The herald., 1896-09-12
he WANTED TO DIE
Cat His Throat, Dashed His Wrist and SIashe d
Open His Bowels


Shortly after 10 o'clock yesterday
morning a horrifying discovery was
made in the little cottage at No. 1906
st. James street where the body of
Frank Lighthauser, a German about 55
years of age was discovered, bleeding,
on his bed with the spark of life nearly
extinct. Covered with gore, a gaping
wound extending across his neck from
ear to ear, the left wrist cut to the bone
and terrible slash in the abdomen. he
was found unable to speak and so weak
from the loss of blood that it is probable
he would have died had discovery been
delayed for an hour longer.
An employe of the Grand Central
butcher shop called at the little cottage
at 10 o'clock to secure an order, and, no
response being accorded to his repeated
knocks, he looked through window and
saw the form of Lighthauser lying on
the bed which was saturated with blood
Opening the door of the room a ghastly
sight met his eyes. Lighthauser was at
tired only in his undershirt and the hor-
r1ble wounds were revealed with ter
rible distinctness Pools of coagulated
blood were scattered about the floor and
trails OF the crimson fluid led out into
the kitchen at the rear Gasping for
breath through the severed windpipe lay
the victim, his throat having been cut
l.
teries and veins of the wrist the blood
had gushed and across the abdomen ran
cash fully eight inches long and two
deep. The unconscious form was carried
to the door to give him more air anu
word was sent Immediately to the police
station.
Officer Sparks went down in advance
of the patrol wagon and made hurried
investigation. The wounds on Light
hauser's body were evidently self-in-
fiicted in desperate attempt at suicide.
An empty razor case was discovered, the
injuries had undoubtedly been inflicted
with such weapon, but the razor itself
could not be found. After Lighthauser
had gashed himself he had esN1ently
staggered about the house until he fell
| upon the bed where he was lying. On
the arrival of the patrol wagon he was
| moved to the receiving hospital where
| DIR. Ainsworth attended the sufferer.
Lighthauser had intended to make a
thorough job, but failed. He is quitH a
1leshy man and the cut in the abdomen
| had merely penetrated the walls, fail
| ing to reach the intestines. The cash in
| the throat missed all the large blood ves-
| sells, although severing the windpipe.
The wound in the wrist was severe and
was the one from which most of the
blood had flowed. DR.. Ainsworth dress
ed the wounds and gave; it as his opinion
that the man might recover, although
his chances were small. A German
friend of the would-be suicide, who was
in the hospital, asked Lighthauser, after
he had regained consciousness whether
he had inflicted the wounds himself, to
which he nodded assent. Later in the
day he managed to say that his reason
for the deed was that he had SO much
trouble.
|. He has daughter, at present a pa
tient in the county hospital, where she
is being treated, pending an investiga
tion into her sanity Since her departure
the old man has lived alone. 1t is thought
that dependency over her sickness and
his inability to get steady work were the
causes leading up to his fearful deed
Lighthauser has been al resident of this
city for many years and is quite well
known. At late hour last night he was
resting comfortably