New-York tribune., 1896-01-24
FOTND on HIS SISTERS GRAVE.
JAMES HERVEY DOBBS. DESPONDENT
THROUGH LOSS OF HIS MONEY,
TRIED TO POISON HIMSELF.

James Hervey Dobbs, who says he Is seventy
years old and who lives at No. 120 South Oxford-st'
Yesterday morning tried to kill himself by drinking
laudanum at the grave of favor.te sister In Cy-
press Hills Cemetery. At present he Is recovering
in St. Johns Hospital. where he talks strangely Oh
his act and the reasons leading to 1t.
a grave-dggcr plodding to the scene of his
work yesterday morning when he found the body
Of Mr.. Dobbs lying on the ground. He thought the
man dead. but at last that he was breath
ing. He to the office Of the cemetery. where a
call for an ambulance sent. When Surgeon
Mccoy came with the ambulance he took the un-
fortunate to the hospital. where his patient
soon regancd consciousness
Nj Dobbs Is OF fine appearance. has a
gray beard. and dresses we'll once he was
wealthy At the hospital he admitted that he had
been a citizen OF Brooklyn for many years, had
made fortune in the chemical business. and lost
It through the unfair actions of brother and by
unfortunate speculation. Since then for some time
he has been in straitened circumstances and de-
pendent. This caused dependency TWO months
ago he took furnished room I'm the house Of W.
F.. Masters. No l2D South Oxford-st.. where he paid
his BIZ regularly and seemed TO have a little
money. He not communicative TO the other
persons in the house but they say that he is well
educated. They add that he didn't spend much
time there. but appeared to have business to at
tend to outside. Recently much OF his time has
barber and shoemaker. who say they have
known Mr. Dobbs for long time. but know little
about his personal history although they have
heard that he was in the metal ard chemical busi-
ness at No % John-st.. New-York City. They say
that Mr.. Dobbs mentioned that he had been
separated from h.s w.fe and had a son and daueh-
living. but did not say where. II Is asserted
that some years ago Mr.. Dobbs lived in Washing
ton-ave and owned some real estate there. An
acquaintance OF his who called to him at the
hospital yesterday afternoon but declined 10 give
his name, says that Mr. Dobbs once Interested
I'm the Royal Baking Powder Company, and was
a friend OF William Zegler and also OF ex-Con-
gresham Felix Campbell
II seems that Mr.. Dobbs left his lodging house
las, Wednesday night ana did not return. but was
not missed until yesterday morning. when letter
addressed to Mr.. Masters was opened In his alb
sence by Walter Os,rander Mr.. Masters's book
keeper. This letter said that the author tired
OF life. and that his body could be found on the
grave OF his sister In the cemetery. The police
then Informed.
At the hospital yesterday afternoon Mr. Dobbs
was recovering rapidly from the effects OF the drug
ne had taken, although his head was not clear. He
talked about Irish devlls' who had been hound
ing him all over the country for the last six years,
and about twenty priests" four OF whom had
made II hard for him every day He also talked
about paper which he had addressed 10 the Cor
oncr. and he said ne had given II to girl. who
had promised TO keep 1t for publication \ letter
10 the Coroner In the possession OF Policeman
Newneld VINO did not give it back 10 the patient.
He wanted the reporter to demand the letter from
Newhed. In the envelope, he said. were four other
documents.
The surgeons at the hospital said last night tha
pobbs was improving steadily and would soon be
able 70 leave the Institution. They said he talkel
f1ollshly. and thar his mind affected. nm
doubtelly before he tried to kill himself