Daily globe., 1879-02-11
LEHI,s SUICIDE.
The Cor0ner's Inquest Throws No New
Light on the Matter.

The small enclosure surrounding the modest
l0l PARK avenue, was filed with the usual
crowd yesterday morning. attracted by such an
event. The remains of the self-murderer re-
clined in the position in which he had fallen,
IN the shed, where a few hours previously he
had done the act.
formidable policeman stood sentry at the
door of the shed, and awed by his presence tho
surging croud, who would fain have made their
way to the CHASTITY spectacle, which looked hor-
! rlbiy lived as played upon by the slanting rays
of light that streamed upon che upturned face
from the cracks in the crazy weatherboards.
That greatly envied Individual, the coroner,
arrived at $3.50 O'clock, and after some delay,
| succeeded in empaneling the following jurors:
James Markol. foreman; Aid. Dreis, Hiram
Dyer, W. Christophel, Frank D. Hall and Jul
ins Schneider.
1t may be we'll to state, before giving the
testimony, that after two hours of investiga-
tion into the cause of his death, the jury ar
rived at no motive that would have been CAL
culated to have prompted the oummittal of
such a direful act.
After viewing the remains the coroner and
jury proceeded to the examination of witnesses.
Mrs. Laura A. Levi, wife of the deceased, being
first sworn. testified as follows: was the wife
Of Samuel Levi. and last saw him alive between
ing. He usually retired at or o'clock, and
was not in the habit of remaining up late.
can q We no reason for his remaining up SO
late. He had been sick for two weeks with
severe cold. Witness was here shown the knife
with which the act had been committed, and
testified to having used it for twelve years,
principally for cutting kindling wood. On
one occasion, some years ago. deceased bad said
he was tired of life, and didn't want to live.
So far as witness knew, he had no enemies,
and was indebted to no person in St. Paul.
Deceased had been at home the entire evening,
and had visited the barn two or three times to
look after the horses. Shortly after midnight
he visited the barn for the third time. Witness
had heard no noise, but growing alarmed at his
absence, hnd visited the barn about fifteen
minutes after be had left the house, when she
first made the discovery of his death. He was
lying on his back. perfectly dead. Wi ness
procured a light and awoke her son, but had
not disturbed any of the surroundings. He
carried no money on his person. Witness was
confident that he committed the deed himself.
The knife had been used at clock to cut
kindllng with Witness could not say whether
deceased had sharpened the knife or not
Deceased had remained at home during the
evening, lying on TIE sofa. He was uncom-
mun'cative and unusually quiet. Deceased
was not drinking man. Of late years he had
not drank a thmble full of liquor.
DR.. E. j. Abbott, being sworn, testified as
follows: Witness had diagnosed the wound,
finding that the throat was cut from side to
side, through the larynx at the base of the
epiglotis. The first stroke had severed the
larynx. The second stroke was higher than
the hrst being just above the larynx. Wit
ness thought deceased had come to his
death by his own act as described.
The first cut was not deep enough to cause
death, but the last one necessarily fatal.
Witness thought the act had been committed
while standing. Appearances indicated that
the air passages had become filled and stopped
the flow of blood. Life was only momentary
after the second cut had been inflicted. Wit
ness could deteot no evidence of opiates having
of the throat had been completely severed.
The loss of blood from the left side of the neck
was also sufficient to produce death.
Charles Levi, the l4-year-old son of deceased,
was then sworn, an: testified substantially to
the same facts as related by his mother.
Charles Peglow, an intimate friend and
neighbor Of the deceased, testified to having
been aroused by Mrs. Levi about l o'clock.
Witness had visited the barn in company with
his two brothers, and had afterwards notified
the coroner of the suicide. Witness could as
sign no reason for the act The Lewis had ap-
parently lived very happy, witness had
never heard any quarreling.
Mrs. Noyes, the lady who occupies the second
story of the Levi house, testified to having
conversed with deceased on Sunday afternoon.
Deceased had not acted naturally. Had known
the family for ten years, and never
anything amiss. Witness had never
heard deceased threaten his wife;
had been awakened at o clock by Mrs. Levi
who said that her husband had killed himself
During the afternoon witness asked deceased ii
his throat was better, to which he replied that
it wasn't any better, nor he didn't want it to
get better. Deceased had taken hydrate of
potassium for his sore throat. Witness had
lived in the house since October, and never
heard any quarreling. Mrs. Lew was recalled
and cross-examined, her testimony being re-
petition of that already given.
After short consultation, the jury returned
verdict to the effect that deceased had came
to his death by cutting his throat with his own
hand, between the hours of II and o'clock on
the morning of February 10th, 1879
Deceased was born in Poland, within eight
miles of the German line, in 1919, being in his
sixtieth year at the time of his death. He emf
grated to this country about thirty-fve years
ago, and after lengthy residence in Iowa,
finally removed to this city, where he has re-
sided for twelve years.
He followed the trade of glazier for a live
liho"d, and has always been regarded an in
dustrious, peaceable and thoroughly upright
citizen, com bining certain admirable qualities
that gained him many friends. The funeral
will probably take place to-day.