The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-21
GEORGE l.OMMAN'S SUICIDE.


The Wen known Wilhcs.Brrre Restau.
rant Keeper browns Himself in u Pond
on the kingston Fats.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Wilkes-HllCa, Pa, Jan. a1.-Doubtrri
1t IL, II the community AZ large ever
sus. aimed 4 b.tlte: sAOch thdl when
the news fGried about town yesterday
morning that George LohmaH, the East
Market street restaurant proprietor,
had taken his OTl lfe by drowning
himself Qt an early hour in the NOM
ing in 0ae of TIE pend holes IN the
mGrsEy fats Cl the ak Kingston road,
just a2rCs5 the SusquehaNn1 Fridge.
His body WAC taken from The water by
some m@n who were employed IN cut
ting ice on the pond. When they came
70 work ONE Of them observed parts Of
mans clothing on the zee not far away
The water IN the n narsh at this season
of the yea" Is abaut eight feet deep ANA
there is a thickness of eighteen Inches
of ioe. The place is called Co-a'5 pond.
An oVercoat, 2 hat, and nccktje We9e
on the ice Gnd the men suspectei 4 that
some unfortunate had partially un-
dressed himc-lf before pluaging to his
death in one of the openings.
They get pole with a hook attached
to it nd fished around in the watsr and
were soon rewarded by bringing to the
surface the body of a man, which one
OF their number recognized at Cnce as
George Lohm9n, of East Market street.
TO make sure his Identification the
clothing was SEARCHED for papers; his
gold watch and diamonds were found in
n nnplyAt nj ha nyip1D1t and fln
lining of the hat was found his name In
scribsd in full. The police authorities
were notified and word was sent to the
dead mans family. Undertaken Mlller,
Of Kingston, took charge of the re-
mains, and Coroner Trimmer Will hold
an inquest tomorrow. No marks of
violence We're found ON the body, eX-
cept a slight discoloration Of the right
temple The body when removed from
the water appeared as If the head and
Shoulders sunk in the muddy bottom
and the feet stuck up. The remains
were taken to the family residence ON
North Main street.
His Mind Was Troubled.
1t is the prevailing impression that
LOhman must have been temporarily
insane when he committed suicide His
manner of acting for day or two prior
to his death was strange; he was very
re'ticent and appeared to be broodinS
deeply over some matter. he arose at
10 o'clock Friday morning and left
home without saying a word to his wife
or family; shontly after he was observed
lowering around the Kingston bridge
and was gazing wistfully down ait the
river. At IL O'Clock Friday might he
boarded a car for Kingston and stopped
at the Kingston hotel, where he regis
tered under the name Of George
Thomas, Of Scranton. lie wanted to be
called at O'Clock Saturday morning
and after he retired he paced so excited
ly around his room that the lodgers ad-
| Joining him We're annoyed and had to
request him many times to go to bed
and let them sleep. He got up at 3
o'clock and that was the last seen or
him alive.
George Lohman was 40 years old,
| having been born in Germany in 1850.
| He came with his parents to this coun-
| try in 1861 and lived at Scranton until
| 1877, when he came to this city and
opened up a restaurant. His success
in this line was 50 marked that his
name has been a by word for a number
| of years, whenever the restaurant busi-
ness is spoken of. His father and
mother, Mr.. and Mrs. George Lohman,
| live in Scranton, at 432 Willow street,
South Side, and his two brothers, John
and Louis, are prosperous restaurant
keepers of that city. He leaves wife
and four children, Arnold, II; Lily, l6;
Carl, Z, and Carrie, years old.
His Wealth Estimated.
He acquired considerable wealth,
mainly through his enterprise and busi-
ness ability. At his death his property
| is estimated at S35,0OO but there is a
mortgage of $4,000 recorded against it.
| Lately he made extensive improve
ments ON it, expending over $4,000, for
which he gave his note, and it was
/ about to fall due. This is said to be
the cause OF his trouble, and he may
| have been perhaps, otherwise tnan-
cially embarrassed. Not long ago
through his attorney, Edward Gunster,
he caused an advertisement to be
placed i'm the New York World Offering
to sI7ll a half interest in his restaurant
for $4,000 He was noted for his fru-
/ gal habits and was not a stock specu-
lator so that it is surprise that he
could have become embarrassed, and if
so his standing in business was such
that he could very readily raise money
among his friends. He carried life in
surance policies amounting to some
thing between $4,000 and 100000. On
Friday he wrote a letter to Attorney
Gunster in which he bade him farewell
and told him to take charge of his af-
fairs and settle matters satisfactorily
to all his creditors and his family. He
concluded stating that he was tired Of
life and wished ~ long rest.
His Social Character.
Mr. Lohman was very popular and
of a cheerful disposition. He was very
much attached to his family, and
spared no pains to bring them up with
! proper training, HIS eldest SON Ar