The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-24
Uses 38-Ca|ibrs Pistol and Sends a Bullet Crashing
 Through His Brain
NO CAUSE KNOWN FOR DEED
Deceased Was of Bright and Happy Disposition, and 1t Was Not Be- leved Business Cares Were
 Weighing Upon Him.

Standing before a looking glass on a light birds eye maple bureau on the sec ond floor of his stcre on Nineteenth street, Mir. John M. Herzfeld. the well known furniture man, sent a bullet through his brain yesterday afternoon shortly after 1 o'clock. Nearly an hour afterwards his dead body was discov- cred oy two negro porters lying in 0 pool Of blood. The porters had gone to the second story to dust off the furniture kept in stock there.
 The body was found propped up against two pieces of furniture which formed a small corner. The space in which 1t was lying was scarcely lsi ge enough to hold 1t, being only about five feet six inches long and three feet wide. The dead man 5 feet were resting against the baso of the bureau which holds tho looking glass before which he stood and deliberately fired the fatal shot.
 Through the Brain.
 The bullet entered the right temple just at the top of the car. It went almost di- rectly through his brain. coming out about the samo place on tine other side of the head Judging from the position in which the body was found and the course taken by the bullet after leaving MT. Herzfeld's head, he must have held the pistol on a level. The bullet shattere a looking glass In another bureau about ten feet from the one before which MT
  among some splintered glass on the top of the bureau just below the broken glt ss. The hole In the glass was just about six feet from the floor.
 The pistol used was a .3S calibre of a cheap make. It was new and loaded all round. Only one cartridge was fired, 1t being the one which killed MT. Herzfeld The weapon was found within a short dis tance of MT. Herzfeld's hand, where it was evidently dropped when he fell.
 It has been impossible to find any cause for the suicide. MT. Herzfeld had a jovial disposition and always a pleasant word for every one he met. No business or domestic troubles are known which were sufficient to cause him to commit suicide, and his health has been good. yesterday morning he was rather de- spondent and walked the floor of the store for some time in restless manner, but those in the store did not think there was anything serious the mater. They only supposed he had some business mat ter on his mind and was thinking of 1t. He would sit on the chair In front of the store a minute, then jump up and h. l.. repeated this several times.
 His business was in good condition as far as is known. He was very quiet about business affairs and no one knew anything about them except himself. If there was anything wrong with his bus mess 1t will not come out until his papers are looked through by his brothers and an attorney.
 A Peculiar Feature.
 One of the peculiar features of the su- icide is the fact that MT. Herzfelds body was not found until nearly an hour af- ter the tragedy. In the room adjoining the one in which he committed suicide number of taliors employed by Slaugh- ter were at work. There is no partition between the furniture room and the room in which the tailors were at work. and they were not more than fifty feet away. It is a matter of wonder that they did not hear the shot and investigate it. They state they heard noise. but thougth 1t was some one moving furni- ture or blanks. The shot was not heard by them, the only thing that attracted their attention being the breaking glass and the noise made when Mir. Herzfeld fell. They did not investigate this.
 Cn the first floor there were several people at the time the shot was fired. but they did not hear it. They did hear noise as If some one had fallen, but did not investigate 1t.
 It was nearly an hour afterwards. about 2 o'clock. when Walter Hudson and Jim Thompson, the negro porters, went up- stairs % clean the furniture. They at once gave the alarm and those employed in the store were notified, as were Mir. Herz- feid's friends and his brother-in-law, MT. Lew Lazsrus.
 MT. s. R. LlDpincott of the Erswell Company was sent for and removed the Third avenue, where he prepared the body for removal to the family residence 1695 Eighth avenue. at 10 o'clock this mornidg. Tho brothers and sisters of the deceased. living in Mobile and Selma, and brother living In Chicago, were tele-