The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-07-15
1 Chicago Mans Fatal Hallucination.

The strange disappearance and prob.
able suicide of D. p. Newell, we'll
known real estate broker of this city,
during the past week, says the Chicago
correspondent of the St. Louis Globe
Democrat, has created a profound sem
satidn: The particulars of the affair
are OF such peculiar nature as to ex-
cite unwonted comment, and draw out
q general expression of sympathy for
the afflicted family of the missing man.
The facts as revealed are that for some
days during the first of the week
friends of Mr.. Newell observed that
he was not IN his usual condition of
spirits, seeming to be distract and dull,
when naturally = model of happiness
and good temper. This did not attract
other than casual attention, delicacy
forbidding any pressure of inquiry, and
= belief that the mental depression
grew out of physical indisposition doing
away with anxiety. Mrs. Newell OBJ
served the change in her husband for
the first time last Wednesday, when he
lapsed into a stupid state, complaining
of his head. He afterwards apparently
fully recovered, and she thought moth
ing OF it, supposing he had been affected
by the heat. On Thursday evening she
received by . messenger boy the fol-
lowing letter,
FREMONT HOUSE, CHICAGO, June n, 1880.
Dear WIFE: Have finally struck something
which will bring in money and 1 hope happi-
ness to all of us. have invented q iife-pre-
server on an entirely new principle and ann so
try 1t tonight. find that it is a fallacy that
cork or any wood which absorbs water is
lighter than lead. Lead does not displace as
it has three times the lifting power of cork
have got some lead in strips three-Qua.ters of
an inch wide, and can make jacket Of it for
f~S 10 FAR AND @ cents that one
cork that it would be in water, but have
three times tried it. and find that lead in water
times its weight in cork. Cork cost nifty cents
per pound. lead six cents, and can put life
preseryers on all boats, ships and steamboats,
hundred thousand dollars tomorrow; have
everything ready for the trial; will 90 out
tonight on Goodrich steamer and will be
they can make lead float as we'll or better than
cork. The result will be that when'I come in
tomorrow can sell the right for one hundred
I am in. will leave my clo hes in the boat.
Watch, money, etc., for fear l may have the
lake to cross; but the way the wind looks now
tSsn miles and il tne wina
right, with my armOr can get in in two hours.
l will get rid of my debts and fit you and the
get in town tomorrow. Your affectionate
HUBBY
Overcome and almost frantic with
grief and alarm, the poor woman and
others did all that could be done to try
and reach the writer. But there was
absolutely nothing that could be &C
complished until the arrival of the boat
Mt Grand Haven, to which point Mr..
Newell had purchased his ticket, for the
steamer had two hours start before
Mrs. Newell came into possession of the
letter, so that no tug could have pos
sibly Overtaken her or one would
have been started in pursuit The ter
rible suspense endured by the wife and
family cannot be described, and when
on Friday the vessel was heard from in
a way that left no hope of Mr.. Newell 8
safety, the bereaved wife gave up brok-
en-hearted. In the stateroom taken
by Mr.. Newell was found package of
his clothing except shirt, drawers and
socks. The paper in which the articles
were wrapped had evidently inclosed
something of q metallic nature in the
first place, and from the marks
there is no question but that it
had been about the lead for the
deluded mans fancied but fatal
life preserver. The reference in the
letter to the cost per hundred and total
expense of the death dress would in
dictate that about forty pounds had been
shaped into form to wear. This would
prove sufficient to keep the body at the
bottom of the lake, and it it not thought
it will ever be seen again. The Cap
tain of the boat states that Mr.. Newell
retired to his state-room at the regular
hour, and gave no evidence of being
disturbed. No one saw him the next
morning, but amid the crowd and bus
tie of nearing port his absence was not
marked. The theory is that Mr.. New
ell arose during the night, donned his
leaden shroud, went quietly to the low
err deck and let himself softly into the
cold waters that were to prove his
grave. The only cause assigned for the
act is that financial embarrassment of
late, causing Mr.. Newell much trouble,
unhinged his mind, as with his family,
during his sixteen years of married life,
there have been unwonted peace and
joy.