Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-13
SHOOTS WIFE AND
ENDS HIS OWN LIFE
Mystery Wells Reason for Tragedy
in Home of Wealthy
Contractor
WOMAN is EXPECTED TO DIE
Jacob C. SeeIey, Rich Restaurant
Owner of Michigan, Fires
Fatal Bullets

Mystery attends the probable fatal
shooting of Mrs. Jacob C. Seeley,
handsome woman 80 years of age,
and the suicide of her husband,
Branch, Mich, at the home of Seeley's
stepfather, John G. Frankland, 4303
Halldale avenue, shortly before
O'Clock last night.
Seeley, who is about 81 years of age,
entered the house, went upstairs to
the room occupied by his wife, and. it
is said, drew a revolver and sent
bullet crashing into her face. The
missile struck her left eye at an angle,
shattered the eyeball, then lodged in
the head. The unfortunate woman
screamed and fell to the floor. Seeley
then turned the weapon on himself and
fired a shot into his brain, the bullet
entering just back of the right ear.
At the time of the shooting, Mrs.
Clara Frankland, the aged mother Of
Seeley, was the only other occupant of
the house. She was reading in the Ii
brary downstairs, and when the re-
ports rang out she dropped the book
which she was reading and made her
way upstairs as fast as she was able.
sTAGGERS TO FEET
AS the aged woman entered the door
of the room in which the tragedy took
place Mrs. Seeley staggered to her
feet and groped about for support. The
unfortunate woman was suffering
greatly from shock and kept moaning,
Jacob shot me-"
Seeley was lying on the floor with
his head against a trunk in one cor
ner of the room. He was still breath
ing. s
Mrs. Frankland became hysterical
when she saw her son. She knelt be-
side him and begged the dying man
to speak to her. The aged woman
then summoned two physicians, but
the wounded man died before their ar
rival.
Shortly after the arrival of the doc
tors Miss Florence Frankland, step
sister of the dead man, and the STEP
father reached the place.
Secrecy was observed by the rela-
tives of the dead man, and when
motorcycle officer, who was detailed
from the University police station to
make an investigation, entered the
house and began asking questions, he
says he was escorted to the head of
the stairs and ordered out of the place.
Not desiring to create scene and dis
lturb the wounded woman, the officer
reported that he left the house and
was compelled to obtain his informa-
tion outside the residence.
The family at first declined to give
out any information except the bare
facts that Seeley shot his wife, then
committed suicide. But when pressed
for details Miss Florence Frankland
said that Seeley evidently was despond-
ent and shot his wife and ended his
life while suffering from temporary
fit of insanity
Miss Frankland then was warned
against discussing the affair, and closed
her report with statement to the eff
feet that Seeley had recently returned
from a business trip to Mt. Hebron,
Wash, arriving in Los Angeles Mon
day. haa
OUT ON BUSINESS
Relatives stated that Seeley went
downtown on business yesterday after
noon. They said he had not been de-
spondent because of Illness put PROD
ably was worried over business affairs.
A few moments later, when one OF the
physicians was asked about the case,
it was learned that Seeley had been
treated for swelling of his knees
Just what occurred when Seeley first
met his wife after his return from town
late Yesterday afternoon is not known
The couple il is understood, were to-
eether in the room fifteen minutes be-
fore the shooting began. One story is
to the effect that Seeley remarked that
he Intended to kill her and shoot him
self.
Mrs. Seeley was operated on at the
California hospital late last night. The
surgeons were unable to locate the
bullet, and say the patient is in serl-
Gus condition and probably Will ole as
the result of her injury.
The dead man was possessed or con-
siderable wealth, and frequently traV-
eled about the country. Whether Jeal-
ousy enters into the case the police
have not been able to determine. Mrs.
Seeley is a pretty woman, OF the blonde
type. Seeley and his wife were on
amicable terms, and on no occasion was
he known to have quarreled With her.
The Seeleys came to Los Angeles slx
months ago and since that time had
made their home with John q. FRANK
land. a wealthy contractor. Since their
arrival in this city the couple had made
freouent trips to the different pleasure
resorts in Southern California and al
1Uavs appeared to be in the best spirits.
MIR. and Mrs. ]. c. Chamberlln, an
uncle and aunt of the dead man, live
in San Diego.
The body of Seeley was removed TO
the undertaking parlors OF, Connell
company and the coroner will defer
holding an inquest until Monday In
order to make a thorough inVestiga-
tion of the case and learn the motive.