The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-02-13
AEorHna uNroaruNArn

: Yesterday morning between six an
seven O'Clock Lewis Cornwell attempte
: suicide at City Hall, by stabbiSg himse
in the body with common jack knife
and then drawing the cruel blade acros
his throat.
About midnight, nightwatchman Nc
Donald met the man on the street ant
spoke to him in regard to being out 81
late, when the stranger remarked tina
he had no place to 60, as he was out o
money. The officer told him to accom-
pany him to police headquarters, wher,
he was given bed, and the door of tn,
cell locked. At about 7:45 in tn,
morning, Howard WEIGH, son of Chic
WEIGH, went to the Hall and observed
the man lying on the floor, with hii
head and face besmeared with blood ,anC
observed further that the man had cut
his throat. Help was summoned and
DIR. Davis called, who found the poor
fellow suffering with wound in the left
side about 3 inches below the nipple,
and cash on the throat, commencing
about one and one-half inches to the left
OF the treachea and running to the right
making cut about four inches long, but
not reaching far enough back to strike
the jugular vein. The cut in his side ex-
tended through to the cavity within but
was too low down TO strike the heart.
The knife is two bladed one and he
employed the smaller one for the dead
ly work.
The wounded man is thirty.fiye
years old, and is an upright, intelligent
appearing person. He formerly resided
near Sank Center, Stearns county. this
state, where his ,wife'died about a year
ago. Since then he has spent part of
the time in Dakota, and the remainder
in the town'of Antrim, Watonwan coun-
ty, where he has a mother and brother
residing. He also has sister in Nicol-
letcounty, about twelve miles from this
city, with whom little daughter of the
unfortunate man, about four years old !,
is living, and whom he went to see the
night previous TO the one chosen to end
his life.
AS soon as possible yesterday morn
ing these friends were informed, and
the sister came to the city at once, with
the child, her husband being sick and
unable to accompany them. They went
to the wounded man at once, and from
them we obtained the following facts
concerning the injured party and the
motive for the cruel deed: 1t seems
that he owned farm in Stearns county
where he lived several wears, and dur
ing his residence there some difficulty
arose between certain of his neighbors
and Mr.. Cornwell was summoned as a
witness OIL one side, and the evidence
he rendered so incensed the opposite
party that they threatened his life, and
he says, have been following him ever
since with the express purpose of carry
ing their threat into execution This
matter has so worried him that he had
become fearful of them, and determin-
ed to end his own life. He asserts that
the parties followed him to Manka-
to and that one of them was here on the
night of his attempt at suicide. He has
always been a sober, hard working man.
not one who would be suspected of 80
rash deed as the one he perpetrated.
He stated serious regret to his friends
At the failure he made of the attempt,
and declared that he did not wish to re-
cover. When told that he should en-
ieavor to live for his child's sake, he re-
marked that his health was so poor that
he could not remain with her very long
anyway. The little child is robust,
good looking child, and 1t would seem
hat the father was in fearful state of
mind to attempt to leave her N 30 harsh
4 manner.
Mrs. Cornwell was nelce of Mr.. G.
H. Austin, of this city, senior member
Of the firm of Austin q Son.
When he was taken from the berth in
the morning he expresseda desire to be
let alone that he might die as he had in
tended, and when water yas applied to
his face and neck to wash away the
blood he requested that they throw it
upon him so he could freeze to death, but
in his weak condition it is not probable
he realized what his wishes were. He was
properly cared for by DR.. Davis, and
this morning he was considerably strong
er with no unfavorable indications. He
has not eaten anything, stating that
he was not hungry.