New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
SHOT BY AN IDLE CRANK.
AN IMPORTER NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH
IN HIS BROAD-ST. OFFICE.
THE AssAILANr AFTERwARD KILLS HIMsELT-


dangerous crank attempted to assassinate .
Broad-st merchant yesterday afternoon, and be-
leving that he had killed his victim. took his
own life by firing two bullets into his brain. The
merchant was julius Somborn. of the wine i'm
porting firm of l.. Somborn & Co.. at No. 81
Broad-st, and the man who did the shooting was
distant relative, who had frequently obtained
assistance from the merchant.
Jacob Somborn was n shiftless fellow. who for
years had not had steady employment,
and the wine merchant frequently assisted
him by giving him money On Christmas
he secured SO from Mr. Somborn and last
week he called at the Broad-st. Office
and asked for S2j more, which was given to him.
At :25 yesterday afternoon he called again, and'
meeting one of the clerks just inside the doorway,
he told him that he wished to see Mr.. Somborn.
The merchant was informed that there was man
outside who wished to see him. Mr.. Somoorn
stepped out OF his private Office, and on seeing who
his caller was told him to come again, as he could
not do anything for him then
The man then put his hand into his overcoat
pocket and pulled out large 3S-calibre revolver.
julius Somborn jumped back and turned away.
The man pulled the trigger of the weapon ho
held and the bullet struck Mr.. Somborn's right hip
The merchant ran into his Office, and when inside
the assassin again fired at him through the glass
partition which separates the private office from
the outer room. This time however. the
bullet went wide of its mark and lodged In the
wall above Mr.. Somborn's desk.
As soon as the bullet struck Mr.. Somborn. he
cried out, Il shot," and after reaching his
Office fell into his chair in front of his desk. his
assailant heard the exclamation and after firing
the second slot he to the rear Of the store as
if TO escape that way, and James Humber, one OK
the wine-roOm hands who had taken refuge behind
several large casks, heard him say:
TWO BULLETS IN HIS BRAIN.
When he could not find any way Of escape
through the rear of the store, he went TO the
front Of the place, and deliberately placed the
muzzle of the revolver in his mouth and hired
two bullets into his brain. His body fell on the
floor with his head near the front door. and no
must have died instantly.
H. II Perkins and another clerk were in the
office at the time of the shooting, and as soon as
the first shot was fired they rushed to the
front of the house and jumped out of the window.
They said afterward that they thought another
crank like Norcross who blew up Russell Sages
office was in the room and for that reason they
thought il best 10 get away as soon as possible.
There was large number OF people walking
along Broad-st at the time, and the shooting ere.
ated considerable excitement crowd soon
gathered in front of the store, but 10 one seemed
inclined to go into the place to see what was the
matter, and it was not until Policeman Mccarthy
arrived that il was learned that Mr.. Somborn was
still alive The policeman rushed into the mer-
chants Office after taking look at the dead BODY
Of the crank who had done the shootlng'
and found him sitting at his desk. Inc
crowd quickly followed, and soon the store was
crowded with strangers and anxious friends OK
,hAr
hardly conscious of what going on about him.
but when the policeman asked him II he was In
jurcd he rose to his feet and said he was. but
that he did not think he was badly hurt. Blood,
however. was dropping from the merchants
trousers TO the floor, and his face was deathy pale.
Dr. Manning of No. 26 Rutgers-st., happened 10
be passing the store at the time OF the shooting,
and on learning that the merchant had peen
shot he offered his services. He quickly
tore open the clothing covering the wound
ON the hip. and discovered that the
bullet after striking the hip-bone, had glanced to
the front and had inflicted deep flesh wound In
the abdomen. From this wound the blood flowed
profuscy. When the doctor was examining the
wound and attempting TO stop the flow Of blood.
Mr.. SOmborn said
Il feel something in my stocking Please take
it out"
a
clothing and at the top of his stocking the bullet
which had been fired at him found 1t
was only slightly scratched from coming in
contact with the hlp-bone
AS soon AS Mr. Somborn saw the bullet and on
being assured by the doctor that he was not oan-
gcrousy hurt, he fell back into his chair in a
faint. He was subsequently taken to his home,
No. East s6thst.
THE VICTIM FMNTS AWAY.
1t is a miracle that Mr.. Somborn was not killed.
for had the first bullet had the force Of the
second one it would have shattered his hip-bone
and penetrat d his abdomen. The assailant was
within five feet of him when he fired the first
shot The first cartridge which exploded must
have been an imperfect one. as 1t did
not even fracture the bone 1t came
in contact with while the second bul,
ct imbedded itself three inches In the hard
wall after passing through the glass partition
After Mr. Sombon had been taken care OF, the
body of the assassin and suicide was taken TO the
Old Slip police station. where his clothing war
searched.
MR.. SOMBORN', STATEMENT
After the body was carried to the Old Slip
police station, and while awaiting the arrival
of Coroner Schutze. the clothes of the suicide
were examined. This revealed number OF let-
ters and papers, and large iack-knlfe. on
his arrival the Coroner issued perhi'
for the body TO be taken TO the Morsue;.
Coroner Schultz then eNnmlned the papeiSS .ouhS ~
ON the body of the suicide. They proved TO pe
an envelopc bearing the name of l.. Somoorn 90
Co.. addressed to Jacob Somborn No
III CInton-st. NewYork, postmarked
Burnheim. No. So Washington Square; receipts
for room rent at 81 80 week from December -
TO February ,. which were signed IN cramEa
hand I Irotzl<v: and the most interesting OF all
letter which proves that he had decided TO take
his own life for some time. at least the greater
part of the present month. Inc e''er ~
follows: oo,
New York. 1897
To the Coroner sir: YOu will please see tia' my s ..'
wish and will be attended TO. | cOnmitted .he a.s'
as they saw OF suicide not that had the le,st syhP
toms of such or WIS il act OF any iiisnnesS.
knew fully well / was doing ut the Yer, Es. I'M no
ment before committed the act. GeneI;iy speahlhs
was fired out and sick Of life, was oId III my soa
might sny Young days, | went through 100 blucn ~
hard hp and everything else overworhed my sen n
frrIifs laLOr. eNeiys