Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-07
TIRED OF LIFE.
Sad Suicide of Mrs. Col. McKenty Yesterday
Morning-Full Particulars of the Tragic
Event, aud the Verdict of the Coroner's
,TurY.


Jury.
Every old settler and every resident of St.
Paul will remember the tragic death of Henry
McKenty, which sad event took place by his
own hand, August 10th. 1869. The death of no
man in st. Panl at that day could have been
more keenly felt than that of Col. McKenty,
and falling by his own hand added to the sor-
row of all those who had known him. Every
old settler to this day remembers him as the
bustling, driving energetic business
man. At one time he was the
largest owner of real estate in Minnesota.
BROAD acres was his hobby, although he
dealt more or less in city property and town
sites. In 1856 his wealth was estimated ut
many hundred Thousand dollars. The crash of
1857 caught him in its tolls, and from that
time forward his life was one constant strug
gle with adversely until the once strong man
became worn out with the ceaseless strife.
The bright intellect became clouded, despond-
ency took the place of hope, until life became
burden, and in q moment OF temporary in
sanity he sent the death-dealing bullet crash
ing through his brain.
Col. McKenty left behind him widow and
and u years. year ago last Feb
ruary the youngest of the daugh-
tiers died. This affection added
to her other SORROWS intensified the mental de-
preston of Mrs. McKenty, and for several years
past and more especially during the past six
months, her friends have experienced much
anxiety and solicitude on her behalf, Her
health had been failing gradually and her i'll
ness was intensified by her mental despOnd-
ency, and for over a year past she has lived as
one who saw no ''silver lining" to the cloud
that hung over her. During all this time she
has been watched over and tenderly guarded
by her only remaining daughter, Miss jose
phine. now a young lady twenty-five years of
age as well as by her other relatives and friends
in the city. Notwithstanding all this loving
care however, her mental disquietude and des-
pondency increased, until in no doubt mo-
mentary fit of insanity, between and 10 o clock
yesterday morning she committed suicide by
hanging herself at her residence. No. 246 Wa
bashaw street. The following are the particu
lars:
As stated above, Mrs. McKenty had COM
planned of great deal OF pain In her head.
On Friday afternoon she called upon near
neighbor, Mrs. DR.. Caine, and to Mrs. Caine
related the state of her feelings. She spent
some time with Mrs. Oaine, who, by cheerful
conversation, endeavored to have her forget
her morbid feelings, and to some extent sue
oeeded. On Friday evening she attended
meeting of the Ladies' society of the Central
freSDyG6I1au CuurCn, \OI WulCu BUS WdS LuoHl-
ber,) at the residence of her sister, Mrs. W. K.
CASTOR. Nothing unusual was observed in her
manner, and she retired to bed on Friday even
ing and slept as we'll usual. Yesterday
morning she ate breakfast, and there
was nothing in her manner that ex-
cited the suspicion of her daughter. Dur
ing Friday night the daughter, Miss Josephine,
suffered considerably with toothache, and
little before o'clock yesterday morning she
left home to visit dentist for relief, leaving
her mother alone in the house. She was ab-
sent until about 80 A. M, and, on her return
she rang the bell of the front door, expecting
her mother to open it Obtaining no response
she proceeded to the rear of the house to OBJ
tain enuranc &c through q summer kitchen. Upon
opening the door of this kitchen horrible
sight met her gaze. The mother was suspended
by the neck from one of the cross beams of
the temporary building. The horror stricken
daughter seized knife and at once cut the
rope, the body falling to the floor. Then,
with feet shod with Zig aiming, she flew to the
adjoining residence, and, in few incoherent
words, informed Mrs. Lambie and Miss Dolbaa
of what had occurred. These two ladies
hurried to the house as quickly as possible,
where they found the daughter ON the floor,
with her mothers head in her lap, rub bling her
hands and face, and crying pitifully for her to
speak to her. The inauimate form was lifted
up by those three terrified ladies and carried
into the sitting room, where it was laid upon
a lounge and every restorative at hand known
to the ladies was used, but without avail. The
body was yet warm, but the vital spark had
fed forever, and the tired sufferer was at rest.
A messenger was dispatched for DIR. Roth, the
family physician, who was quickly on hand,
but he could do nothing except to turn his at
tention to the distracted daughter, who, when
she learned that her only re-
naming parent was dead, fell into violent
Mysteries, in which she continued until
completely exhausted, and under the influence
of soothing opiates she forgot her sorrows in
sleep. Kind friends and neighbors were soon
on hand to watch over the now doubly orphan
ed girl, and render such services as were neces-
sary.
The relations of the family thought it best
that an inquest should be held and Coroner
Davenport was informed, who emoanneled
jury consisting of 8. B. Woolworth, John Og
den, J. Hitchcock s. s. Langland, O. o. Bird
and Alex. Johnston.
Miss Josephine McKenty, the daughter, Miss
Dolbaa and DR.. Both were sworn and their tes-
tImony did not differ from the facts given
above. The jury returned verdict to the
effect that death was caused by stran-
gulation by means of rope placed round her
neck by deceased own hauds, and that the act
was superinduced by bodily illness and mental
depression.
Deceased's maiden name was Johanna D.
Wolga, and she was in the ffty-sixth year of
her age. She was sister of Mrs. W. K. Gas
ton, and Mrs. G. D. Gilfillan of this city. A
few years ago the county of Ramsey, through
an act of the legislature, refunded to her
$1,000 expended by her husband in building
the road to lake Como, aud this, together with
the income of the daughter, who is a teacher
in the Jefferson school, placed them in COM
Portable circumstances. Pecuniary matters
bad nothing to do with her mental ailments
The warm and heartfelt sympathy of the entire
city will 60 out to the sorely afflicted daughter,
who has thus early in life been called upon to
bear burden of sorrow experienced by but few.
The funeral will take place from the Central
Presbyterian church tomorrow Monday at 10