The San Francisco call., 1909-06-07
SUICIDES SHOT
STARTSF|RE AND
IMP[R|LS SCORE
Samuel j. Zysman, Insurance
Agent, Kills Himself and Re-
vOIver Causes Blaze
DespOndent Soldier and a La
bOrer Also End Their Lives
by Shooting


DAY by shooting themselves with re-
volvers. The act Of one of the de-
spondent trio nearly led TO a fire which
would have imperiled the lives of a
score Of occupants in apartment houses
in Post street Samuel J. Zysman. an
agent Of the Metropolitan life insurance
company. was the one whose fatal pis-
1ol shot started a fire. Another one OF
Sundays respondents was Private
Peter Sed Of an artillery battery at
The Preside. who shot himself just
as a comrade was about TO grab him.
The third man who ended his life was
c. p Housel. a laborer.
FATAL SHOT STARTS BLAZE
Samuel ). Zysman was despondent
because he was without funds. and an
appeal TO his brother for assistance
had been unavailing. He committed
suicide by firing a bullet into his brain.
Zysman. who lived with the family
or G. b. Webb at 1855 Post street,
seemed detected Saturday afternoon,
and about 9:15 o'clock yesterday morn
ing Miss Jeanette Breschini, who occu-
pies the room adjoining his. smelled
smoke She went into the hall, where
she met Webb and asked him if any
thing was burning. II was immedi-
ately noticed that the smoke was COM
ing from Zysman's room, and the land
lord broke in the door. which was
locked Stretched on the bed in his
night clothing and enveloped in flames
was Zysman. The fire was eNtinguished
after half an hours battle, and an ex-
animation Of the body showed that the
lodger had shot himself through the
right temple. the revolver with which
he fired the shot being tightly clasped
in his hand
Among the dead mans effects were
found a handbook and 4 checkboOk.
which showed that the man had drawn
his balance at the Central trust COM
panz- There was alS a notice ad-
dressed 10 Zysmsn stSng that a tele-
gram which he had addressed TO his
brother at Ashevilie. \. &. WAS unde-
livered. as the addressee had moved to
1898 Seventh avenue. New York city.
1t was learned yesterday that Zysman
had telegraphed to his brother for
money TO settle a debt of SIS.
zysman was = years of age and un-
married.
SOLDIER COMMITS SUICIDE
While his comrade and friend. Cor
poTal n. Jackson, was rushing toward
him TO stay his deadly impulse. Private
Peter Sed, Battery j.. First field bat
terry. fired a revolver ball into his right
breast yesterday morning in the bat
Tery stables at the Preside. The act
OF q girl in kewanee. H., Miss Claire
Johns, was believed by Sed's comrades
partly to have been the cause of the
young soldiers suicide.
had hnen on the GUAR 2
the transport dock Saturday until noon
and returned TO the Preside after the
transport sailed. During the afternoon
he secured pass which expired yester-
day at reveille. About 10 minutes after
the call yesterday morning Sed ap-
peared at the barracks. He had over
stayed his leave. but as his record had
been remarkably clear in the command
no serious consequences would attach
10 that breach Of discipline The young
soldier was under the influence of
3iquor when he appeared. although he
was not given TO drink
What followed after his arrival at
the post is told most graphically by
Corporal Jackson Of Battery D.
TOO LATE TO SAVE LIFE
i met Sed as was entering the bat
racks" said Jackson yesterday after
noon. You will go TO a funeral to-
morrow he said to me. ] saw that he
was respondent and tried to cheer him
Dp, but he was moody and I made an
effort to put him to bed. He would
not go. I had to go over to the battery
stables, and he followed me. AS I was
leaving the stables he passed me.
When I was near the door / heard the
click of revolver. 1t snapped twice
on empty chambers. AS 1 turned I sa W
cfa in L. l.
tween the stalls. holding his pistol in
his right hand; the arm was extended
ct full length. ] ran as fast as / could
to reach him. and just as I was about
10 touch him he fired. Immediately he
fell on his face and was dead almost
instantly"
Among Seds effects were found let
ters TO and from Miss Claire Johns, and
members of Battery D said that Sed
was despondent over the girl. Lieuten-
ant Browning, commander of the bat
fery. said that Sed was one Of the best
soldiers in the battery. Sed was a ma
tive Of ireland. p years old. His par
ents are Roumaniens, now living in
South Africa. He was a machinis,
and was naturalized in Cook county
Illinois.
LABORER ENDS HIS LIFE
- = tlONSSis d ldOofeT ~ years Otd
rommitted suicide by shooting himself
tn the head while alone in his room al
The Denver house, 22l Third street He
had previously attempted his life By
slashing his wrists and throat but was
unsuccessful. This happened SATURDAY.
and when he woke up yesterday morn.
ing. finding that he had lost a great
amount OF blood but was not fatal,
injured, he went TO a hardware store
where he purchased revolver, anC
then returned to his room for another
attempt at suicide. which proved sue