Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-08
SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.
a Prisoner In the Chicago Jail Swallow
Poison-Death Preferred to u Term Ia
the Penitentiary.

a Prisoner in the Chicago Jail Swallows
Poison-Death Preferred to u Term In
the Penitentiary.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. %.
The dead body of John T. Lessing, under
arrest for the attempted murder of Mrs.
Fred Kouzack, at 60 North Desplaines
street, was discovered in his cell-bunk by
the Jail authorities this morning. The off,
Gals announced that heart disease was the
cause of death. A pos -mortem examina
ton 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
of 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.
The following letter, addressed to his
wife, was written on the blank pages of q
prayer-book found in his cell:
DEAR WIFE: You have be on bad to me, but
you win not know it until too late and your
eyes are opened 10y this. You can not say that
have been "a "A to you since we lived to-
gether as you have to me. In the old Father
land, my country and yours, you were arrest
ed FOR lnfantcide once, but came forward in
spite of this and made an hC ,st wife of you
ms is my rCwa d. You viii often think of
me when lie in the cold grave and you are In
the warm embrace of another husband, who
| VIII perhaps abuse al beat you. Many times
your father advised me to take a stick and
correct you, but never did, because 1 did
! not wish to soil my hands by putting them on
your pody. Every one has told me was too
/ good fer you, and that YOU have acted in this
way to me shows what kind of n woman YOU
/ are. / shall always have witnesses that come
/ Of an hont st German family. of whom no one
gan say that any member was bad. was born
February %, 1885,
He also wrote 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 dshonor.
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-
! sia.
The crime for which he was incarcerated
was the shooting of Mrs. Fred kouzack, 1863
North Dec PLANES street, on the night of
November 81. His wife was stopping there,
having refused to live with him on account
/ OF his dissoiute habits. He went to see her
with the avowed purpose of killing her and
then himself, and when ordered from the
house by Mrs. Kpuzack, he deliberately
| drew revolver and fired at her, the bullet
entering just below the mouth, breaking
ner 1awbone on the left side and burying
itself in the muscles of the neck at the base
OIL the tongue. The wounded woman was
not expected to live, but she is now con.
yalescent The epidemic of suicide which
mas apparently set in at the Jail is believed
TO be not vet over. There are several des-
perate characters who have suicidal ten
dencles, notably Charles A. Grimm, the
diamond thief, who has been heard to an
nounce his intention of killing himself
"a her 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
! desperately during the ordeal Nothing
was found upon him, but ne is to be CLOSELY
watched, should the jury find him guilty.
some OF the prisoners have made the sub.
! lect OF suicide 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 receipt for popular suicide,
Take twenty grains of potassium cvarise
us action Is noted for painless rapidity,
| we II all take dose without any timidiiy,