Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-01
BRAIN Affected;
Rolf DESPAIRS
Young Newspaper Man Takes
Own Life to Avoid Mental
Tortures.
BODY IS FOUND IN RIVER
Eddy in Water Held Remains Near
Bridge From Which Fatal
Leap Was Taken.


We, the undersigned jurors, being
duly sworn to inquire of the death of
Hugh W. Rolf, do find on oath that
he came to his death by drowning,
while in a respondent mood, caused
by serious mental illness: Ebert Full
mer, foreman, George W. McCaskrin,
Charles Burtcheard, T. S. Dunning,
Paul Bruner, E. E. Little.
That Hugh W. Rolf, the well known
newspaper man, committed suicide
while his mind was partially under a
| cloud, and that he had suffered for
weeks with tuberculosis of the brain,
were facts which were brought to
light at the coroners inquest, conduct
ed over the remains yesterday after
noon at 8 o'clock. at Knox's undertake
ing parlors.
EDDY HOLDS BODY.
After dragging the river for over
seven hours, the body of the man who
jumped off the Twenty-fourth street
viaduct Friday night was found at
1920 Saturday night and was identi-
fed as that of Hugh Rolf. w. H. Mil
Ter, 2130 Fourth avenue and Frank Til
leman, Ala Twenty-second street, who
had been dragging the river from
noon, finally located the body about
200 feet west of the fourth pier of the
viaduct bridge, and within a short dis
lance of the spot where he had jumped
in. There was a strong eddy at this
point and for this reason the body
was not carried down stream by the
current.
TESTIMONY OF DIR. NORMAN.
} DIR. E. G. Norman of the Tri-City
n Sanitarium, Moline, where Roff took
y treatments for eight days, told of her
|. knowledge of the case. She said: 'Mr.
q Rolf came to the sanitarium the
l. morning of March 10. He was highly
: nervous, and although anxious for re-
lief, seemed to believe that he could
r recover without medical aid. He COM
d planned of severe pains in the right
If side of his head and told me that he
had worked very hard for the past
three years.
BRAIN AFFECTED.
Upon examination we found no or
ganic trouble, with the exception of
an affection of the right lung, but ap-
plying the tubercular test, we found
that he was suffering with what We be-
lieved was tuberculosis of the brain.
n He remained in bed three days and
was then permitted to dress and walk
I. about the place. He could sleep
A, but little except when sedatives were
administered, and in spite of treat
. ment, the severe pains in his head con-
:. tinued. He appeared at no time to be
: irrational. Wednesday. March 27
he left the sanitarium, but was still
greatly worried over his condition
UNCLE TELLS OF CASE.
tv James F. Egan, an uncle of Rolf
o. told of the young mans condition, aft
~ er his return from the sanitarium. He
IN stated that Mr.. Rolf was highly ner
vous and respondent. He complained
of pains and burning sensation IL
y the head. The witness stated that re
- marks made by Rolf to Mrs Egan from
70 time to time, indicated that he wa,
not perfectly rational. Ron was ex
es ceedingly nervous and this was evi
denced by a convulsive twitching o
his limbs. He was unable to sleep
and Friday afternoon seemed OF
pressed with some great fear. Tha
night Mr.. Egan stated that he was &c
Is ing to the Rock Island club, and Hugl
:" expressed a desire to accompany hin
down town. Mr.. Egan went into tn
ie club while Rolf was to wait in the HaI
y per lobby. This was the last seen 0
the young man by his uncle. Tn
young mans parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
80 NJ. Rolf of Mays Lick, KY, arrived Il
- the city yesterday to take charge O
the remains which were taken this AFT
!, ernoon to Kentucky for burial
,s' SHORT SERVICES.
d. The body of Mr.. Rolf was taken t
ng Mays Lick, KY, today at noon, az
ng companied by Mr.. and Mrs. Sanfort
a Rolf, parents of Hugh, his uncle. D.
to Rolf of Cincinnati, and aunt, Mr.,
as James F. Egan of this city. A hant
he some floral piece from the Tri-Cit
ly Press club was among the floral tr
ur butes. The bearers were Harry Swar
and o. r. Rundquist, Moline; Hug
Harrison and Orville B. Hampton. Da'
export, and s. w. Searle and Georg
IT. Schneider, Jr., Rock Island.