William C. Jacobsen

JACOBSEN

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/14/2008 at 21:03:22

WILLIAM C JACOBSEN
PHOTO AVAILABLE
The above picture, greatly enlarged from a tiny snapshot shows William C. “Bill” Jacobsen, 36, who was murdered in Harlan sometime after 6 pm on Sunday, August 10. Jacobsen’s body, in advanced stages of decomposition was found Wednesday, August 13th, in the basement beneath the West Side Tavern in Harlan. Jacobsen was a former resident of Avoca. He was engaged in the car painting business with his brother her several years ago. To date Shelby county authorities have only a few meager clues to work on.

Fatal Stabbing at Harlan a Suicide, Says State Agent

Harlan—William C. Jacobsen, 36 year old Harlan veteran who was found dead of chest stab wounds in a tavern here August 13, committed suicide with his own pocket knife during a fit of delirium tremens, State Agent Max Studer declared Thursday after a week’s investigation.

Studer told Shelby County Attorney George Hurley his examination of this case showed Jacobsen had consumed three quarts of liquor prior to his death. The Harlan man had been missing four days when found dead in the basement of a tavern.

Studer made only a preliminary report of his finding Thursday, Hurley said, promising a detailed report of the investigation within a week. The state agent returned to Des Moines Thursday.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald, Council Bluffs Nonpareil