The New York herald., 1878-10-06
CONJUGAL INFELICITIES,
Frantic from Mental and Bodily Pain, He
Hangs Himself.
[By CABLE TO THE HtRaLp.1

death. announced to have occurred
on the 9th ult., was stated to
have been the result of an apoplectic
stroke. Science mourned its loss in heart
felt terms, and tributes to his industry, his
and the happy influence they have
had upon geographical science were paid
by every press in Europe. 10 the great
was felt to be a heavy one; but it was
not suspected that tragedy lurked
behind the simple announcement that
startled the quiet town of Gotha.
From correspondent of tho HERALD who,
upon the first whisper that DR.. Petermann's
death was not attributable to apoplexy, set
about an investigation of the facts l now
learn the true particulars of the mournful
event. His story confirms the rumor that
DR.. Petermann, driven to distraction by
bodily suffering and mental anguish, COM
uAttCu ouACAACs AAO eOiSSIOPAb uo AOAAOWos-
cKNEss AND AGONY
s.Dr Petermann had for some time suf-
fered from repeated attacks of bronchitis.
He coughed almost continuously and COM
planned of constant pain. His nervous
irritation increased. and added to the
physical suffering was a mental excite
ment of domestic nature which rem
dered him almost frantic at times. He
complained Of q headache so acute that
the least touch upon the forehead pro-
duced violent pain. He was but ifty-six
years old, and it was hoped that his strong
constitution would pull him through. On
the morning Of the 25th ult., after rest
less night, Dr. Petermann, who had been
tenderly watched over by his wife and
daughters. exhibited an agitation, which
they alarmingly noted, but never for a mo-
ment attributed to its true cause. He begged
them to retire from the room.
SAD LIFE HISTORY.
"Here it may be proper to observe that the
lady no with his two grown up daughters
had watched by his bedside was his second
wife, whom he married four months ago,
and whom all describe as an exceedingly
amiable lady, doing everything possible to
promote his comfort. He had lived unhap-
PLY with his first wife, an English lady,
who is spoken of as a real tiend.
A divorce was decreed between the ill-mated
pair in 1877, and since then it is stated that
the first wife has bent her endeavors to de-
stroying his peace of lie. After bis Sec
ond marriage everything appeared to be
going prosperously with him, when his first
wife, it is alleged, by anonymous threats re-
the great scholar to distraction. In
his own family, too, he had troubles
enough and to spare. His father and his
brother had died by their own hands and
their fate apparently haunted him. With
this knowledge of his life it may be guessed
upon what a load Of mental and bodily tor
ture his wife and daughters closed the door
as they went forth at his urgent request.
DEAD BY HIS OWN HAND
'They did not remain absent long
scarcely fifteen minutes-but on their re-
turn they met sight which petrified them
with terror. The husband and father was
hanging limp and lifeless from the window.
Assistance was hastily summoned; tho
body was cut down; restoratives were
tried, but in vain. 1he unfortunate
scholar had sought in madness the
solution Of problem greater than any he
had ever wrought over with unclouded
brains. He wns dead, and crumpled in one
of his hands with the clutch Of death was
paper. 1t was n letter addressed to his
youngest daughter, and contained his will.
Ii DOIO tuo uistc VI botpbCuocI U, SnOWlHk
that he had harbored the fatal intention for
nineteen days.
NOT TO BE KEPT SECRET.
can easily understood motive led to
strong effort on the part of the family and
friends to keep the cause of the death Sc
cret, but enough leaked out to lead to the
unveiling Of the entire distressing tragedy.
Thus il was that DR.. Pctermann, in the ripe
ness Of his scholarship, at the age of ffty-six,
fell, owing to reaction from excessive work
and conjugal torments he was unable to
Withstand, an easy prey to The hereditary
self-destroying mania; the man whose vast
mind had grasped and solved the most diff
fcult geographical questions in both hem
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