Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-09
STRANGLED TO DEATH.

Strange and Novel Suicide at Rogers
HoteI-Henry L. Lyons Gags His Mouth
and Swings into Eternity From the Top
of a Truuk-Particulars of tho Tragedy.
Room No. II at Rog gers hotel, on Robert
street. was the scene Yesterday of the most
novel suicide by strang ulation that has ever
taken Mace in this CITY. The latest victim to
the mania of self-destrIiction, so prevalent In
st. Paul Of late, arrived in this city ABOUT
week ago, from Sioux City, Iowa, ana as usuai
he left nothing that would indicate the motive
for his nnceremonious taking of. His name
was Henry E. Lyons, he was about thlrty-nVe
years of age, unmarried aud by trade palnter'
He formerly resided in Bloomington, Illinois,
where he has living two brothers and other
relatives.
In the absence of definite information con-
corning his life it is impossible to assign a
reason for the premedated and deliberately
planned act, whice must have sent his spirit
TO the abode of Pluto and its final account IN
"a twlnkling.
A CHASTITY SPECTACLE.
Shortly before 6 o'clock last evening MI.
James J. White, roommate of the deceased
and for long time his fellow workman and
u,
whom it was supposed had lain down 1or q
nap and oversight HIMSELF
Contrary to custom the door was found
locked and repeated knocks brought no answer.
His suspicious being aroused he called Mr.
Joseph Rogers, son Of the proprietor OF The
hotel, and together they broke in the door,
Once within the room their gaze encou ntered
a phastly spectacle. Hanging from a clothing
hook, in a partially limpeG attitude was the
form of Lyons, so dead that nothing short OF
the last trump could ever reanimate IL with
the breath of life.
The appearance of the body indicated that
life must have been extinct for several hours.
The method of his taking oil was most
novel and peculiar. Taking piece of bed
cord or clothes line he made a slip moose and
adjusted it about his neck; be then mounted
trunk, the top of which was about foot
from the floor and winding rope around a
cast iron hook, attached to a lateral slat about
six feet from the floor and used as clothes
rack he fastened the other end of the rope to
his right foot, first drawing his leg into
kpeeling or bending position.
THE FATAL oIBBET.
Before committing the act which was to
Iaunch his soul into The dark waters of the
river Styx, he folded a red bandana handker-
chief and tied it over his mouth. The motive
of this is matter OF conjecture. He may
have intended to prevent any possible cutlery
from being heard and more probably still he
desired to spare the spectacle of q depending
tongue feature that unusually spoils the
looks in cases of death from strangulatlon.
After this most careful preparation, and
having completed meat toilet before arrang-
ing the details, he sw tIng of the trunk with
his left foot, and the rope STRENGTHENING with
the weight OF his body, death from strangnla-
ton mu st have been instantaneous.
Upon the discovery of the tragedy Coroner
Davenport was ummoned and visited the
house in company with GLOBE reporte.
The form was cut down and placed on DeQ
and upon being examined, nothing was found
on his clothing in the way of farewell or eX
PLANTATION. The remains were taken in charge
by Mccarthy u Donnelly, and the inquest will
be held at their undertaking rooms at 10
o'clock this morning.
HIS FoEMER LIFE.
AS before stated, the deceased came to st.
Paul about week ago from Sioux City in
., company with James j. White, his fellow
workman.
In the room was foh nd copy of the New
York Ledger, neatly folded in wrapper, and
addressed, "Mrs. Maggie Liddle, Shushang,
York State" On being opened, the words,
81 am well, were written on the margin. 1t
is supposed that the paper was intended for
his sister.
The last seen of the deceased alive was about
$50 o'clock yesterday morning, when he
passed through the office of the hotel.
At that time he seemed TO be in usual health
and spirits. 1t is supposed that the deed
must have been committed about noon. The
deceased had two brothers and brot her-in-
law, employed in the shops of the Chicago &
Alton road, at Bloomington. The latter's
name is Jones.
In conversation with GLOBE reporter last
night, Mr.. White tated that the deceased had
never intimated suicide. In Sioux city he
once or twice remark led that in case anything
should ever happen to him, he would consider
it favor if Mr.. White would inform his
brother-in-law, Jones.
At the time nothing was thought of the
commonplace remark, but it may have been
prophetic of what was TO happen on yester
day. Mr.. White carried out the request and
the friends of the man will be heard from to-
day. His circumstances were not distressing
rs he had plenty of work and also received q
small pension bounty.
He secured employment with the st. Paul
& Omaha railroad Company and worked two
or three days last week. He recently COM
planned of feeling nnwell and at times his
head suffered from a wound received in the
war of the rebellion- He was hard working
man, not q heavy drinker and his habits are
SAID to have been good. He was quiet in
bearing and always went neatly attired.