Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-23
DIED IN HIS CHAIR.
Emil Steger, A Civil Engineer, Mixes
Poison With His Wine and Dies
the Death.
Not Enough Work, Scarcity Of Money
and PrOfuslOn Of Wind Leads
to Suicide.

The peculiar attitude of man who sat
in chair near an open window on the
fourth floor, in the rear OF building on
Front street, between Madison and Court
stress, attracted the attention of several
persons who happened TO be in the alley
about 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and
crowd OF curious people soon collected
abou. the spot. The figure was that of an
old eray-haired man, and he sat almost
erect in an armchair, his head leaning over
and resting upon his hand. Even at that
distance, however, there was something
CHASTITY and horrible about his appearance.
He was watched for several minutes, but
no ore saw him move, though newsboy
declared he had seen him struggling few
minutes before as if in great agony. An
entrance was effected to his room, and
kindly hands removed him from the chair
and placed him upon the bed. His flesh
was still warm and his body was not yet
stiff, proving that no great length OF
A glass containing about gill
of wine sat on table near
the chair, and an examination led to the
belief that large quantity OF cyanide Of
| potash had been mixed with it. Bottles
| containing other poisons were also found
| in the room. Justice Spelman was noti-
| fed and held an inquest, the verdict being
that the deceased had committed suicide
| by tax ng the poison described. No papers
of any kind could be found, except letter
written in German and dated two years
back. The dead man had no money OF
| other valusbles about him, except much
| worn gold watch. He was identified by g
large number of persons, however, as Emil
Steger, Hungarian by birth and a civil
engineer by profession. He had no family
or connections in this country, as far as
known, and though he had a mum
Der of acquaintance here, did no
appear to have made many friends
He was always reserved in hi
manner and was very slow to make &C
Quaintances. Those who knew him bes
say he was never attracted except by per
IONS of certain type, and with these hC
was as kindly and genial companion a
could have been desired. For a grea
many years he has been in the employ o
the government, and, until lately, easill
earned from $3.50 to 5000 a month. Il
| 1879 and 1880, he was attached to tn
corps of Maj. Benzsurd at, this point, after
ward going to st. Louis, where he enteret
the service of Capt. Luter remaining will
him until 1888. Going from s.. Louis t.
New Orleans, he obtained employment
with Maj. Roberts, of the government ser
vice, and two or three months ago returne,
, to this city. He has had no reguler EN-
ployment lately on account of the failur
OF the river and barber bill, ekeing out
precarious existence by doing odd jobs. FL
was last engaged in laying out some walk
and drives at Elmwood Cemetery. H
was given the room in which he died, rem
free, and has managed to pay for tn
! little required to meet his wants in othe
: ways. He has been very respondent c
1 late, and frequently drank heavily Of win
5 and beer. On Sunday night he sat dow
( at table in Luehrmann's and drank bot
tie of wine with an acquaintance, and the
called the barkeeper to him, reproachiD
him in maudlin way for not being a
friendly to him as he had been. The bal
keeper replied that be hadn't intended
= be rude, and Steger, satisfied, ordere
another bottle, insisting that the bal
: keeper should take glass with him. H
? drank or spilled the remainder, left with
g out paying, and went to his room. He wa
not seen or heard of Iafterward until b
d was found dead. His effects were take
I charge of by DR.. Armstrong.