Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1909 — KILLS WOMAN; THEN ENDS HIS OWN LIFE. [ARTICLE]

KILLS WOMAN; THEN ENDS HIS OWN LIFE.

Act Attributed to Rensselaer Youth, But No Such Person Known Here.

Chicago, June B—A8—A young man, supposedly Joseph Groskqupf, 19 years old, of Rensselaer, Ind., shot and killed Mrs. Sadie Eisner, 33 years old and immediately after committed suicide today. Mrs. Eisner, who was estranged from her husband two years ago, lived at the same hotel with Groskoupf and moved in orto avoid his attentions.

No such person as Groskoupf is known in RenSqelaer and his former address was probably Rensselaer, New York, instead of Rensselaer, Ind. The following account of the crime is taken from today’s Chicago Inter Ocean:. Mrs. Sadie Eisner, 30 years old, 453 Sixtieth street, was shot and fatally wounded at the door of her apartments at 8 o’clock last evening by Jacob W. Grofshopf, 21 years old, living at the New Southern hotel, after she had denied him admittance to her rooms. She died an hour later. As soon as Mrs. Eisner fell to the floor Grofshopf turned the revolver on himself and fired twice. One bullet entered his neck and the other his brain, death resulting almost instantly.

Mrs. E. Smith, 453 Sixtieth street, who was a witness to the shooting called the police of the Englewood station, who removed Mrs. Eisner to St. Barnard’s hospital, 6337 Harvard avenue. She died about fifteen minutes after arriving at the hospital.

According, to Mrs. Smith, who was closely questioned by Lieutenant Coughlin of the* Englewobd station, the circumstances of the murder and suicide were most dramatic. Grofshopf arrived at the flat in Sixtieth street about 8 o’clock and rang Mrs. Eisner’s door bell.

“How do you do, Mrs. Eisner?” Mrs. Eisner appeared nervous and responded brieflfcjlo Grofshopf’s salutation.

' Mrs. Smith heard the ring, and believing Mrs. Eisner to be out she went to her door and opened it. Grofshopf asked if Mrs. Carpenter lived at that address, and Mrs. Smith said she knew no one of that name. Just at that minute Mrs. Eisner opened her door, and Grofshopf, acMrs. Smith, said: - “May I come in?” were Grofshopf's next words, and Mrs. Eisner replied. “No, go away, I don’t want to see you.” Mrs. Smith had been standing so that she was almost between Mrs. Eisner and Grofshopf. When Mrs. Eisner refused to admit the man Mrs. Smith declarers he shoved her roughly aside and drew a revolver from his pocket. He fired one shot at Mrs. Eisner, the bullet entering her body below the left breast and piercing her left lung. She sank to the floor unconscious, and Grofshopf bent over her for a moment, apparently to satisfy himself that he had killed or mortally wounded her. Then he stepped back a few feet, pointed the gun at himself, and fired the two shots which ended his own life

Lieutenant Coughlin took personal charge of the police investigation and within a short time was in possession of facts which he declares prove that Grofshopf’s action was the result of jealousy. According to the lieutenant, Mrs. Eisner and Grofshopf, up to two weeks ago, had lived at the New Southern hotel as brother and sister, occupying separate, but adjoining rooms. Inquiries at the hotel are said to have shown that they were bo registered and so considered by other guests who met them.

They were together constantly and seemed devoted to each other. Grofshopf was always fashionably dressed, wore several diamonds and other valuable jeWelry and seemed to have plenty of money, which he spent lavishly on the woman who posed as his sister. They frequently attended the theater, and on their pleasure outings were invariably accompanied by Mrs. Eisner’s pretty little daughter, Clarissa, 7 ydars old. Police officers found the child sobbing in her mother’s apart-

ments when they reached there after the tragedy last evening. Two weeks ago, according to information obtained at the hotel, Mrs. Eisner left there while Grofshopf was out one morning. She had not been seen at the hotel since that time, and it is supposed she had determined to leave Grofshopf. The police belieye he had been searching for her for the past two weeks and had just located her.

Following a clew, the source of which he refused to divulge, Lieutenant Coughlin sent a telegram ip New York about an hour after the shooting. He hinted, in answer to repeated questions, that he had learned Grofshopf was the son of a wealthy New York merchant, and his telegram is thought to have been to the family. The lieutenant also intimated that Grofshopf was not the real name of the slayer and suicide, and that a sensation would result when he learned more about the man.

Mrs. Eisner’s husband is an engineer on the Lake Shore railroad, She has not been living with him for several months, acording to the police.