The herald., 1893-05-23
HUNG HIMSELF WITH HIS SHIRT,
Tragic Death of Ernest Russell
at the County Jail.
further Details Of His Attempts to
Kill Two santa Fe Men.
His Wifs's Second Attempt to Secure 8
Divorce Begun Last week-Pro-
nounced Insane by the
Examiners.

Sunday night about Il O'Clock Ernest
Russell, an ineane man living at La
Canada, walked into the police station
and asked for detective. Somebody
on Spring street was trying to take his
life, he said, and he wanted to be pro-
tected. On being told that there was
none about, he left.
Last night at the same hour the same
Ernest Russell lay dead, covered with
cIotted blood. in the county Jail, having
suicided by hanging himself in the in
sane cell.
After leaving the station house Sun
day night he vanished, and nothing was
heard OF him until 2 O'Clock in the
morning, when word was received that
Mark Donohue, an employee in the Santa
Fe yards, had been shot by lunatic.
The would-be assassin was allowed to
escape, but was caught later in the day.
He was examined by the sanity com
mission ia the afternoon and adjudged
insane. He was then confined in the
insane cell in the county Jail.
Yesterday afternoon about O'Clock
DIR. Murphy of the county hospital called
at the jail and dressed and bandaged
tKussell's throat, which he had cut Sc
verely early in the morning. He was
very quiet, and submitted peaceably to
the doctors attention. DIR. Murphy
started to the watch at the Jail
that Russell seemed to be
all right. and not to bother
particularly with him. The prisoner
asked for some milk after the doctor
left, which was taken to him. He con.
Tersed several times, and seemed to be
entirely rational.
Last night about :45 o'clock he called
out, and John @. Wrsy, one of the night
watch, went to the cell. Russell asked
for drink of water. Mr.. Wray got cup
full and handed it to the prisoner, who
was standing by the little wicket in the
door. Russell Immediately refused, say
ing that Ire already had milk inside the
cell and did not want the water. Mr..
Wray then returned to the Office.
At 1915 o'clock Mr.. Wray looked
through the wicket at the man. He
was then on the couch and had on all of
bis clothes. Wray again went away, but
did not like the way in which Russell
was acting.
II
called to Ii. O. Yignes and told him to
come and help put the muffs on Russell
They went to the cell, unlocked the
door and stepped in. To their amaze
ment they cav Russell hanging by his
neck from the wicket in the little win
dow. His eyes were starting from their
sockets, the sharp features of the luna
tic appearing CHASTITY against even the
white walls. Help was summoned
and the man was cut down
and taken out into the corridor and laid
upon some blankets. Life was not quite
extinct, there being faint flutter OF the
heart preceptible. Medical aid was at
once telephoned for. DIR. Wernigk was
the fret to respond, reaching the side of
the suicide at ii :05, just 10 min
utes after he had been cut down.
Every effort was made TO revive Kus-
sell. Injections of strychnine and
whisky were given, artificial respiration
used, the attendants rubbed his limbs,
and galvsnic battery was also applied,
but all to no avail. Russell was dead.
The thought OF the deed must have
flashed through the suicides brain in an
instant. He tore the bandage from his
throat, thus opening the wound and
starting it to bleeding He probably
bled for some while, as the corner of the
room by the head Of his cot is covered
with clotted blood. He then proceeded
to hang himself. Drawing his linen
shirt around his throat he
took one OF the sleeves and 80 entwined
it with the other linen as to prevent it
from becoming loose. The remaining
sleeve he tied to the grating in the win
dow, and then suspended himself by the
improvieed rope.
He was over six feet in height, and his
feet more than touched the floor. His
legs we're slightly bowed under him.
The guards at the Jail were positive
that he could not have been hanging
more than few minutes before they
found him. Russell had removed his
coat and vest before attaching himself
to the window
DR.. Wernigk stated that even had he
not lost 30 much blood before attempt
ing the final suicide he would in all
probability have died.
The body was removed to Orr & Co.'s
undertaking parlors.