The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-30
GASHED HIS THROAT.
LOrentz Remetter Also Tries to Kill
Himself.

An impaired mind and failing health
impelled Lorentz Remetter, pioneer
settler Of st. Paul, to attempt to kill
himself yesterday morning by cutting
his throat The deed was done with an
ordinary table knife, evidently sharp
ened for the purpose. The desperate
man gashed his throat in a frightful
manner. The injury with the loss of
blood suffered by the old man. renders
his chances for recovery very slight.
When found, he was crouched upon a
coal pile in small woodshed in the
rear of No. 44S ST. Peter street, where
he has lived for nearly forty years.
The central patrol wagon conveyed the
would-be suicide to the city hospital,
where his condition was pronounced
extremely critical. = The man was un-
conscious and it was necessary to in
sert a silver tube in the windpipe to
facilitate his breathing
Remetter is sixty-seyen years of
age and the possessofi of an estate
valued at $4,000. He owns the hotel
where he tried to take his life, which
he conducted for a number Of years
hotel, and the house and lot Immediate
ly adjoining. He has no relatives in
this country, and his lonely condition.
with a complication of domestic diff
culties Of long standing, are thought
to be responsible for his unbalanced
mental condition. Recently Mr.. Re
meter has rented the hotel to other
parties, but has retained rooms at his
old homestead. His strange demeanor
has been remarked by friends for some
time, and last fall John s. erode and
L, Watry were appointed guardians for
the old man by the probate court.
The family troubles which so worried
the old gentleman began twenty
seven years ago when his wife was
committed to the insane asylum at
Rochester, where she has since remain
ed, still physically WELL but mental
wreck. 1t is said that the commit
ment Of the woman was made when
there was some doubt about her in
sanity, and that when the husband
endeavored a year later to have her
released, he found she had beyond a
doubt become a maniac after her con-
finement. This preyed upon his mind.
and later in lifeto when two grown
daughters were taken from him by
death, he became Inorose and melan-
choly. Last Thursday, his guardians
had him examined by DR.. STAN and it
was thought his condition was improv-
ing with a fair chance of his regaining
his mental condition. In the course of
couple of days, however, he seemed
to grow worse and 1t was the intention
to have him again examined yester-
day, but the plan was thwarted by
the desperate attempt upon his life.
H. A. Stewart, who at present con-
ducts the saloon and hotel, failed to
find Mr.. Remetterl in his room at 8
o'clock yesterday morning and fearing
something was wrongs notified the
police of his disappearance. Search was
then made about the premises, and
about 1890 the old man was found in
the Woodshed, bleeding copiously. Blood
was spattered on the walls showing
that he had probably stood up while
slashing at his throat and had only
sank to the ground when weakened
by the loss of blood. The wound was
large and hung apart in a CHASTITY
manner An operation was performed
at the hospital by DR.. Wheaton last
night in hopes of saving the old mans
life Remetter was q member of the
German Catholic Aid association in
which he was insured for $1,000, and
also had bank deposit of $4,000 in