The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-08
SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.
PRISONER In the Chicago Jan Swallow.
folson-Death Preferred to . Term II
the ~Penitentiary.

a Prisoner in the Chicago Jan Swallow
foison-Death Preferred to . Term II
the Penitentiary.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. q.
The dead body of John 7. Leasing, under
arrest for the attempted murder of Mrs
Fred kouzack, at 60 North Desplaines
street. was discovered in his cell-bunk by
1ne jail authorities this morning. The Off.
Gals announced that heart disease was the
cause OF death. A pos;-mortem examine
tion developed the fact that poison, in the
shape OF potassium, was the true cause.
DOCTORS Bluthardt and Krost estimated that
the dead prisoner had taken fifteen grains
Oh the deadly drug. Small scraps of paper
Uttered the cell floor which contained
traces of the same powdered poison with
which Herman Korstein ended his exist
ence last week. Leasing did not partake
of any breakfast when the food was passed
into his cell this morning. He failed to
leave his bed when the door was unbarred
to permit him to join with the other pris.
oners in their daily exercise in the corri-
dor. A deputy attempted to arouse the
sleeper. He touched a cold and inanimate
body. Korstein and Leasing came from
the same neighborhood in Germany. They
were together a great deal during the hours
Of exercise. The theory of the Jail officials
is that korstein procured the poison and
divided it with LEASING. The presumption
is that Leasing swallowed the fatal dose
Monday night.
Tn following letter, addressed to his
wife, was written on the blank pages of a
prayer-book found in his cell:
DEAR WIFE: You have been bad to me, but
you will not know it until too late and your
eyes are opened by this. You can not say that
L have been a tai to you since we lived to-
geihcr as you have TO me. In the old Father
land. my country and yours. you were arrest
ed Tor lnfanticide once, but / came forward in
Spite of this and made an lac nest wife of Won.
This is my reward. You will often think of
me when | lie in the cold grave and you are i'm
the warm embrace of another husband, who
will perhaps abuse ard beat you. Many times
your father advised me TO take a stick and
correct you, but i never did, because l did
not wish to soil my hands by putting them on
your body Every one has told me / was too
good for you, and that yo. nave acted in this
way to me shows what kind of a woman you
are. / shall always have witnesses that l come
of an honest German family, of whom no one
Can say that adv member was bad. 1 was born
February q, 1S6.
He also wrote a letter saying that he
wished to have 500 that was coming from
his mother in Germany returned to her,
and'that he preferred death to dishonor.
None of his family had been in the Peni.
tentlary, and he would also avoid that
shame. The letter was addressed to Mrs.
Wllhelmina LEASING, Gross Lesewith, Prus-
STA.
The crime for which he was incarcerated
was the shooting of Mrs. Fred Kouzack, 169
North Desplaines street, on the night of
November 81. His wife was stopping there,
having refused to live with him on account
OF his disSolute habits. He went to see her
with the avowed purpose of killing her and
then himself. and when ordered from the
house by Mrs. Kouzack, he deliberately
drew a revolver and fired at her, the bullet
entering just below the mouth, breaking
her jawbone on the left side and burning
itself in the muscles of the neck at the base
Of the tongue. Tn wounded woman was
not expected to live, but she is now con-
valescent- The epidemic of suicide which
has apparently set in at the jail is believed
to be not vet over. There are several des.
perate characters who nave suicidal ten
denotes, notably Charles A. Grimm, the
diamond thief, who has been heard to an
nounce his intention of killing himself
rather than go to- the Penitentiary. He
was thoroughly searched before being
taken into court to-day, where he is now
undergoing his second trial. He fought
deperately during the ordeal. Nothing
was found upon him, but he is to be closely
watched, should the jury find him guilty.
Some OF the prisoners nave made the sub
iect of suicide a special topic, and one,
whose talent for versifying has been noted
heretofore, handed out the following paro.
dy on Gilbert's rhyme in the opera of Pa.
thence.
Here's a receipt for a popular suicide,
Take twenty grains OF potassium cyanide,
lis action is noted for painless rapidity,
Well all take a dose without any tinidity.