The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-30
WORRY OVER A VOICE
ONE OF THE CURRENTS THAT CAR
RIED MRS. MARTENsEN TO SUICIDE.
Beautiful Voice Would
Leave Her.

Yesterday afternoon about $50, while
temporarily deransed Mrs. Fannie Marten-
sen, aged thirty, living with her mother.
Mrs. Mary A. Wade of No. 1870 Broadway,
inflicted ugly wound in her throat with
a razor, and for hours her life hung by a
single thread. She succeeded in severing
the windpipe, but did not cut deep enough
to reach the arteries in her neck. Physi-
clans did everything in their power to save
the unfortunate woman, but about o'clock
last night they said that she could live but
a few hours longer.
Mrs. Martensen has been under medical
treatment for over a year, having been at
a sanitarium for time. For the last few
months she has been at her home under
the care of a trained nurse, DR.. George
treating her. She has frequently shown
signs of mental arrangement, and has been
watched very closely, she would at such
times pray that she might die, and make
other remarks which led her friends to
fear she might attempt her own life. Re-
Gently she suffered untold agony from
an attack of the grip, which was accom-
panied with complications. Within the last
week she seemed to have recovered suffi-
GENTLY to warrant the discharge of the
nurse, and since that time she has been
allowed more freedom than for about
year. being permitted to visit the neigh
bors and to go about the house unat-
tended. Yesterday afternoon she was sit
ting in the house with her sister, Mrs. A.
F. Hovey, and left the room on the pre-
tense of looking after some carpet which
was being put down in another room. She
was not seen to leave the house, as she
slipped out of back door, going through
the alley and across Broadway to the rear
of Allen Chapel, a colored church. There
she went into an out-building and cut her
throat with razor which she carried She
returned through the alley to the street.
stopping in front of the little house occu-
pied by janitor Stewart, of the church. The
blood was flowing in a stream from the
wound in her throat, the entire front of
her dress being saturated. just as Mr..
Stewart saw her and started toward her
she gashed her right wrist with the razor,
which she still retained in her hand
BY the time the old colored man had
reached her side she had tainted from the
loss of blood, and he carried her into his
house and ran for DIR. Leathers, who is a
neighbor. The physician ran to the scene
of the sad occurrence Immediately, finding
Mrs. MartenSen in an unconscious condi-
ton Soon after his arrival DIS. George or
short time. They found that the windppe
had been almost entirely severed, and 1t
was with the greatest difficulty that she
could breathe. The bed upon which the
woman had been placed was deluged with
blood and the physicians devoted Them
selves to stopping the flow. They replaced
the windpipe as best they could and then
sewed UP the gaping wound in her throat.
After time she regained consciousness
and at intervals would try to speak. She
did not seem to understand what had hap
pened, and, seeing the wound on her wrist,
demanded to know who had inflicted 1t.
She did not realize that her throat was
cut.
that her chances for life were very slight.
and it was determined to remove her TO
her home which was almost directly across
A
her life slowly ebbing away, Mrs. Marten-
sen was carried by four strong men to her
home where her mother was almost dis
tracted with grief The front room was
crowded with friends of the family, who
called to offer sympathy. The physicians
remained but a short time longer, as they
felt that al that was possip 81 NAG n pe e5n
evening and remained.
The family cannot account for the razor
with which the deed was done. They say
that no razor has been in the house for
several years. and that they cannot
imagine where she obtained it. little
over week ago Mrs. Martensen caused
her friends considerable alarm by sud-
denly leaving home one afternoon S ana h re7
said that she going to a neignDors
She was followed shortly afterward by the
nurse but was not there, and 1t was feared
at that time that she had taken her I1fe
but she returned as mystefiously as she
left, giving explanation for her conducI
Mrs Fannie Martensen the wife of
Max MartenSen, who died two years ago
this month. Mr.. Martensen was lntimatey
connected with Fl. p. Wasson's, having
been the manager of one of the departments
of the dry goods store Before her mar
riage Mrs. Martensen was for short time
with an opera troupe, carrying one of the
principal parts, she had remarkable
voice. She was for two years at the en-
cinnati College of Music. 1t is thought
that her worrying lest she would lose her
voice through her long illness was one OF
the causes of her grave melancholy. Yet
she had no reason to worry, for, strange
to say, her voice had not seemed to be
affected in the least, remaining of a sweet
clear tone. 1t is said that she would some
times wake in the night and would sit up
in her bed and sing some plaintive melody
which would make the hearts of her hear
ers ache in sympathy for the singer. She
is also said TO have never been really nap
py and satisfied since the death of her nus
band