The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-07

he met Jacobs, who was walking To-
wards Missoula gulch. The two spoke
pleasantly to each other. and as they
passed Hess inquired, Aren't you up
rather early this morning?"
YES" replied Mr. Jacobs. IT am go
ing ~ the mine"
A few minutes later Mrs. Helena
Dell, who lives a short distance north
of Hess house, noticed the unfortunate
city treasurer walking in the direction
Of the building in which he ended his
life. He walked past her house be-
fore he crossed the gulch. and she
watched him closely, as she though at
first he was an Official Of the B., A 4
p. railway with whom she had an
appointment at o'clock in regard to
a right of way privilege. AS he came
closer she saw that he was not the
man for whom she was looking. and
she also recognized him as a man
whom she had seen in that vicinity
three or four times during the past
the theory that he. had contemplated
suicide and had selected the place for
the act. A few minutes after he passed
her house Mrs. Dell heard a report
from the direction of the Anselmo
blacksmith shop, but IT was so heavy
that she thought Ii was a blast and
she gave IL no particular attention.
Mrs. A. A. Forbis, who lives only
short distance away from the build
ing in which Mr.. Jacobs killed himself.
was startled about 7:30 o'clock by two
loud pistol shots which seemed to come
from some point close to the house.
She was so badly frightened that she
aroused her son. John F. Forbis. and
informed him of what she had heard.
He. however believed that the reports
were blasts and made no investigation.
Mrs. Forbis is positive that she
heard two shots, and ii is probable
that the suicide fired one shot to try
his gun and then turned 1t on himself.
A search was made among Mr.. IA
cobs effects for a letter that might
throw some light on his rash act, but
none was found, and the coroner Will
tomorrow morning make an investi-
cation of the dead mans safe. How
ever. according to his figures contained
in an unsigned statement To Mayor
Thompson and published In another
column of the Standard, his shol tage
is close to s50,0cO. The statement was
that he should have on hand $60,457.15.
distributed among the different funds
as follows:
Sinking fund. nd....................$ $40, 900 90
Library book fund ............. 2,770 40
Libraryexpense fund. .......... s.596 81
Sprinkling fund. d................. 26O 81
Other funds.- .-................... S,I4I %
His cash on hand is given at about
$4,000. but the exact amount will not
be known until the books of the First
National bank are examined, which
will be done tomorrow morning. Mr..
Davis stated tonight that he estimat-
ed Mr.. Jacobs credit balance at the
bank at from 5000 to $4,000.
Mayor Dugan has for a week or more
tried to get a statement from Mr.. ia
cobs, to be used in his message to the
council, but Mr.. Jacobs put him off on
the plea that his brother, who assisted
him, was sick, and his assistance was
required in getting out the statement
City Clerk Irvine has been working
with Mr.. Jacobs on the latter's books
for several days, and they were at It
last night until late hour. The fig-
ures of the treasurer's books would not
balance with the clerks books, but the
| discrepancy was very small, the clerks
| figures of the total cash in the different
| funds being $60,375.59, and the treasur-
ers $50, ,457.75, which discrepancy, in
favor of the treasurer, is accounted for
by the fact that he received some mon
ey after his own books We're made up,
and of which he did not notify the
clerk.
Since Dec. IA of last year Mr. Jacobs
has received from the county treasurer
in city taxes s166. 80. During his last
| term of office he has been keeping his
city accounts at the First National
bank. but prior to that time he kept
them at the bank of Clark Bros.
1t is stated tonight that short time
| before the expiration of his office two
years ago Clark Bros. became dissatis-
fed with his accounts, and notified him
| that he should settle with the bank,
which he did. They gave some slight
excuse for their demand. but IL is now
| believed that he was running short
even at that time. and that Clark Bros.
were aware of 1t. They were also his
bondsmen. but at the expiration of his
term of Office two years ago they with
drew, and Henry l.. Frank, John
ORourke and William p. Gwin went
on his new bonds in the sum of $780,
900.
| 1t was stated tonight by a friend of
Mr.. Jacobs that his bondsmen knew a
year ago that he was running behind
in his accounts, or at least that they
were suspicious of 1t. The friend also
stated that he knew IL, but never men,
toned IL to Mr.. Jacobs. as he expected
him to speak of IL, and ask for help he
knew he could get.
'T would have have been no more
surprised IL 1 had been told that the
First National bank had gone up" said
John O'Rourke. one of Mr.. Jacobs
bondsmen. When Mr.. Gwin told me
this morning he had heard that Simon
had committed suicide and was short
would not believe IL. and told him
some one had been joshing' him.
Mr.. Frank and the other bondsmen
were In consultation this evening at
Mr.. Franks Office when a Standard re-
porter called on them. 1T was as
much a surprise to me as to any one