Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-23

than the ones that accompany natural
methods of dissolution, at the present epo Oh
in St. Panl, is almost tantamounttos maoia.
Within the past few weeks there has been an
epidemic of suicides Hardly a day passe3
but the coroner is called upon to enquire
into the why and wherefore of some poor
defuncr whose abrupt withdraw from the
shifting ecene of life is attended with
suspicious or reprehensible circumstances.
With the score of suicides that have taken
place this summer it was not to be expeca d
that the week last past should go out with
out some reminder of tragedy. 1t came
yesterday morning, at the eleventh hour, in
the death by hanging, of woman residing
on the extension of Rice street, beyond the
new elevator.
About 10 O'Clock man named Antoine
Strecker called at police headquarters
and stated that his wife, Marie
Anna Strecker, had committed suicide.
The man was was wild with grief, and
speaking only German there was consider
able difficulty in arriving at the facts. Ac-
cording to his statement the affair hap
pened as follows: Shortly after 6 O'Clock
yesterday morning Antoine Strecker left his
modest residence, located as before stated,
intending to observe 7 O'Clock mass. After
leaving the church, and on his way home,
he called at neighbours with whom he had
left saw to be filled.
Arriving home about 8 o'clock he found
the door of his dwelling open, and no one
around. He called for his wife but there
was no response. Becoming alarmed he COM
menced search, and on going into the cellar
he was Mortified by the spectacle of his wife,
who hung from beam stone dead. The
wretched man hastened to his nearest neigh
b0r and related the horrible discovery. The
body was cut down and laid on plank to
await the coming of the coroner.
The family consisted of man, wife and two
boys, aged respectively II and IL years, and
if the woman was insane she shove consid
cradle method in her madness. The boys,
who were absent from the house, returned
about 8 o'clock, when it was asc srtained
that shortly after their fathers departure
they left home, at the instance of Mis-.
Strecker, to att end 8 o'clock mass.
The little family are foreigners, having
only resided in America nine weeks. They
are natives of Austria and formerly lived in
the province of Fronau. The father of the
family is an intelligent, hard working man,
about 40 years of age, and since his arrival
in St. Paul he has worked at Adam Raue's
stone quarry in the Sixth ward.
Since their arrival in st. Paul Mr.. Streck-
er leased piece of land on the left side of
the continuation of Rice street, going out,
and constructed thereon one-story frame
dwelling. The building, which is very
modest affair, was partially completed last
tha 70, in Wo6n
day.
So far as can te learned there existed no
substantial motive for the act,
which was prompted by despond
ency and great mental weakness.
For the past three weeks deceased has ex-
perienced all the pangs of melencholia and
of home sickness. Being unable t. reconcile
or conform her thoughts to the condition of
their new life, she gave way ID despondency
and seemed to lose all ambition.
One day last week she told her husband
that she was tired of life, and that as she
did not want to make him unhappy she
requested him to kill her. Again she stata
that she would strike her head with the axe
if she WIS only certain it would kill her.
Saturday night she s1ked her husband where
he kept his revolver. He asked why she
made the enquiry, when she replie that che
thought maybe he had forgoJ to bring it.
On being Informed of what had taken
place Coroner Davenport proceeded to the
house accompanied by Officer Graber and
GLOBE reporter. The house of the
Strecker's is brand new and consists of one
large room and basement. Descending
flight of very preoipitous STEPS the visit o1s
found the body of the dead woman, which
was laid on plank to keep it from getting
wet, the foo of the bsgement being covered
with water. The body was attired in a
chemise and a short skirt and the deadly
twine still held it's firm grip on the woman's
throat The fece was decidedly Bohemian
in aspect and showed no trace of discolora-
ton.
In hanging herself the woman secured
piece of ordinary twine al out quarter of
an inch in diameter, and attaching one end
to strip of board nailed across the scantings,
she launched into the unknown from the
lower stop of the ladder connecting with the
upper floor. The basement is barely five
feet high and when found her feet almost
dragged on the ground.
The remains we're carried to the second
floor and an inquest will be held at II O'Clock
fhis rnorpinu