Evening star., 1914-04-05

CAPT }. THOMAS HOLLINBERGER.
While seated in a rocking chair in the
den he had fitted up in the basemeT,
at his home. 6-4 Massachusetts, avenue
northeast. at 80 O'Clock Yesterday after-
noon. Police Capt. ]. Thomas Holm
berger of the first precinct sent a bul-
let from heavy Colt automatic depart
ment pisSbl crashing through his head.
Capt. Hollenberger died at Casualty'
Hospital, where he was taken. at S:2'
O'Clock, exactly an hour after the shot
was fired. never having regained cor
sciolsness.
At home with Capt Hollenberser at
the time of his death were Mrs. HoIlin-
berger. his wife. and two of bis dasgh-
ters, Mrs. Mabel Delaney. 1885 18th street
northwest and Miss Juliet HelIinberger
Continued ill health, resulting from In
juries received several years ago. and
financial worries are said to have been the
impelling causes. Capt. Holinberger left
no message or word of any kind to explain
his contemplated act. though members Of
his family said last night that he had been
much depressed and in a highly nervous
condition for ,he past few days
Capt. Hollinberger went to his den
yesterday afternoon just before the trage-
dy. his wife and daughter being on an
upper floor of the house.
Found Him Unconscious
Hearing the sound of a shot. Mrs. Hol-
linberger ran TO her. husbands room She
found him clad only in his night clothes
and slippers. seated in a big rocker. Ia
his right hand was erasped the heavy de-
partment pistol witt which the deed hao
been committed. The bullet had entered
the right side of his head just above the
ear. and blood was pouring from THE
wound He was unconscious and gaspin5
for breath.
Mrs, Delaney. the daughter. ran to Cas-
ualty Hospital, a short distance rom tile
residence. To Harry Fleischmann, am-
bulance driver. she exclaimed:
Something awful has happened al
home. Come over quickly.
The ambulance, with Drs- J. W Ban
the cali. and the wounded man was rusi.-
ed to the hospital and placed on the OF
Grating table. DR.. w. g. Borden, dean
of George Washington College of Medi-
geons and by DIR. C. p. King, resident
physician. and Dr. Noble P. Barnes of
the hospitals visiting staff, at once op
Grated.
Bones Of Skull Shattered.
1t was IOunu tndt tne nedNy
the police department pistol had crush
ed it's way completely through the skull.
entering at point on the right side just
above the ear and lodging just under the
scalp on the left side of the head. The
bones of the skull, the surgeons found,
had been shattered by the bullet until the
entire upper part of the skull was simply
a mass of broken and splintered bone.
AS soon as the extent and nature OF
the wound had been determined the
surgeons recognized the fact that
death was merely a matter OF moments.
and Capt Hollinberger expired one
hour to the minute after the shot was
fired
The tragedy was reported to the
ninth precinct police station and Act
ing capt Bremmerman of that pre-
cinct went at once to Casualty Hos
pital. There he was Joined by In
spector Boardman, Chief Clerk +. f.
Hesse of the police department. Serets.
Lee and Lohman of the first precinct,
Detectives Burlinglame and Grant OF
headquarters and other members of
the police force. Other officials anc
members of the force called at the
hospital and at the Hollinberger home
later in the evening Commissions
Siddons called at the home shortly
after o'clock to extend his sympathy.
In Poor Health.
Capt. Holllnberger had been IN poor
health for some time. and last Sunday
was granted leave of absence A few
years ago he sustained serious iniu-
ries to his right leg. the hurts being
aggravated later by fall from a street
car Since being granted the request
ed leave he had not been at the first
precinct, but it is understood that he
visited a daughter and son-in-law iii
Annapolis early last week, the visit
being for business reasons, it is said
To Chief Clerk Hesse at the hospital
last evening Mrs. Hollinberger said that
her husband had been ill and appar-
emily greatly depressed for the last few
days. She said she had remained with
him as constantly as possible during
this time, and that she had left him
only a few minutes before the fatal
shot was fired. To Clerk Hcsse she
said:
I'VE have been together for thirty-four
years. and 1 cannot bear the thought of