Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-01
AxoraEs SUICIDE M n ANGLING.



Henry n. W1tmer, Of nssor Township. Tahcs
HIS lfs In His barn
There seems 70 be mania among some
Of the people in this county for suicide, aud
within tho past two weeks no less than four
men have taken their liver. Scarcely has
an excitement caused by the hanging OF
John X. Fisher subsided than We are
called upon to chronicle the death Of an
other man who died by bis own hand.
Tho last victim Ii Henry M. Wit
mer, who resided In Manor township, on
the Columbia turnpike, about three miles
west of Lancaster. The deceased was
wldower, and the persons that lived with
him were bis housekeeper and little son.
His wife died about six months ago, and
since that time he has been melancholy.
BY the conditions OF her will the personal
property, or such of II ~ was not needed,
was to have been sold at public sale to-day
by Adam q. Dietrich, her administrator. 1t
s,ems that the wife owned this properly.
Tho fact that the sale was TO take place to-
day seemed to have . depressing effect
upon Wilmer, who grew more despondent
This morning he arose about o'clock, but
did not seem TO be any more lowApirited
than usual. He was around the house for
seversl hours, and about eight o'clock went
to the house of his sister. in-law next door.
Here he spoke with his little son and told
him to be q good boy. Between eight
and nine O'Clock he was seon go.
ing towards his stable, which IL
Immediately In the rear Of his house.
Al no was not seen again for some time,
the folks began to grow anxious about him.
Adam b. DIETRICH, . young nephew OF the
deceased, went TO the barn to look for him.
In his search he went upon the hay NOW
and was shocked to fiEd his uncle hanging 3
by q rope To cross beam near the roof OF
the barn. The boy was 10 badly fright
ened that he did not attempt to cut
him down. lie gave the alarm and
II. G. DIETRICH ran 10 the barn. He
quickly cut the man down and believ.
Ing that lie was not yet extinct he shook
him aud atom pied to restore consciousness.
1t was too late, however, for, although the
body was still warm, the man was dead ~
. stone.
short time he was on the ground, with DIR.
Bolenius, his physician. A jury was impsn-
nelled, consisting OF George Fisher, Edgar
b. Kready, Martin II. Baer, levi Bser,
David II. Ditzler and Martin b. Hess. hey
rendered verdic, Of suicide while melsn
choly.
The ropo with which the deceased com
mitted the deed was quite thick, and II be-
longed TO . sot OF sliding ladders, which
were in the barn. Upon going 10 tho hay
NOW deceased mounted Q beam which runs
across the barn. While standing on this
his head touched another, which was abou,
Ave feet above. He tied tho rope tt
the upper beam and also around
his neck. After doing this he jumped
from the lower beam. His feet did no
then touch, and he soon strangled. When
the boy first discovered Wilmer hanging
| the latter was In all probability still alive
| His ons arm was then ovor the lower beam
Later when ho was cut down his arm wa
OIL the beam and hanging by his side. 1
is likely that he changed his position ii
| strsngling. In tho pocket-book OF the dc
| ceased was found small sum of money
| In IL was also brown piece Of paper ol
| which was written these words In lead
| pencil: Everything is wrong and al
80 sorry. What il itr' 1t will be seel
from this that he had somo real or imaginsr.
trouble.
| The deceased was the son Of the late Bon
jamin Wilmer, who has been dead 10
many years. He was 40 years Of age and
painter by trade. He has many relatives
some OF whom reside In this city. One G
his sisters Ii Mrs. Henry HottensteiD, G
Petersburg. The funeral will likely tax
place on Sunday.