The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-15
Pom er0y's Trunk-Fina1 Term nation
this Extraordinary Anair by the Suicide
OF the German, Lachner.

that trunk was found, al 81 Rivington street, CON-
mtted suicide in the City Prison yesterday aftef-
noon, by hanging himself in his cell WIN MS
handkerchief suspended from a STICK placed
across the feet Of his bunk, which had been raised
at one end for that purpose
The full particulars of the discovery of the trunk
taken from the steamboat Utica, while in
the possession Of Copp, the agent Of Pomeroy
e. Co. and the arrest OF the German. who had
stolen twas published In our paper of yesterday and
the day previous. Since his arrest he has been
fined IN one Of the cells on the seconds tier of the
City Prison, and has appeared very moody end dis
consulate, holding conversation with any
one, not even the keepers After the arrest and
Imprisonment Of his wife on Saturday, she COM
munlcated to the Mayor and Justice Taylor, the
fact that her husband had destroyed all the drafts
/ checks, unsigned bank notes. and other unavailable
papers, by burning them in the stove OF their apart
ment at 80 Rvngton street. The house was I'M
medlately searched, and on examining the chimney
below the stove pipe, the cinders of the unsigned
notes of the Union Bank amounting to $l3l 600
were found as also those of other papers. The
engravings of the notes were easily traced on the
cinders as it is often distinguished in common
newspaper print, This confirmed her statement,
checks drafts have been used intended for use
The cell in which Lachnerw confined was open
ed about o'clock by Keeper Fallon, of the prison,
to admit Vonseh who had been sent by the
Mayor It was afterwards closed, and at about
ten minutes before S o'clock, Justice Taylor, who
had concluded the search of the premises in Rving
ton street, returned to the prison TO make some
enquiry from Lachner, when the cell door was
| fo he horror asfD q
Keeper and all present, the unfortunate man was
found suspended by the neck by his handkerchief,
which he had tied to a stick and placed across
the feet of his bunk which was raised on one end.
The elevation of the bunk in this position caused
his feet 10 touch the mattrass, which he had land
under him, and his legs slightly drawn up.
Finding it impossible to unite the knot around his
neck, it being slip moose and drawn fast, Keeper
Falon raised hun up while the handkerchief was
cut in twain and the body lowered down, when it
was ascertained that life appeared extinct although
his breast and abdomen were quite warm. A De-
| putty Keeper was Immediately despatched for ply
stefan, and returned almost instantly with DR..
Sickles, of the corner Of Centre and Leonard
streets. He felt his pulse and pronounced him
dead.
Coroner Rawson was then called in, when he
|
bellows applied to one of his nosrils, causing the
mouth and other nostnl to be closed. A slight
contraction of the eyes was apparent on the first
puff of the bellows into the lungs the air OF which
was forced back by gentle pressure of the hand on
| his breast, but respiration was not produced A
looking glass was placed over his mouth bnt no
moisture was apparent on ii. The attempt at
respiration was continued with the aid Of DR.,
Sweeney, who was called in, but proved Intellectual.
| He was then pronounced dead and the cell closed.
| By this time the Mayor had arrived and under his
direction, the wife of the unfortunate man, to
whom he had been but recently married, was or
dered to be removed from the prison without the
awful tidings being communicated TO her. Mar
shall Clarke proceeded to the House where she had
resided i'll order to induce some of the females
| to return with him TO communicate the information
of her husbands suicide, but they all refused, say
ing that if she told, she would also destroy her
| self, as she had threatened to do so when she was
| first arrested. He was therefore compelled TO
| turn to the prison, and the woman remained there
during the night with another female who had been
| locked up with here
We have no doubt that IL a warm bath had been
in readiness, and skiful aid been called in once,
| his life might have been restored, although it Is
uncertain how long he had been SUSPENDED before
the cell was opened. He was very stout, well
made nan--his chest full and expansive, and his
neck large and muscular. The handkerchief had
been drawn so tight around his neck TO cause
a ridge an inch IN width, that was quite black
when he cut down.
The Coroner held an inquest upon the body of de-
ceased lat evening. The keeper of the prison and
deputies were examined as to their knowledge Of
the transaction, which accorded with our statement
| and the Jury returned II verdict of Suicide by
| hanging"
| No papers were found in his pockets giving any
| explanation of his crime or his intended suicide
One thing is certain, however, from this ac-he
had no accomplices in the offence for which he
was arrested, or he never would have destroyed
himself Thus has ended this most singular affair.
We understand that notice was given to the po-
lice few days since, that German had ex-
changed some large notes at a brokers' office In
Broadway for gold and that possibly the man
might have been concerned in the robbery of the
trunk but the report was unheeded, it was stated
that the person who changed the money was Ger
man, who had been travelling with Ole Bull an
assistant. II has since been ascertalned that the
deceased German was the man who exchanged the
money Information was also given that woman
was seen IN a store with some $4,000 in her muf
and also that she had purchased watch
and paid 500 for it; but the attention of the police
being directed solely towards the movements Of
Copp, these small matters were considered of nc
Importance, although they correct, and j
traced out by the police, in connexion with thu
statement Of Winchester the runner, relative to til,
trunk S being taken to the porer-house of Schwart,
in Washington street, they would have led to the
arrest of deceased and the recovery of the money
1t will be seen, however, that mere acciden
alone has led to its restoration; and another strong
practical evidence has been exhibited of the utel
want Of system and efficiency in present polio,
system. If there had been proper head, where
all information could have been lodged, and sucl