Evening star., 1911-08-28
BLAMED BEER HE DRANK
Believed That His Ailment Was
Incurable.
FOUND ON FLOOR OF OFFICE
Died at the Emergency Hospital
This neutrality-suspicious.
Addressed to Coroner.

Blaming the quality of the beer in
which he had recently indulged for the
illness he found himself unable to en-
dure. DR.. John E. Ruebsam, seventy
years old, last night committed suicide
in his ONCE In the Pope building. SIT
14th street northwest. by shooting HIM
self in the roof OF the mouth with a
.22-caliber pistol.
So small a wound was inflicted that II
was almost impossible for the surgeons
at the Emergency Hospital to locate 1t.
A hemorrhage OF the ear indicated he
mad shot himself in the brain.
Dr. Ruebsam was suffering from ure-
mia. the autopsy showed. Statements
contained in a. letter written by him
charged beer with responsibility for his
condition. 1t is not known what time
the shot was fired. About midnight Will
liam Frey, a neighbor, and John Dodson.
janitor Of the building, found him dying
on the floor OF his office.
DR.. Ruebsam died this morning at $50
o'clock at the Emergency Hospital. He
did not recover consciousness.
Two notes, probably written a few
minutes before he shot himself. were
found in the ofice. One was addressed
to Miss Elsie Ruebsam. his daughter. and
were delivered as addressed.
Blames Beer for Intolerable Pain.
The note he addressed to DR.. hewitt
reads:
Washington. d. c.. August q. 1911.
ITO whom it may concern:
II, John e. Ruebsam. have shot myself
because I was. suffering from miserable
ri ovnd hnr
from drinking a few glasses OF beer at q
prominent resort, August 10
Saturday l went to q club and drank
three glasses Of that beer During that
night and Sunday l could not rest in any
position. ! am still SO weak at am,
longer.
II am past seventy years; being q Ger
man, l drank beer all my life and never
had any trouble. What is that chemica
time for the Agricultural Department te
make a law and regulate the manufacture
of such q valuable tonic.
What satisfaction can I get? There
is nothing to get hold Of these millionaire
brewers ~
My aiIment is such that don't thini
IT can be- cured, and therefore l took q
pill that at least will relieve this pain.
"Dr. Gustayus Werber will give you
any further information. ,,,rps..
Il
Residence, 14Os street northwest"
Farewell to Daughter.
DR.. Ruebsam left his home at l40S S
street yesterday afternoon about 2:3t
o'clock. saying he was going to his offce
to write two letters. Before leaving the
house he gave his daughter his watch
and chain. cuff buttons and other articles
OF jewelry he had. telling her de did not
need them. He also told his daughter he
would not return until late. and for her
not to worry about him.
Shortly before midnight Miss Ruebsam
became alarmed and had Mr.. Frey go to
the Office Mr.. Frey found the janitor
and they gained entrance to the Office
where the wounded man was found. An
ambulance was summoned and the phy-
sician was hurried to the Emergency Hos
pital. His condition was such that nc
expectation Of his recovery was enter
tanned.
Friends OF the suicide say he had not
been well for a week or more. He was
a strong advocate OF physical culture for
all ailments. 1t is stated. ana tnousn.
he would get well without resorting to
medicines. He showed no signs OF de-
spondency, his friends say. although ne
had evidently given much thought to the
question OF enolng his hfe
Resident Here Since 1884.
DIR. Ruebsam was a native Of Germany
and had been a resident Of this city since
1884. He conducted physical culture
studio on Columbia Heights some time
ago. He had a small gymnasium con-
nected with his Office in the Pope build
ing. Coroner hewitt gave certificate
showing death had resulted from gun
shot wound of the brain inflicted with
suicidal intent.
The body Of DR.. Ruebsam was taken
to Lees undertaking establishment. SSz
Pennsyivania avenue northwest, TINS
morning and prepared for burial. Ar
rangements for the funeral have not been
completed.