The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-17
DOLLHOUSE TAKES
HIS LIFE ON STEPS
Ensley Man Fires a Bullet
Through His Heart
NOTE LEFT TO HIS WIFE
of EIks In Good Standing-Had
Been Despondent for
Some Time

That J.. w. Dollhouse. who was found
dead early yesterday morning on the
steps of the residence at eo25 Fifth ave-
nue.. came to his death from bullet fired
the decision of Coroner B. L. Brasher
after making a post norton investiga-
ton. There was absolutely no evidence
of foul play, every circumstance point
Ing to a clear case of suicide
The body was found yesterday MORN
ing at $50 o'clock by two employees of
The Age-Herald.. who called to 1t the at
tenton of Officers J. B. Burson and Fl G.
Saunders. who were passing at the time
A wound in the left breast showed where
the fatal bullet had entered, and the ball
was found fattened on the stone. steN
having passed entirely through the body.
Inc BODY was In a position of perfect re-
pose, the right leg crossed over the left
knee and the head tilted back upon an I'M
per step. Clutched tightly in the right
hand was a Hopkins & Adams revolver or
~ caliber, from which one of four ca IT.
ridges contained had been discharged
In the opinion of DR.. F.. c. Grace phy.
stefan to the coroner, Dollhouse had been
dead over two hours. an opinion strength
ened by the testimony of several who "a W
the oody shortly after o'clock in the
same positlonsir which 1t was found, and
believed to be that of some drunken man,
Ihere were no evidences of q STRUGGLE
and death had apparently been instantan.
eous and painless, even the expression Of
the TACT being that of repose.
$3.50 Note Is Left
The theory of suicide was affirmed h,,
note found in the vest nocket 90 -.
dead mans vest: Notify nv wife a.
s7 East One Hundred and Thirtietb
street, Cleveland. Q. live at POO Ave.
nue. @, Ensley, Ala 1t was written
apparently in the dark or by very Nor.
vous hand, and several burnt match stnhs
on the lower steps gave evidence or tba
means employed for light during the writ
ing.
me name of the dead man was Learned
from a letter addressed to II w Ro,t-
mouse, Lock Box 401, EnsIey. Ala, TIL.
NJ
ana couched In terms of much enda.r
'neht ana signed Honey" 1t bore the
pos'mark OF Cleveland, O. In addition
'here was found an unaddressed enve,ons
containing blank sheet of naner ona
postage stamp, evidently intended hv ~ =
suicide as means whereby his wife co,,a
De notihed of his act An Elks, vis,t,rg
caro- showing him to have been man
Der OF Cleveland lodge, No. IL. was oI.o
iound, as well as a receipt for lodge d,,.s
paid. cheap watch, a bunch n, k.,r
M.50 In silver and what annear.d >.
worn iady's purse were all else OF in
terest round on the body
Relatives Notified
Inc WIFE of the dead man was mott.
ned' and telegram from her was. %
ceiVed by Coroner Brasher YESTERDAY AFT
einooh' asking that the local lodge NJ
rhAs De apprised of his death. A secon {,
message was received from a. brother
W. Dollhouse, of Cleveland. reouest,n =
that the body be held until f,,rtbar
ransements. The remains are being held
al shaw d Sons undertaking establish
ment, pending advices
lhoHas King, with whom Bolthouso
had boarded for some time at Enslev
testified before the coroner that the dea.5
man had been noticeably reserved and
respondent for some time and had re-
peatedly exclaimed. "Oh, what's the use
Of 1t alp and had used similar express
sions. Dollhouse was, from all accounts.
an Industrious worker. and was not in
financial straits
Various shots seem to have been heard
in the neighborhood of Fifth avenue last
| night anywhere from p. m. to s a. m..
but Coroner Brasher attributes them
mainly to imagination. In all probable
ity nc. one heard the shot fired. as no re-
port attracted the attention of the men,
bers Of the family and roomers residing
In the house where the body was found.
The clothing around the wound was
burned. indicating the closeness at which
the barrel Of the revolver was held. and
I. is thought the report would have been
too muffled to attract attention. Bolt
house, to all appearances, had simply
chosen the steps. which are of tho ma
ture of an interior vestibule, as a good
place for the deed. and had deliberately
l