Charged With Insanity, Man Kills Himself In Jail

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DIED BY HIS OWN HAND BY HANGING HIMSELF IN JAIL.

Jacob Cline, in Prison Awaiting a Hearing on Charge of Insanity, Takes his Own Life.

Jacob Cline committed suicide by hanging himself at the county jail some time during Thursday night. The victim of his own hand had been placed in the county jail on the charge of insanity on Wednesday and was to have had his hearing today. He was a married man and had a wife and five children.

Cline is about 52 years of age. He had no trade so far as is known, but formerly worked steadily at anything he could get to do. A part of the time be worked for the street commissioner cleaning streets.

About a year ago he first began to show signs of insanity by acting in a peculiar manner. The malady developed on the man gradually until his family was obliged to make complaint to the authorities against him. The trouble became so serious for the members of the family that in June last he was arrested and confined in the county jail on the charge of being insane.

At that time Cline was not considered dangerous and when it came to the hearing, after he had been locked up in the jail a few days, Mrs. Cline, who had had him arrested, appeared in probate court and withdrew the charge against him, after which he was released.

Cline's conduct was all right for a short time after this episode, but he soon began to become obstreperous again. He abused his wife and the children so that they found it necessary to take steps again to deprive him of his liberty. On Wednesday morning, Mrs. Cline sent for her attorney. A. A. Douglass, and complained of the conduct of her husband. When the attorney reached the house he was told that Cline had gotten up during the night and rambled about the house in a dangerous fashion to the terror of his folks. The wife and one of his daughters attempted to induce him to return to bed, but he refused to do so. Then when Mrs. Cline insisted on his going back to bed, she told the attorney that the head of the family had turned and beat her and the one daughter in a shameful manner. The side of Mrs. Cline's face was bruised and swollen, while both of the daughter's eyes were blacked and swollen. It was stated that Cline had used his fists in assaulting the two members of his family. Mrs. Cline wanted the attorney to have her husband taken into custody, but the attorney declined to do so at once, or at least until the man had been thoroughly examined by the doctors. Mr. Douglass sent Dr. Harding and Dr. Boles to the Cline home and as a result of their investigation and examination, he appeared in probate court and made affidavit agaist Cline on the charge of insanity.

CLINE ARRESTED.

Jacob Cline was arrested at his home on Glessner avenue Wednesday morning about 10 o'clock by Deputy Sheriff Tom Bell and lodged in the county jail. When Cline was in jail last June on the charge of insanity he bothered the other prisoners by continually calling them during the night time and keeping them from their sleep. He also called up Sheriff Pulver repeatedly until the thing got very tiresome, so when he was arrested Wednesday morning Sheriff Pulver ordered him locked up in the female department on the second floor of the jail. There were no prisoners in this part of the jail. The man kept complaining to Sheriff Pulver about his bowels, while to Deputy Bell he complained of a severe pain in his head. He appeared to be fairly cheerful, however, and nothing unusual was noticed in his conduct. Thursday night at 6 o'clock the girl took Cline's supper to him as usual and afterward got the dishes and he appeared to be all right. There is a corridor leading to the three cells in the female department from the hallway in the upper story. The door of Cline's room or cell was left open and he was allowed to come to the grating outside for his meals, which were handed in to him through the bars.

FOUND DEAD.

This morning when the girl carried his meal to him at 6 o'clock Cline did not come out. She called to him, but still he did not appear or answer, so the matter was at once reported to Sheriff Pulver. That official ascended to Cline's room and on opening the door found him stone dead. He had hanged himself during the night with the chain of the flush closet inside the room. Cline's bed looked as though it had not been slept in, although the sheriff states that he was in the habit of sleeping with his clothing all on. Cline had removed his shoes. Then he had apparently stepped upon the stool of the water closet, placed the chain of the flush box overhead around his neck and slid off the stool. That he was determined to suicide was shown by the fact that Cline could easily have prevented being strangled by landing erect upon his feet.

It is supposed that in putting the chain about his neck and slipping off the stool Ciine got the middle finger of his right hand caught in the chain, as it was torn and there was a little pool of blood on the floor of the cell at his side, which had dripped down from the lacerated finger. There was nothing uncanny about the corpse as in usual with most cases of suicide, his face bearing a reposeful aspect, just as though he were sleeping.

CORONER VIEWS REMAINS.

Sheriff Pulver at once notified Coroner Bushnell of the finding of the suicide. The coroner appeared at the jail about 8:30 o'clock and after viewing the remains ordered the body taken down and prepared for burial.

Mrs. Cline was also notified of the suicide of her husband. When she appeared at the jail and saw the body of the deceased she was attacked with hysterics and was calmed with considerable difficulty.

The deceased, it is stated, has a brother, Jackson Cline by name, residing north of the city. There was also another brother, John Cline, a mute, who was killed on the railroad a few years ago. Cline owned two properties adjacent to each other on Glessner avenue. He resided at No. 144 Glessner avenue. A short time ago he sued the city of Mansfield on a claim for damages by reason of a change in the grade of the thoroughfare on which is property is located and secured a verdict of $250.

The oldest child in the family is a daughter 19 years of age. Cline's sad end was not unlooked for by those who knew him as the neighbors on the same street state that he and his wife have had trouble for some time past, principally about the children. The remains of the suicide were taken to Schroer's undertaking rooms about 9:30 o'clock this morning and prepared for burial. The body will be removed to the residence on Glessner avenue some time this afternoon. The funeral will take place from the family residence Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

--The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, November 16, 1900, page 6.