The sun., 1879-04-27
CHEATING THE GALLONS.
THE WELL-PLANNED SUICIDE OF AN
EDUCATED WIFE MURDERER.


OMAHA, April 2i-Dr G. J. St Louis, who
was convicted Of poisoning his wife, shot him
solf in his prison cell on Friday last. which was
the day appointed for his execution. 1t was re-
ported at the time that his wound was not fatal.
and Gov Nance rcspted him until May 1G; but
no grew rapidly worse. and died yesterday
afternoon. st. Louis was one OF n largo family
OF brothors and sisters, and was born In Wis
consn forty years ago. He was partly educated
10 the Catholic priesthood but he grew tired Of
his studies and ran away to Sioux City where
he married at the age OF 10. His wifo died, and
subsequently he studied medicine in Montreal
but the rebellion breaking out in this country
he again deserted his studies and enlisted in a
Chicago regiment He was detailed as an as-
sistant surgeon in the hospital service. but in
1864 he met with an accident. got an honorable
discharge from the army and received pen
sion from the Government up to the time Of his
death In 1869 st. Louis married again wont
10 Milwaukee. and published Catholic paper
for a year. went then into the drug business and
at the end Of another yoar removed to fremont.
Mob. whore he set up as n doctor.
SOmo time after the arrival Of 81. Louis in
Fremont Samuel Bloomcr and his wife came
there to live Bloomcr. a cripple. kept music
store and he and his wife apparently lived
peaceably together. but st. Louis happened to
be called to Mrs. Bloomer. and his professional
visits soon got TO bc SO frequent that not littc
talk resulted Although the woman was not re-
markablo for delicacy or modesty. still. nothing
essentially bad had ever been noticed Of her
But suddenly her husband left her. going
further west. and then. although tho woman
pretended to support herself by needlework
everybody came to knowthat st. Louis was sup
porting her rom his earnings. His friends re-
monstratel with him. for his wife and two
small children were left without even the bare
necessaries Of life. but to no purpose.
was suddenly taken i'll, and was attended by her
husband. He called In other physicians also
10 assist him and the invalid rapidly grew bet
ter; but when il was thought that she had all
but recovered. an item appeared in tho local
paper to the effect that during severe thun-
into the sick room and had caused Mrs. st.
Louis TO suffer a RELAPSE She grew rapidly
During the last days of her illness she
nnd her. children were neglected by 81.
fp0o o 2s s BooSer 6s mf His H dn i5e
$. Haines. Professor OF Chemistry in lush Col
lege, Chicago. w0s sent for. He made an
autopsy twenty hours after Mrs. st. Louiss
death. and reported. as, the result. Of his
IN the system. from the presence Of which
death had probably resulted. BEFORE the Coro-
ner's Jury he testified that Q 259 grains Of this
poison had been found. which must have been
administered at different times. II was further
Drought out through testimony then offered.
that an attendant of the sick woman had no.
ticed St Louis placing some powder in mix
ture for his wife. which she took as directed
Louis. and at a Special Term Of f' eonri " held al at
Fremont on Jan. % 1878 he. was iut on trial
for the murder Of his wife. The trial contin-
ing by a vote Of Q to3.
It was urged by 81. Louis. and he sought to
Impress the idea in his testimony. that his
wite's death resulted from shock by lightning:
hut az smother special term oithe court held the
convicted, and sentenced 10 be hanged ON FRI
day. April IL. 1879.
Strenuous efforts were made by the relatives
OF the condemned man TO have his sentence
commuted to Imprisonment for life and later
strong pressure was brought to bear ON Gov.
Nance oi Nebraska, to induce him to grant a
repreve; but these attempts were deprecated
IN the newspapers. and the Governor remained
The second Mrs. st. Louis. who was poisoned.
was small. black-eyed thin faced woman OF
positive temper and vivacious manner. st.
Louis was never known 10 treat her cruelty. nor
ever 10 use a harsh word TO her. though she
often upbraided him for his faithlessness. His
abuse OF her was simply neglect which was
wanton and cruel. On the day Of his wifes
death he sent n series OF verses concerning the
vile Tor whose murder he WAS To have been
hanged. 70 the local paper. in which they were
published on the day following. The last verse
was as follows:
DED-At her residence on Sixth street June l. after n
short illness Mary of Georse j. 81 Louis aged 20
And be thy tate my own,
Uuon a rude world thrown
To wcep aud mourn
The hand of love divine
Asa s5's1i saarl is!HSr %6iIa Pf 'n lessh s.ah'
Rsqnaaif IN i-Iee
In personal appearance st. Louis was rather
q handsome man. He was OF light build about
five feet eight inches in height of dark COM
plexion with coal black hair. and heavy nous
tache and Burnside whiskers Of the same color.
a high forehead regular features. and cold
giluerlng gray eyes. He was Of large natural
seemed possessed Of but little feeling. and
never showed any emotion till within the last
few weeks Of his lie. His letters indicate that
no was not man Of much strength Of intellect.
At first he behaved himself callously and
seemed 70 look forward TO his fate without
dread but when II became evident that he could
not escape the gallOws. his courage gave way.
he would fall into such utter despair that it was
painful 10 behold him.
He was visited 10y good many people. cler-
Gymen. reporters; and others. He became more
and more excited. and toward the last ate and
pearance grew more wreiched and agonizlng.
On Thursday Father Greenbaum came from
Omaha to console him. Upon entering the cell
he found st. Louis sitting upon the side OF the
bed with nothing on except his shirt and
drawers. He had handkerchief tied around
his head. and his head was resting on his hands.
The father spoke 10 him. but ST. Louis did not
answer. Then tho father. said. " Are you not
ing St. Louis reached out his hand. Faith
er Greenbaum spoke 70 him again. and he.
question he answered: . Hlstl hist That de.
spatch Is all wrong. II came over the wrong
wire. There is another coming another way
1t will all be different" The father remained
with him almost continuously until after mid
night St Louis seemed to grow more frantic
and wild. He refused 10 eat an ythng at all. to
rest, or 10 sleep.
About mdnighth he became quleter. and again
talked nationally. Father Greenhaum under
took 10 prepare him for death, but he avoided
the subject by evnsive answers. He would talk
about his trial and the injustice which had been
done, but would not converse on religion.
At o'clock on Friday morning DR.. 81. Louis
sent Tor the sister OF his wife, Mrs John Glet-
zen. Before She came hc took n seat at table
und commenccd 10 write b. his father and
mother. lie only wrote n few lines and stopped
and then went and laid down on his bunk until
she came. To Mrs. Gletzen he talked very
earnestly and pnthetcully about his fate his
orphaned children. and his aged father and
mother, He said they, would soon follqw him
to his grave, and then his children wouli have
none 10 care for them He requested Mrs. Glet-
zen to have his body buried beside his wife and
gave to her all his private papers and all his
money, about $3.50
Mrs. Gletzen took leave Of st. Louis. and
started home. She stopped Just outside the jail
10 speak to Father Lonergan. and while she
was talking to him Officer Gregg told the pris-
oner 10 put on his clothes and start Must |
gOf" he asked. " Yes, you must" replied
Gregg. who was standing about four foet IRON
him. He was 10 be taken to NahoO 10 be eX-
ecutedl st. Louis rose to a sitting posture,
drOpuinR ni8 feet over the side Of the he'd " Ia