The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-08
DIED SUDDENLY.
Jacob Mann Passes Away Under
Such Circumstances
That Coroner WesterfieId
Deems it Suitable
TO HOLD AN INQUEST.
No Evidence Yet Adduced to In
dicate Foul Play.
Witnesses on the Stand Testify
Today.
TO HOLD AN INQUEST.

Jacob Mann died Sunday morning
under mysterious circumstances, in
bare room on the second floor of the
building at 1904 North Kansas avenue.
But few knew of his sickness, and the
circumstances of his death together
with the rumOrs af1oat concerning his
property affairs with DR.. VIM. L.
Burns of this CITY caused Coroner J.
NJ Westerfeld to hold an inquest and
ascertain the true cause of the old
mans death. The investigation has
been begun but an Adjournment has
been taken until this evening.
Saturday morning about ten o'clock
Jacob Mann was taken i'll. Henry
Barnes, a young farmer, who knew Mr..
Mann, went to his room and did all in
his power to relieve the old mans suf-
fering Mr.. Mann suffered terrible
agony. Henry Barnes sat up with
him. DR.. VIM. L. Burns, of 1910 North
Kansas avenue, who was an old friend
of Mr.. Mann, was called. He pre-
scribed for him and made two or three
calls upon him. This was Saturday
The terrible pain seized the old man
frequently and after it he would lapse
into state of semi-cOnsciOUsnesS
This continued during the night. About
one o'clock Sunday morning Henry
Barnes was reading in the little room
While Mr.. Mann lay quietly on the bed.
There was sudden gasp and Mr..
him die ma parOXysm of pain
Acquaintances of Mr.. Mann were
at once busy with alarming stories.
Coroner Westerfield made a prelimin-
ary examination and deemed it advisa-
bic to hold an inquest. This morning
the inquest was begun at WiIlittS un-
dertaking concern.
Dr- VIM L. Burns was put upon the
stand in the inquest. He testified as
follows:
Mr.. Mann used to sleep in my barn
He has some property and he had some
money which he was expecting from
the east.H got the room up there, and
L gave him dollar to pay for it. Sat
urday afternoon heard that he was
SICK, and L went to him. He was down
on the floor on his hands and knees and
was in much pain. l went over to the
drug store to get some salts, and 1 told
him 1 would come back to see him 1
went, 1 think, three times to see him,
and supposed he was better. 1t is my
opinion death was caused by bilious
collie He had an attack of it last year.
several witnesses testified that Mr..
Mann had told them that DR. Burns
was his best friend. A Mrs. Goodwin
testified that DR.. Burns was furnishing
money to Mr.. Mann for the law suit in
which Mr.. Mann was trying to get
property from his wife, from whom he
separated over a year ago. She said
that it was rumOred that should Mr..
Mann win the case, DR.. Burns would
get the property Several witnesses
gave testimony which went to establish
this fact.
H w. Euler said: esNTr. Mann was
trying to get hold of a piece of proper
ty from his wife and l am informed
that DR. Burns furnished the money for
the suit and I understand that he will
get the property if Mr. Mann wins. Mr..
Mann lived at DR.. Burns house for
some time
Mr.. Mann owned a house and lot in
one of the additions of North Topeka,
but after separating from his wife sew
eraI months ago he brought suit to re-
cover it with a clear title. He was ex-
tremely poor, being pensiOner on his
Burns barn on North Kansas avenue
until this fall when it became too cold
for him. Then with money furnished
him by DR.. Burns he rented room at
1904 North Kansas avenue in which he
died. At the time of his death he had
in his pockets S4.O1 in cash and several
papers. He refused to disrobe and get
into bed when sick and as a result he
died with his clothes on.
DR. Burns being asked about the
property deal by a reporter replied
about it. You will have to find that
out from some one else. I won't say
anything about it. The man died of
bilious colic''
This was all the doctor would say. He
cautioned DR.. Westerfield to keep the
papers private as they might be used to
advantage in the district court suit.
The letter which was found was from a
friend in the east and had no bearing
on the case except that it stated that
Mr.. Mann's money would be sent him.
Upon Mr.. Mann's death DR.. Burns took
charge of all the deceased'S personal
effects and when asked for them in the
inquest today he delivered them over
reluctantly. The testimony being con-
cluded temporarily Coroner WesterfieId
asked the jury to decide what should
be done. The jury decided that the
case would bear further investigation
and accordingly an adjournment was
taken until 6 80 o'clock this evening. At
that time a prosecuting attorney will
be present and the cause of Jacob
Mann's death will be thoroughly in
Vesugated.
People who appear disfnterested say
that the deceased had implicit conf
dence in DR.. Burns and often expressed
himself So The property which Mr..
Mann owns is said to be worth about
81, 600. According to rumor, DR.. Burns
on gaining possession of the property,
is said to have agreed to pay $500 to Mr.
Mann. It is said that the latter signed
a deed to this effect, but as yet no evil
dence of it has been seen
Jacob Mann was 81 years of age. He
was we'll thought of by those who knew
him. He was extremely poor but in
spite of his age and poverty, is said
to have been engaged to marry a Wo-
man living near North Topeka. He
wore an odd Fellow pin, but he is said
to have been dropepd from active mem
bership. He is said not to have be-
but was eligible and had not yet asked
for 2 transfer of his papers.
Coroner Westerfie1d said today:
1.-THE man was found dead under pc
culiar circumstances and his friends de-
manded an inquest. They seemed to
DR.. Burns and he had some business
relations, and friends of the dead man