Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-16

DAGA& Of SVNh
Family Amiction and Financial
Embarrassment the Supposed
Cause.
Conrad wiegand, the noted assayer and
chemist Of Virginia City, suicided at his
residence in that place on Monday night.
The Chronicle which arrived last night has
a full account Of the sad affair. The un-
fortunate man was found suspended from
a joist in the cellar by q gray wooden scarf.
He had evidently climbed upon a bench,
| passed the scarf twice around the joist,
tied the ends in q double knot about his
neck and then swung himself of the bench,
clear Of the floor. The fall was so short that
he must have slowly strangled to death.
Commissions upon his face and blood from
his nose and upon his left hand, indicate
that he made one unsuccessful attempt and
fell to the floor. probably through the slip
ping Of the knot. The blood upon his
hand was not from a cut, but came there
evidently by brushing itfrom his face when
he arose.
From the statement OF Mrs. Wiegand it
appears that the unfortunate man did not
retire last night at all, but as he was in the
habit Of sitting up very late and sometimes
getting up in the middle Of the night to
work upon his books, this caused no un-
easiness. Mr.. Wiegand usually slept upon
a lounge in q room separate from his wife,
in order not to disturb her. By. getting up
when too nervous to sleep, so that she did
not know until morning that he had not
retired.
TEE OF THE BODY.
This morning at z O'clock, when break
fast had been prepared, Mrs. weigand
called her husband, but receiving no reply,
went down stairs expecting to find him in
his Office. Failing to find him at work
| there, she went down to the library, which
| is situated on the ground floor at the rear
OF the house, but he was not among his
| books, and Mrs. Weigand then turned to
go up stairs. As she did so q terrible sight
| met her gaze. In q narrow passage in the
| cellar dimly lighted from the open door,
| hung the dead body Of her husband. The
truth was only too evident at . glance, and
| the poor woman's emotions, as it flashed
| upon her, must have been terrible. Al
though scarcely able to stand, she man.
aged to return up stairs and inform the
| other inmates Of the house. A hasty ex-
animation proved that it was too late to
render any aid in hope Of saving the man
as he had evidently committed the aci
some hours previously.
CAUSE OF THE SUICIDE.
From those who were well acquainted
with the deceased and familiar with hii
affairs, it has been ascertained that he hai
been financially embarrassed for o lonl
time and could see no way out OF hii
trouble. His debts amount to probably
S., 900 or Sc, 900, and if he could. have con
verted all his property into money, b.
would not have realized enough to satisfy
his creditors. Mr.. Wiegand was not q pru
dent business man, and whenever he ha(
any money it was generally used in expert
menting with some new process Of refining
bullion, from which he hoped to realize
fortune.
FAMILY AFFLIcTIoNs.
The death of his only daughter, nearl.
three years ago, was a severe blow to Mr.
Wiegand. from which he never fully recov
cred. She was married to Thomas Dunn
and lived happily with him, but died a few
weeks after giving birth to her first child
Not long ~afterward, the bereaved HUSBAND
was taken sick and died at MI. Wiegand'
house, leaving the little girl to the care O
her grandparents, with whom she has sine
lived. Mr.. Wiegand was strongly ATTACHED
to the child, and was constantly regrettinl
that he could not provide for her future q
he would like to. Besides these famil,
troubles which seemed to prey upon hi
mind, Mr.. wiegand met with many bust
ness reverses and worried continually be
cause he was compelled to incur debt
Some years ago he was obliged to g
through bankruptcy, but he afterwards
paid every cent Of his liabilities, although
not legally bound to do 30.
Deceased was q native Of Philadelphia
and aged about AZ years.