The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-10
NEW SORT OF MANIA
TEMPTATION TO MEN WHO CARRY
GREAT INSURANCE. POLICIES.
AIienistx Just Now Interested in the
circumstances That Led George
LOhmann to Take His Life.
New York Herald.


detract from the safety of risk, have
now very novel and important feature to
deal with in issuing policies. This was ex-
emplified for the first time by the suicide
of George A. Lohmann, a wealthy business
man of WilkesDarre, Pa, on Saturday, Jan.
10. The cause of his suicide was, as ply
sicians and insurance men here have al
ready called it, insurance mania.
This insurance mania is not only new
feature, in degree, of insurance, but 1T
also is new cause for suicide, and it de-
mands the utmost vigilance of the insur-
ance men to guard against it and conse-
quent loss to the company. There is al
ready talk of legislation to prevent insur-
ance companies furnishing the temptation
for this monomania and consequent self
destruction, but whether this will ever ma
terialize is doubtful, when the insur-
ance companies realize that the disease
means loss to them they will guard against
it so well that legislation will be unneces-
sary.
This case Of Lohmann's is the first which
has attracted general notice, and it de-
serves chronicling in detail.
Lohmann was a German by birth. He
was born in 1850, came to this country in
1861, and settled in Scranton, Pa. He was
by trade a cigarmaker In 1877 he went to
Wilkesbarre and opened saloon. This he
gradually enlarged until it is now one of
the best restaurants and saloons in the in
terror of Pennsylvania.
The maturing of ten years endowment
policy furnished him with 5000 when he
abled him to pay off his debts and make
some improvements in his place at a time
firm believer in endowment policies as an
excellent investment, and he then resolved
to place nearly all the money he could save
in insurance BY 1885 he carried $4,000, and
IN two years more had $4,000, and by this
time, as he had experienced some difficulty
in meeting some of his payments, he re-
Meanwhile his business prospered, and
in order to keep pace with the brisk com,
improve his place. These improvements
and the heavy drain of the insurance pre-
MUM kept him constantly III need of ready
money.
LOHMANN'S AMBITION.
Lohmanns great ambition to make
his family Independent financially. To this
end he devoted all his efforts, and for this
he carried his heavy life insurance, feeling
that it was the safest way to attain his
great object and get rich. He was ambi-
tious for social standing, and knew that
saloon keeper he could never enjoy
this, although he could moneyed man,
Notwithstanding the source from which his
! riches came. In careful preparation for his
social expectations, he would not allow his
son. now eighteen years DID, to assist him
in his business. So the boy was trained to
be musician and an artist.
Such were. his ambitions. To achieve
them he knew he must have health and
drink intoxcants and was most careful of
his health.
Such a man does not commit suicide be-
cause he is in any manner tired of life.
He was always, as far as. anybody knew
him, in good spirits. jovial. genial happy
| they can hardly realize the sad event-that
he was the last man one would select as a
possible suicide.
AS the years passed, owing to business
competition, his. profits became less He
was an extremely sensitive man, and dis
liked to ask for assistance. AT last, two
years ago, he mortgaged his property for
$17,00O-as much as he could raise on it.
This afforded temporary relief, but it, too,
was soon swallowed up by the heavy pre-
miums.
Gradually his resources grew very small.
He could have realized on his life insurance
at any time, but he would not touch It, He
went to a close friend a shrewd business
man, and asked for advice.
Convert $4,000 of your endowment poll
cies into. a paid-up life insurance" his
friend said.
What have I lived and labored for ell
| these years." was Lohmann's reply.
You have good credit" said his friend:
borrow money on some of your policies"
II might never be able 10 regain the pol
icies," Lohmann answered:
1t was evident he would give UP every
thing before his ambition.
Some months ago he said to his wife:
AS long as | live we will never want for
| the children would be rich
| At that time it was probable that he real
1zed he could not keep up his heavy insur-
| ance, and doubtless the temptation of ac-
complishing his great ambition at the sac
| rif1ce OF his life was in his mind.
| DETERMINED ON SUICIDE.
| Last Friday he told a friend that in a
| few days 5000 in premiums was due and
| he had no money to meet the payment
| Borrow money on some of your policies'
| suggested the friend. IT shall never do
| that" he answered. with peculiar earnest
| ness
That same evening his son was to play at
not 60 tonight Arnold he @i SAID you w ea
1 answered.
| his suicide, determined killing himself
/ The temptation was too great. If he lived
ance; all his labor of years would have been
Tor naught, hopes wrecked, ambition disap-
On the other hand, the dazzling prospect
or making his loved ones rich, of placing
them beyond want, of making them indie
the. social life to which he always aspired
| 4 few moments of pain to himself and a
Place in their hands 5000 s more oy than Mol he
could ever hope to earn. if he gave up his
| Dazzled by prospective riches for his wife
| and children. he killed himself. He left a
letter.
Tell my friends I am of sound mind.
| but / am tired of life," he wrote
| His determination was extraordinary. At
the pond he took off his overcoat, hat, neck
tie and diamond pin, then. breaking through
| the thin ice, he plunged in. When the body
| was found the hands clutched bunch of
| weeds on the bottom of the pond.
| A physician who has known Lohmann in
| timately for ten years said to This
case presents an interesting study from a
| medical standpoint. All physicians know of
| the many peculiar forms of insanity which
| sometimes are the causes of suicide, but
| this is the first of self-destruction re-
| sulting from-shall call it insurance mania
/ that L believe has ever occurred. Lob
mann was plain. matter-of-fact business
| man, with no sentimentality. and no emo
| ticnal features beyond profound love for
| his wife and children and deep religious
/ convictions"
/ Another physician said: II am afraid that
| unless the insurance companies use the ut-
| most discretion in issuing policies for large
| amounts the growth of this insurance mania
| and consequent self-destructicn will be
| alarming, especially among business men
| during times of business depression, when
| by living they must struggle on, while by
| dying they may make their loved ones
| rich.
| Pnrkhurst and Sam Jones.
ST. LOUIS March 9.-Rey. DR.. Parkhurst