St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-18

GEu0lIA IS GONE.
CRAzED BY LIQUOR AND LA
GRIPPE, SHE TAKES HER
LIFE.
HUNG HERSELF ON PORCH.
SHE WAS SIXTY-SIX YEARS OLD
AND IN VERY POOR
HEALTH.
She Has Been Despondent for Sew
eraI Months, and Had Threat
ened to Do the Deed.

Genovia Danneker, a German
widow, aged siXty-six, crazed> by
liquor and la grippe, hung herself
from the front porch of 1928 Carroll
street early yesterday morning.
This is the residence of John Peters,
day janitor at the Prior avenue DO
lice station, who is widower with
four children, and who has employed
Mrs. Danneker as houSekeeper for
! the past six years. Since an attack
of the grip two years ago the latter
has often exhibited temporary signs
of arrangement, and for many
months she has threatened to COM
nit suicide. Of late she has grown
very Incorporate, so much so that
Mr.. Peters was forced to notify her
that, unless she reformed, she could
no longer retain her place. Yester-
day she became much intoxicated,
and repeated her threats of self
destruction. Mr.. Peters, therefore,
sat up until o'clock yesterday morn
ing to watch her. AT that hour she
retired. Soon the children reported
that she was sleeping quietly, and
the rest Of the household also went
to rest.
When Mr.. Peters came down stairs
yesterday at $50 a. m, his attention
was attracted by a swinging shadow
in the sunlight across the front
porch. He opened the door. The
shadow was cast by the white-robed,
emaciated form of his old house
keeper, hanging lifeless from the
roof of the porch. She was attired
in her night dress. Her long, grey
hair had blown in a tangled mass
over her bosom and shoulders. Her
hands were tightly clinched, with
the nails almost piercing the palms.
The eyes and mouth were widely
opened, giving thehaggard, wrinl1led
face an expression of fear and horror.
The bare feet almost touched the
floor. 1t was manifest that the old
woman had arisen, gone to the stable,
cut off a convenient length Of small
clothes line, and, returning, fas-
tened the line to the roof of the
porch. She had then contrived an
effective slipknot, climbed the front
railing, placed the rope around her
neck and jumped off toward the
house. The body was quite cold and
stiff, and had been doubtless hang
ing for several hours. Mr.. Peters
cut the suicide down. and at once
informed the Prior avenue station
and the coroner. The latter inspected
the remains two hours later. He de-
cided that an inquest was not need
ed, suicide being self-evident. The
body was sent to the undertaking
establishment of Gothunz & Rock
stroh, on East Seventh street.
Wendeln Danneker, the woman's
husband, died nine years ago in
Germany. The couple had never
had any children. Three years later
Mrs. Danneker came to this country
and was at once engaged to take
care of Mr. Peters four children
and household. Six weeks ago the
old woman, having saved some
money, went back to Germany. She
was we'll received by her relatives
there, but soon tired of the old
home, and again arrived in st. Paul
last Monday. AT once she resumed
her place at Mr.. Peters. Yesterday,
in the fathers absence, the seni-in-
toXicated nurse told the children that
she was going to kill herself. She
cried over the little ones, and gave
to the eldest daughter her trunk,
her few dresses, all her little knick-
knacks, and the $40 which remained
of her savings. The girl was much
affected, and sent a note to her
father asking him to come back and
watch her old nurse. The result has
been stated.
Mrs. Danneker has no relatives in
America, except brother and sister
living in Hennepin county. The
money which she gave to the Peters
child was expended yesterday in
purchasing a coffin for the demented,
yet affectionate, old creature, that
she may be decently buried today.