Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-15
HANGED In A CELL
Jacob Groenwaid Commits
Suicide at the Jail.
He HANGED HIMSELF IN A CELL
He Was Awaiting Trial in the Superior
Court on . Charge of Attempting 70
Kill His Vile.

Jacob Groenwald, . prisoner 1T the
county Jall awaiting trial in the supe-
rior court for attempted wife murder,
suicide early Sunday morn
ing by hanging himself In his cell.
His body was discovered about o'clock
by one of the prisoners. who informed
the sheriff. Groenwald was in cell five
on the east side Of the second floor and
was hanging by small rope from the
ceiling. dead. 1t WAS thought life had
been extinct for perhaps five hours.
He was fully dressed and his hat lay
on the cot just back Of him. A
handkerchief WAS tightly drawn across
his mouth and tied At the back Of his
head. Tne rope with which Groenwald
took his life was about three feet in
length and had been used by the
prisoners IN the corridor during the
day with which to suspend u striking
bag used N the daily exercises. Will
liam Miller, one OF the hobos confined
Ia the jail, said lac passed through the
corridor at about 1880 .. m. and the
rope was hanging where it had been
lett in the evening.
stepped from tho Bed.
Groenwald had taken wirs hook on
which . drinking cup hung. and ad-
justed it through an opening in the
ceiling, to which he attached the rope.
A slip knot had been tied in one end
and the rope slipped over his head. 1t
10 thought that after putting the moose
his bed and placed the rope over the
hook in the ceiling. that he then
walked OF the bed and was strangled to
death. His mouth having been covered
with the handkerchief his struggles
were subdued go that the other prison
ers did not hear any disturbance. Cor
oner Penwarden Was summoned be-
fore the body was cut down. When
he arrived investigation of the prem
Uses revealed two letters lying on one
corner Of the bed. They were written
in the Holland language and addressed
to Turnkey DeYoung and to Gerrit
Wander MeuIen. The letter to De-
Young requested him to inform the
friends of the dead man of his death
and to notify Mr.. Wander Meulen as
soon - possible.
Letter to Wander Meuien.
The one addressed to Wander Meulen
asked him to inform the deceased
mans wife Of the affair. He wanted
his remains taken to OBrien's under
taking rooms. He acknowledged that
he owed Wander Meulen $50 and was
sorry he could not pay it. Vander
MeuIen had been in the habit of vi sit
~ h. .o.v he
finement there, but had not called for
the last few days. Groenwaid had
formerly boarded with Wander Meulen
at No. IA Rowland street, bat owing to
his incorporate habits Wander Meu-
lens wife objected TO his making his
home with them any longer and
he left few weeks ago. He
was carpenter and had been working
at Huber's summer garden at Reeds
lake, doing some carpenter work. The
body Was taken to O'BrIen's under
taking rooms under the direction OF
Coroner Penwarden, whore it will re-
main until preparations for the buria
are completed. The coroner does no
consider it necessary to empanel jury
for an inquest.
Mrs. GFosnw aid Frustrated.
Mrs. Groenwald, who lives at No. 50l
Hall street, was informed of tho tragit
death of her husband. The new
nearly Frustrated her and she becam,
hystericsl. One of her daughters tool
the matter more coolly and tried Il
comfort her mother by telling her tina
she should think it was q blessing 4
the family, because he had on sew
eral occasions attempted to Kill
her, and if he was released
from Jail he might accomplish what h,
has frequently threatened to do
| morning at the home of his wife No
500 Hall street for being drunk ant
disorderly and he was taken to the sta
ton house. 1t afterwards develope,
that he went to his wife's house and at
tempted to shoot her. He snapped hi
revolver twice against his wife's breast
but owing to defects in the cartridge
they failed to explode.
Held for Attempted Mardsr.
When this was learned he WAS he!t
for attempted murder, and upon Ell
animation In police court he was bOun
| over for trial in the superior cOuI
| under 81 900 bonds. HIS attorney,
E. Mcbride, thought his client was in
sane and was intending to conduct tn
defense on that ground when the cas-
should be called for trial. GroenwsI
and his wife have not lived togethe
since last spring. she having applied
the circuit court for divorce on tn
grounds of drunkenness and cruelty
She was his second wife, he bavin
been divorced in Holland previous I
his coming to America. He leaves
divorced wife and q daughter IA year
old IN Holland, and left . will with Nj
Wander Meulln bequeathing his persons
effects to the daughter.
Threatened to Kill Himself.
His second wife, whom he tried
kill. Was q widow ut the time OF the
marriage and had tour children, bu
bore no children by her marriage wit
Groenwald. since his confinement /
the jail he bad remarked to his fello
prisoners on several occasions that h
was tired of Living and that his wi!
had taken his earnings and driven hi
from home. He said he would tax