The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-07-31
GAS ENDS ALL
FOR COCAINE
VICTIM
Sixteen-year-Old Charles
JacObS'S Father Finds Him
Unconscious.

What Is regarded as one of the sad
dest affairs in this vicinity was the at
tempt to commit suicide made last
night by Charles H. Jacobs. 16 years
old. son of George Jacobs, we'll
known saloon-keeper, of 13s Sixteenth
avenue, The boy was a cocaine VIC
tim. and while he had everything that
goes to make life enjoyable during
the past month, as o result OF being
a member of q gang In the vicinity
of his home which uses the injurious
drug, he appeared desirous OF either
ending his life or being placed in ban
ishment until he might be able to over
come the craze for the drug against
which the sheriff's men and the police
are making such strong fight
July IS was young Jacobs birthday,
and so eager was his father to induce
the boy to stop using the drug ana
give up the companions who used 1t
that he promised the boy a check for
$500 next Christmas. This seemed to
prey on the boys mind, and instead OF
enthusing over It he became gloomy
and went to the bathroom, and after
closing the door leading to 1t he turned
on the gas and threw himself on the
floor.
His sister Gertrude. who is several years
older passed the room, which is on the
second floor OF 14i Sixteenth avenue. and
she detected the odor Of gas and called the
attention of her father to it and the latter
on Investigating found his son partly over
come.
When the boy was revived Mr. Jacobs
punished him and again renewed the prom
ise and begged George to return 10 the
position secured for him in the Westing-
house electrical plant by Alderman Julius
A. Meyer, of the Thirteenth Ward. The
boy was due to go to work yesterday, but
he returned home and told his sister that
he failed to do so. He again went into
the bathroom and this time tied rope
which he had fastened from the water
box over the tub some days ago and al
lowed himself to suspend about fifteen
inches from the floor between the tub and
basin Soon after when Jacobs reached his
home from his saloon Dext door, which
was about o'clock, his daughter re-
marked There is that loafer in there
agaln, and he didn't go to work today.
When Jacob opened the door and found
the room in darkness he lit a match and
saw his son hanging and unconscious.
The father called to several people down
stairs and they rushed up. and Frederick
Meyer, If 400 South Tenth street, cut the
rope which was used as washline. In
the medIltlfu6 SOine one lelePHOheu " tAS
City Hospital. and the boy was removed
to that institution in its ambulance To-
day It was said that his condition is
serious His neck is badly lacerated from
where the rope was drawn around 1t.
The boys clothing was saturated with
cocaine and some was found IN his pockets.
Several times of late Mr.. Jacobs said
today that he had heard that his son had
remarked that he wished that he would
be sent away.
Mr.. Jacobs said today that he Intended to
call the attention OF Under Sheriff Charles
M. Mason to the case today and believed
that his son heard of it yesterday. I'm
going to telephone to Charley Mason"
said Mr.. Jacobs for he Is certainly doing
good work against the use of cocaine.
Intended TO do 1t today. anyway
George had everything he wanted and
the only reason why / wanted him to
work was to keep him away from that
gang around here which IS using that
awful stun. / understand that George has
been a victim Of Il for about a year, but
L was only lately heard Of It Alder
man Meyer has given him a number Of
chances. but be doesn't seem to want to
S2rk steady promised him a check for
@ he'd Be good from now TO Christ