Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-14
PROBABLE SUICIDE.
q. II. Kauffiman's Farewell Messages to
His Wife and Others 81 Touching
Letter.

| G. III. Kauffman's Farewell Messages to
His Wife and Others "A Touching
Letter.
| On Tuesday afternoon last Mr.. G. II. Kau1-
man, residing in the Sixth ward, left his home,
and has not been seen since alive, so far as
known. On Wednesday morning one of the
! railroad men connected with the St. Paul &
Omaha road discovered the hat OF man just
above the railroad bridge, and on going to
pick 1t up, found number of letters with
the hat, directed to various individuals,
| among the number of names being Chief of
Police Weber, Mrs. G. Fl. Kaufman, G. II.
Lineau, John Thorwarth, and one or two
/ others. He carried the hat and letters to
Sergeant Walsh, of the police force, who
happened to be near neighbor of Mr.. Kauff.
man. He at once handed Mrs. Kaufman the
letter directed to her, of which the following
| is copy:
Oct 6, '8l.-My dearest and my best Josephine (!
Oh! deareet wife oh thou angel! You hard working
good woman You kind brave good mother! oh!
What shall say? Dear Josephine In 2-i weeks I
shall be laid up to the sick bed There 1s no help.
cannot look at such mischief-oh might get
crazy. Forgive me dear Josephine, forgive me dear
children, cannot help it-But if must leave you
entirely helpless, do not fear. God, the good people
you hope.
There were hard, seven or eight years of nothing
but misfortune and encouragement. Msy God help
you that live without dear little ones, happier with
out me than with me. I wish you many happy,
good years. While hardly sunshine showed itself
in the many years past. hope God will make good
Tor you, dear Josephine, and the dear children.
DON'T back down on it; bear 1t with courage and
forgive me.
aDear one, do also not make yourself any trouble
about the future of my soul am prepared. never
done any crime, or that had to fear death. So
hone shall die Ouietlv
Inform s. J. kadow, SO Bruhl, Leipzig, and Gus
tsy Kaufman, Halle as, Henrietta street l6 l. In
Germany, Of my sudden death and ask them forhelp
for the children. Educate the boys for the profess
sonal trade. This learning mercantile commerce ia
ways risky. Y
Be quete dear Josephine, all.wil arrange itself by
bless you all and help you to get over this mischief
God bless the poor children. Good buy Good
buy live happy. Your dispairing husband,
Ny greatest pain is must leave you so entirely
pennyless and hope that some good people hastens
at once to your instant help.
The grief of Mrs. Kaufman is better
imagined than described on reading this let
ter and learning the particulars under which
It was found. She accompanied Sergeant
Walsh to police headquarters, where the letter
to Chief Weber was opened, which was as fol-
lows:
ST. PAUL, Oct. Z, l8Sl.-Chief Of Police, Chas,
Weber, Esq, Dear Sir: Pleuse inform my father
in-law, Joseph Booker, Minneapolis, corner Henne-
pin avenue and Fourteenth and half street. at once
and tell him by telegraph and telephone to come
down at once.
Please have my letters handed to the proper per-
sons and get at my wife's sample box, some price
lists and cards, and one order book. have them
packed up and sent by Am. Ex. to Messrs Schneid-
l,pp & Co., Cincinnati, o. Please inform Mr..
Broker at once. With thanks your dispalrng. O. b.
Kaufman, corner Delos and Livingston, opposite
old city town hall, Sixth ward.
In the meantime Mr.. Lineau had been in
formed OF the matter, and, repairing to police
headquarters, opened the letter addressed to
him, which was as follows:
ST. PAUL, Oct. 2. lssl.-DEAn MR.. LINEAU: The
last unhappy years did break all my energy down
My eyes are nearly worthless, my health totally inn
paired, and at the beginning Of the cold am
thro wn on sick bel. No hope for me! May the
people judge kindly of me- and my despair That is
ali ask.
Please take care of my poor family. Do your best
In your paper. leave my beloved cnes in the most
destitute circumstances.
Thousand thanks for all you have done for me so
far, and for all you will do for my family in the fu
ture: Yours in despair. O. H KAUFsMAN.
The poor woman looked into the face of
Mr.. Lineau as he read his letter in the hope
that there might be some mistake, but when
she saw he had no words of comfort to give
her, she broke down completely and sobbed in
uncomfortable grief. Knowing the destitute
circumstances of the family, Mr.. Lineau as.
sured her that she need not fear
for herself or little ones, that they
would be taken care of, at the same time
handing her generous gift of money, and
saying that their immediate wants in the way
of food, fuel, etc., would be attended to,
which promise he fulfilled during the day.
In the meantime the fate of the unfortunate
man is entirely unknown. Every indication
points to case of premeditated. suicide, yet
this fact is unknown, as the body has not
been found, nor has the living man been seen
since Tuesday afternoon.
The family consists of the bereaved wife
and three infant children, which, together
with the delicate condition of the mother and
their destitute circumstances, makes up a
case which is sad in the extreme, and strong
ly appeals to all those who have a heart to
feel for Others woes.