Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-06
NO. I58
TIRED OF LIFE.
Sad Suicide of Mrs. Col. McKenty Yesterday
Morning-Full Particulars of the Tragic
Event, aud the Verdict of the Coroner's
,Iury

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
busshng, driving, energetic business
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 mis- wealth was estimated at
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 a moment OF temporary in
sanity he sent the death-dealing bullet crash
ing through his brain.
Col. McKenty left behind him widow and
two daughters, aged respectively 6
and IL years. A year ago last Feb
ruary the youngest of the daugh-
tiers died. This afliction 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 III
ness was intensified by her mental despond-
ency, and for over 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
loI-
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 a 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
nelghbor, Mrs. DR.. Caine, and to Mrs. Caine
related the state of her feelings. She spent
some time with Mrs. Cainer who, by cheerful
conversation, endeavored to have her forget
her morbid feelings, and to some extent sue
ceeded. On Friday evening she attended q
meeting of the Ladies' society of the Central
Presbyterian church, (of which she was mem
berD at the residence of her sister, Mrs. w. r.
CASTOR. Nothing unusual was observed in her
manner, and she retired to bed on Friday even
ing and slept as well as 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 a
little before o'clock yesterday morning she
left home to visit dentist for relief, leaving
her mother alone in the house. She was abb
sent until about 1890 A. M, and, on her return
QY1cr fho hal nf hat fr0v,k
her mother to open it. Obtaining no response
she proceeded to the rear of the house to OBJ
tain entrance through a summer kitchen. Upon
opening the door of this kitchen a 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 lightning, 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, rubbing her
hands and face, and crying pitifully for her to
speak to her. The inanimate form was lifted
up by those three terrified ladies aud carried
into the sitting room, where it was laid upon
lounge, and every restorative at hand known
to the ladies was used, but without avail. The
fed forever and the tired sufferer was at rest
messenger was dispatched for DR.. 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 al inquest should be held and Coroner
Davenport was informed, who empanneled
jury consisting of s. 3. Woolworth, John Og-
den, j. Hitchcock, 8. s. Langland, o. o. Bird
and Alex. Johnston.
Miss Josephine McKenty, the daughter, Miss
Dolbaa and DR.. Roth were sworn and their tes-
tImony did not differ from the facts given
above. The jury returned a verdict to the
effect that death was caused by strau-
gulatlon by means of rope placed round her
neck by deceased own hauds and that the act
was superinduced by bodily illness and mental
depression.
Deceaseds maiden name was Johanna ID.
Wolga, and she was in the ffty-sixth year of
her age. She was sister of Mrs. W. x. CAS-
ton, and Mrs. @. d. Gilfllan of this city. A
lew yesrs ago the county of Ramsey, through
an act of the legislature, refunded to her
$4,000 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
had nothing to do with her mental ailments.
The warm and heartfelt sympathy of the entire
city will go out to the sorely afflicted daughter,
who has thus early in life been called upon Co
bear burden of sorrow experienced by but few.
The funeral will take place from the Central
A. NJ.