New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-03
PRICE THREE CENTS.
STARVING IN HIS CELLAR.
HESS WAS DETERMINED TO STAY THERE
AND DIE.
HE is SAID TO OWN SOME PROPERTY. AND HIS
ECCENTRICITIEs WERE WELL KNOWN IN
THE NETGHBoRHooD WHERE HE HAD
CONnI,lyrEn A IOcKSMITIS SHOP


CONDUCTED A LOcKsMTTHs SHOP.
The remarkable case OF an old man deliber-
atey starving himself while he had plenty Of
money with which to buy food, was discovered
yesterday in the cellar OF No. e. Fourth-ave
Jacob Hess. sixty-seven years old. has been
doing business as a locksmith there for just
ten years He has become a well-known char
acter around the neghborhood, and known
to many about the city, so when he
did not appear from noon Monday to noon
on Tuesday everybody in the neighborhood
knew that there was something the matter.
so they all asked for Harry Higgins. Higgins
is twenty years old. and is the only person
whom Hess would make his contidant. even in
the most trifing affairs. Higgins did not know
the cause OF the old mans non-appearance
but he determined to find out. He tried to get
in at the front and rear entrances. having
keys to them but found they were both barred.
The old man probably had foreseen that Hg-
gins would try to effect an entrance.
The latter then went for Policeman Stahl. OF the
Fifth-st. station. Stahl was big enough and the
doors gave way before his weight. They entered
a damp cellar filled with old knickknacks OF an
kinds known TO the locksmith, but this place
seemed to contain about three times as much as
any other locksmth's shop in the city.
DID NOT WANT TO GO AWAY.
The old man. who, his neighbors say. was q
mser. was lying in corner, despite the fact that
he has two beds in the place. He had wrapped an
old meal bag around himself, and had lain on a
small pile of other mealbags. He was apparent
y dying. and mis- face wore a frightfu expression.
His eyes buged and he gasped hard for breath.
His old clothing worn 10 rags was full Of vermin.
az were the meabags under and over him. He
did not turn upon the entrance Of Higgins and the
policeman. but when the boy went In front OF him
the old man Immediately recognized him. though
he only groaned. Higgins asked him what his
ament was. but the Old man said nothing
An ambulance was summoned from Bellevue
Hospital and the surgeon who responded said
that the man was suffering from starvation
Preparations were then made for removing
Hess to Bellevue Hospital, but when the time
came to take him to the ambulance he made
a stern protest with all the strength he could
command This little. but he managed
to make the boy Harry understand that It was
much against his will to be taken away. Hig-
gins. by talking kindly to him for some little
time finally induced him to get into the ambu-
lance which was driven of for Bellevue. For
once the boy failed 10 elicit information from
Hess. and after repeated failures TO learn
Hess's reason for shutting himself In, he had to
give 1t up. All the old man would say TO him
was that when something which he expected
to be given to him arrived at the store Hig-
gins should take II and keep 1t until he came
back But 1t was doubtful when the old man
left the place as to whether he would ever
come back alive or not.
THE OLD MANS PECULIARITIEs.
Higgins said afterward that he had been living
there years. during all Of which time he had
been Intimately acquainted with the old man.
Although he had made him his confidential friend.
there were really fe~ things about himself or his
family that he had ever told him. He had been
married. but his wife died about twelve years ago
and his children some few years afterward. II 70
Higgins's firm belief that he has money hidden
away somewhere, as he had always done good
business.
He spent only little money for the bare neces-
sites Of life.
one OF old Hess's peculiarites was to wear
every evening. high silk hat. His clothing was
always ragged. but that made no difference. After
dark ne usually sat outside the cellar door with
his high hat and old clothes on, and spoke to no
one but Higgins.