Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-04
HUNG IN A SWING.
AUG UsTUs EKMAN ENDS HIS LIFE.
The Sad Sunday. Morning at Posts Sid ng
--Intcmperate Habits the Canse of the
Rash Act--A Wife and Five Children
Left Destitute

Early yesterday morning Dr. Richeson,
and the coroner, DR.. G. A. Stein, were sum-
moned to visit a house at Posts siding. on
the st. Paul & Duluth road, near the Har-
vester works. The summons was promptly
responded to, but Of no avail, so far as med
ical skill was concerned. He was dead.
It appears that Augustus S. Ekman was a
draughtsraan in the land department Of the
St. Paul and Duluth railroad. He came
here from Buffalo, and has been in the en-
ploy of the company for five or six years.
He was a competent man in his
BUSINESS, but of late had been
given to drinking and had neg
lected his duties. He received $11O per
month, and had built him a house at POSTS
siding, obtaining aid from building soci-
city to do SO. His building society dues
were $15 which, if counted as rental, left
him S95 to support his family. His intern
perate habits have led him to squander his
money, and his family have been sorely
pressed for absolute necessaries
He returned home about seven o'clock
Saturday night. His heart-broken wife,
when called upon to testify before the coro-
ner admitted that they had some words rela-
tive to his conduct and his lack of support of
his family. About ten in the evening he
went out Of the house in his stocking feet
and his wife supposed he had gone
to saloon near by to obtain liquor. She
had retired and soon after his departure
fell asleep. When she awoke at 6 O'Clock
yesterday morning he was still absent, and
she then became alarmed, and hastily dress
ing herself, started to look for him. Her
search was short, for no sooner had she
stepped out of the door than she saw him
hanging in rope swing which had been put
upon tree for the children. Almost stimuli
taneously. neighbor, Mr.. Mayhem ,and his
son, discovered him, and coming to
the stricken wife's assistance, cut the
body down and carried it into the house.
His feet nearly touched the ground. In fact,
he seemed to have drawn them up to make
the work more sure. What hour he hung
himself is unknown, but as nothing is known
of his whereabouts after 10 o'clock, it is
thought he committed the deed soon after
leaving the house. The body was cold and
stiff, almost frozen, when found.
The only witnesses examined by the coro
ner were Mrs. Ekmah, and G.. H. Mayhew.
the son Of the neighbor who aided in cut
ting down the body. The grief of the un-
fortunate wife was SO great that the coroner
CONSIDERABLY refrained from obtrusive ques-
tioning and the jury returned the following
verdict.
THE VERDICT.
An inquisition taken at the residence of A.
S. Ekman on Seventh street. post side track)
in the county Of Ramsey, the third day of
February 1873, before DIR. G. A. Stein, Coroner
of said county, upon view Of the body of Au-
eustus Ekman lying there dead by the oaths
of the Jurors whose names hereunto sub
scribed, who being sworn tot INQUIRE on behalf
of the State Of Minnesota when, how, and by
what means the said Augustus Ekman came to
his death, upon their oaths do say that the de-
ceased o.me to his death by strangulatlon
through his own hand.
In testimony whereof. the said Coroner and
Jurors Of this inquest have hereunto set theil
hands the day and year aforesaid.
DR.. G. A. STEIN, Coroner,
Fl. kAYSER
PATRICK CASEY,
A. ERLING,
JOHN FRETT Jr.
JOHN SURTsTED,
s. L. MAILER,
Jurors.
Mr.. Ekman was about IS years of age and
leaves wife and five children, the youngest
about three weeks old and the Oldest nine
LODI