Evening star., 1903-08-04
BULLET IN HIS HEAD
Henry b. Jacobs Deliberately
Takes His Life.
SUFFERED MENTALLY
WIFE HAD ACCOMPANIED Elm TO
HIS STORE.
She Fad Gone to Drug stcrs ror Nodi-
cine When Deed Was
Committed.
SUFFERED MENTALLY

Henry II. Jacobs, for many yeSrs a stock
broker and business man. of this city, com.
mitted suicide about 11:30 o'clock this
morning by shooting himself in the right
temple.
The affair occurred at 1897 F street north
west in the building which Mr.. Jacobs and
his brother were fitting up for the purpose
of conducting jewelry establishment. The
shooting occasioned something of sensa-
ton in F street during the busy part of the
day.
Mr.. Jacobs lived only about three min
nutes after the shot was fired Financial
losses. said to have been incurred in re-
cent years. is believed to have prompted
the act.
Accompanied by his WIFE Jacobs left his
residence, 1349 Harvard street northwest,
early in the forenoon, and went direct to
the F street store.
Entering the premises he round several
letters under the door. Among these 1t
is said, was one from his brother Mr.. Mon
tague d. Jacobs. who is in New York pur-
chasing stock.
This letter greatly excited him As far
as is known however. he said nothing
about the contents of the letters and
afser folding them up. he attempted to
open a large safe, which had been moved
In during the morning.
Labored Under Mental Strain.
For the past few months, II is said, Mr..
Jacobs seemed to be laboring under a great
mental strain. He was unusually nervous.
His friends feared an attack of nervous
prostration for some time, and because OF
his over-wrought condition Mrs. Jacobs has
been accompanying her husband to the
store for the past few mornings.
This morning Mr.. Jacobs seemed to be
greatly unnerved. and his wife wanted him
to go across the street to the Ebbitt House
drug store and get some medicine. but he
declined to do so, saying that he didn't have
time just then.
Mrs. Jacobs thereupon went across the
street to the pharmacy to GET n tonic for
her husband, and while she in tho
drug store, scarcely minute after she left
her husband, the report of a pistol rang
out.
The attention of passersby was attracted.
and a personal friend of Mr.. Jacobs Mr..
Harry Dobbins. who was standing the
sidewalk nearby, rushed into the establish
nent Realizing what had occurred, Mr..
Dohbins called policeman and closed the
door of the establishment, to prevent the
large crowd which Immediately gathered,
from rushing into the place.
Mrs. Jacobs Hears the Eewo
Mrs. Jacobs returned from the drug store
and was informed of the sad occurrence
She was taken to her home on Harvard
street at once by some friends who hap
pened to be in the vicinity with carriage.
Policeman Cavanaugh responded to Mr.
Dobbins' call, and summoned the ambu-
lance from the Emergency Hospital. In
the meantime hurried examination was
made and it was found that the bullet had
entered the head about three inches above
the right The weapon used was an
old style 30 caliber When raised from
the floor Mr.. Jacobs was heard to murmur:
IT'S all right; it's all right
BY this time the ambulance, in charge
of DR.. w. ]. c. Lamb. had arrived and the
fore the hospital was reached, however.
Mr.. Jacobs expired without regaining
consciousness. Coroner hewitt was nnti
fed and issued certificate of death from
suicide.
Well-Known Business Man.
Mr.. Jacobs was well known among the
local business men. Up to ten years ago
he was associated with his brother, Mon
tague in the jewelry business on Penn
sylvania avenue between 18th and 18th
streets, where he accumulated considerable
money.
He retired at that time and entered the
stock brokerage business and dealt in real
estate. Through Improbable investments,
it is said, he sustained heavy losses, which,
together with the fear of failure of the last
venture, preyed on his mind. and during
period of temporary alteration decided to
end his life
Suffered With Insomnia
Mrs. Jacobs was almost Frustrated by the
shock occasioned by her husbands tragic
death, and was unable to leave her room
this afternoon. She said, however, that she
knew no motive for her husbands act, ex-
cept that he was undergoing treatment for
nervous trouble. and that for some time
past he has been troubled with insomnia
She stated that she knew of no recent
financial reverses. Mr.. Jacobs has been
under great mental strain for several
months, she said, but he had never even
intimated that he desired to end his life
She said that her husbands act was evil
IDENTIFY prompted by temporary insanity,
caused by his nervousness.
In addition to his wife, three children and
his mother survive Mr.. Jacobs. His mother
is an aged woman, and friends of the FAM
lily fear that the news of her sons death
may kill her. Up to a late hour this after
noon his mother had not been Informed OF
her sons death.
Mr.. Montague Jacobs, who is In New
York was telegraphed of the suicide of his
brother today, and he is expected to arrive
here tonight. Arrangements VIII be made
for the removal of the body from the hos
pital to the residence on Harvard street,
and the funeral arrangements will be COM
pleted later.