The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-19
THE SUICIDE MANIA
Another Victim Seeks Oblivion
at the End of a Rope.
Mrs. Mary Hansen Hangs Herself at Her
Home on DOwney Street, Domestic
Trouble and Ill Health the Causes.

Mrs. Mary Hansen, aged f~fty-three years,
wife of John Hansen. residing at No.. 1872
DoWney street, was found dead yesterday
morning by her husband, she having COM
mitted suicide by hanging. Shortly after
z o'clock Mr.. Hansen, who had not been
at home since Friday, returned and found
the house securely locked. He was conf
lent tina his wife was within the house,
and accordingly broke a window. and in
that way secured an entrance. On going
through the front part of the house he
found no traces of her. There was no
sound, but still he felt that she was there,
as the rooms showed evidence of recent
attention at her hands, everything having
Teen cleaned and arranged carefully. He
made his way to the summer kitchen,
where he was confronted by a sight that
almost unnamed him. Suspended from the
ceiling by a small hemp rope around her
neck was his wife. He rushed to her and
quickly cut the rope, but her body was
cold and stiff, indicating that she had been
dead for a number of hours. Mr.. Hansen
was too distracted to trace the details Of
the act, and rushed from the house utter
ing loud cries that his wife was dead. His
cries attracted the attention OF several
neighbors, who, on investigating, found the
body in the kitchen.
Mr.. Hansen has two children, a married
daughter, who resides In North Indianapo-
lis, and a son, Louis Hansen, who resides
at No.. 175 Central avenue. They were each
informed and soon arrived at the house.
Louis, the son, after recovering himself
somewhat, summoned Coroner Beck, who
arrived at the house shortly after s o'clock.
1t was with some difficulty that he got at
the exact state of affairs. On first seeing
the remains he was of the opinion that she
had been dead for nearly twenty-four hours,
and. on investigating, found his belief to
be we'll founded.
The relations between Mr.. Hansen and
his wife nave been unpleasant for some
time, and on several occasions he has left
the house. remaining away for several
days, but always returning. Friday morn
ing they had some words and he left the
house, not returning until yesterday morn
ing about z o'clock, when he discovered the
awful result of the quarrel. The %neighbors
member seeing Mrs. Hansen engaged
in attending to her household duties until
Friday night, and she was also seen SIM
ilarly occupied on Saturday morning about
8 o'clock. That was the last time she was
seen alive. In addition to having trouble
with her husband, she was in feeble health,
which at times, so her husband claims,
affected her mind. 1t is supposed that yes
terday morning, while doing her household
work, she brooded over her troubles, and,
as a result, planned her Self-deStructl0n.
Procuring a rope that had been used for
tying up a bundle, she had fastened 1t in
a loop around her throat. Placing a barrel
in the center of the summer kitchen, she
mounted this and tied the other end Of the
rope TO a rafter in the roof. Her action
must have been deliberate. Having thus ar
ranged the rope, she jumped off the barrel,
knocking 1t over as she did so. Her feet
hung clear of the floor. Death was not in
Simultaneous, for when found by her hus-
band her right and clenched the rope over
her head, showing that she had probably
attempted to save herself when she felt
the rope choking her. Death was caused by
St~rangulation The rope was so taut around
her throat that it left a deep mark from
ear to ear. Coroner Beck. after being in
o'clock Saturday morning, was positive tina:
she had committed the act soon after that
time. Her body was cold and stiff, and,
even though she did not hang herself at
this time, 1t was evident she had been dead
quite a while.
Her family believe that the act was COM
mitted in a moment of dependency, though
no one but her husband believes her mind
TO nave been affected.
Mr.. Hansen naturally feels the blow very
heavily, as her death is attributed largely
to their trouble and his absence. He is
firmly OF the opinion that her mind was af-
they live is one-half of a double house. 1t
has but three rooms. and is very neat in
appearance, both inside and out. Mr.. Han
sen has enjoyed prosperity since his resi-
dence i'm that neighborhood, and, with the
exception of a semi-occaSional difficulty
with his wife, his domestic life appeared
to be of average serenity.