy brother is unfortunate he would
say, hbut as long as / have aroof to cover
me, he shall share it,"
a. So c%, ,.t1 I'm Naa
hawken John was sworn in as u special
policeman and was then given the re-
volver that ended his brothers life and
his own.
He did nothing for some months after
wards but make things uncomfortable for
his brother, until he finally was appointed
conductor on the Third Avenue Elevated
road, New York.
He bought his uniform, wore it one
day, and t .en gave up his position. His
brother bore with him still, attributing
all of his erratic conduct to his infirmity.
John kept, getting worse and more un-
bearable every day, until at last, to pro-
tect his family more than himself, Jacob
felt himself compelled to take steps to
have him placed in an asylum.
Recorder Schlicher offered to commit
John but Jacobs heart failed him at the
last moment, and he refused to make u
complaint.
Yesterday John was more unruly than
ever, and Policeman Schumpf. of Union
Hill, was asked to take him into custody.
He refused, however, to do SO without q
warrant.
Again Jacobs heart failed him and
John left the house swearing to be re-
yenged.
THE PITIFUL CLOSING SCENE.
The last scene of the pitiful drama in
which brotherly affection played such
noble part has been already told. Mrs.
Schlapfer is heart broken and could
hardly speak when l called on her this
morning.
The room was dark and still. The cold,
calm face of the dead man wore an ex-
preston of deep peace. Over him bent
his aged father. listening with a breaking
heart to the low sobs of the widow.
There was nothing light in the room
save the golden hair OF the murdered
mans three-year-old daughter, who sat
at her mothers feet, looking up into her
eyes enquiringly. She tried, in her baby
way, to make her "mamma'' stop crying.
No inquest will be held.
Jacob Schlapper belonged to Lodge No.
2O6 of the Royal Society of Good Fellows,
and they will attend his funeral in
body Not man in Union Hill can say
an unkind word against the victim of this
cruel tragedy.
He was kind to everyone he met, and
many moistened eye when the story
was told In North Hudson last evening
showed how deeply he had made his way
into tho HEARTS Of fha tOWnSnaOnle