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

JdcoDs committed suicide at about 1880
o'clock this morning by shooting him
self through the head. The deed was
committed in an old vacant blacksmith
shop at the Anselmo mine. west of
the city. and the apparent cause of his
self-destruction was the fact that he
was short in his accounts with the city
in a sum that will reach close on to
$4,000. The tragic ending of the life
of a young man so well and favorably
known as Mr.. Jacobs was ashock to the
entire city, and no voice discussed 1t
that did not deplore it. He was a
man universally admired and thorough
ly trusted, and the development that
he was short in his accounts was as
much a shock and surprise as the fact
that a young man of such promise
and prominence should take his own
life.
The first report of the suicide and
shortage was generally disbelieved.
Few persons who had known Simon
Jacobs could or wanted to believe it.
though it developed later in the day
that several Of his intimate friends had
known of the shortage for some time,
and the actions of Mr.. Jacobs for sew
eral days now have the appearance
OF a contemplation of suicide.
This was Mr.. Jacobs last day In Of
flee, and he was to have turned his
books over to his successor. During
several days past he told various
friends that he was in trouble. but
did not disclose the nature of 1t. Last
evening he summoned Attorney John
Forbis to his house for consultation,
and told him that he could not make
his books balance. Mr.. Forbis' sus-
picions were at once aroused, and he
asked him If there was anything GRIM
inal in it. Mr.. Jacobs replied that there
was not, and he repeated that he could
not get his books to balance. He said
that he had on hand about $165,000 in
taxes this spring and paid off a large
number of outstanding warrants, and
found that he had drawn too much
from the general fund and he stopped
payment. He had also discovered that
some warrants were missing and he
could not account for them. Mr..
Jacobs explanation was not satisfac-
tory, and Mr.. Forbis told him that IL
1t was simply matter of an error 1t
could easily beremedied, for he thought
Mr.. Thompson, the new mayor, would
give him all the time necessary.
eff it is anything else but mis-
take, ne Sdiu' IL aiSo Soii oe hASo
up"
When asked how far his books were
from balancing, he replied: "Oh, over
$50, ,000.'
Mr.. Forbis advised him to look up his
books and find out just where he stood
and then see his bondsmen and tell
them Just how matters were. The at
torney then left him and Mr.. Jacobs
made an appointment to meet his
friend, 81 Marks. and several others at
o'clock this morning to talk over his
affairs. His friends were on hand at
the appointed time. but he was not
and their worst fears were at once
aroused. He was not at his place OF
business and the whole city was
searched. Mr.. Marks met Mr.. H'orbis
at the court house and informed him
that Mr.. Jacobs was missing. Mr..
Forbis was at once convinced that he
had taken his own life and said so.
About an hour later a man whose
name was not learned by any oe the
officers, came to the sheriffs office
and stated that a dead man had leen
found in the Anselmo blacksmith shop.
Sheriff Reynolds and Deputy Geary
accompanied Coroner Richards. Chance
Harris and others to the scene. At
first they failed to recognize the dead
man, as he was lying on the left side
of his face. His hands and his revol-
yer were under the body. There was
a bullet hole in his right temple and
another on his left. showing that the
ball. a 3S-calibre, had passed clear
through his head. The face was
bloody. but when the body was turned
over they all recognized IL an6 there
were exclamations of My God, 1t Is ST.
mon Jacobs"
The body was removed to the Butte
undertaking rooms and the report OF
the terrible affair was soon in every
corner OF the city. and during the day
the body OF the unfortunate man was
viewed by thousands.
Fireman Gus Hess is believed TO have
been the last man who saw Mr.. Jacobs
alive. Hess lives near the corner OF
Franklin and Woolman streets. about
two blocks from the Anselmo black
smith shop, which Is almost directly
across the gulch from his house He
went home for his breakfast early this
morning and started back TO the fire
station at about 7:30 o'clock He had