Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-19
A LEAP TO DEATH
Otto Braun's Jump From a Third
Story Window.
SECOND ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE
A Sensational Morning at the
Emergency Hospital.
ID I Z ID + ION HOCK

BY Tar the most sensational occurrence
In the history OF the Emergency Hospital
happened at that institution al 10 o'clock
this morning, when Otto Braun, attired
in the regulation hospital night shirt left
his bed, rushed across a ward, mounted an
other bed, made a fying leap through a
third-story window and descended with
great force, together with a cloud Of fly
ing glass, to the sidewalk below. Although
surgical assistance was rendered immcdi-
ately. the shock was so great that Bra IN
died two hours later.
Braun. as was reported in The Star Sat-
urday, attempted to commit suicide that
morling by stabbing himself twice in tie
left breast and side in the yard in the
rear OF the r. staurant of Mr.. p. Cannon,
1904 Pennsylvania avenue. Braun entered
the restaurant and asked permission 10 go
into the yard. A couple OF minutes later
q colored man employed by Mr.. Can
non was startled to notice Braun stagger
and fall into q chair and to observe blood
gushing from his side.
The wounded man was hastily removed
to the Emergency Hospital, where the cuts
were dressed. Braun was forty-five years
Of age. and claimed 10 be a resident OF An
napolfs. Nd, where he said he was bar
tender for his brother, Frederick Braun, a
saloon keeper at that place. The only ex-
PLANTATION the man would make of his rash
act was that 1t was the outcome OF trouble
at home.
Braun. after the cuts were attended to
Saturday was placed in the cot nearest the
entrance to the horth ward on the third
floor CT the Emergency Hospital building.
The windows of this ward opened on ID
street. and Braun's cot stood with its head
against the side OF the room opposite the
windows. Since Saturday his condition, IT
was thought. had improved somewhat and
the nan stood q good chance TO recover.
tlA had l<nv ANfs hAa axrtlxr l.<f4 h..
stabbed himself. however, and appeared to
be In a highly nervous and excited frame
Of mind. Several times Saturday and yes
terady he left his bed, but returned prompt
ly each time when ordered to do so by the
physicians or nurses.
Everything was quiet this morning in the
Eorth ward of the hospital. Tie patients
had received attention and the house staff
were attending to their duties elsewhere I'm
the building. The nurse on duty In the
Ward was occupied In another portion of
the room, when suddenly the crash was.
heard Braun had evidently made a careful
study of his plan OF action. and when the
proper opportunity presented itself Quiety
left the bed. rushed acress the room, and,
as stated, mounted the other bed beside the
window. and not taking the time to
raise the sash leaped through the large
pane Of glass. The act was accomplished
With such rapidity that the other patients
and the nurse coulo hardly realize what
had happened.
The few pedestrians who happened to be
passing along D street at the time were
shocked to see a figure in white descend
through the air and fall PROSTATE on the
Sidewalk. The falling glass was heard in
side the building, and the engineer OF the
hospital. Fastening outside found Braun
lying but a few feet from the entrance of
the building, fiat on his back with arms
outstretched. The engineer carried him into
the emergency room. where Drs. West
Lawrence and Turner made an examina-
tion to see how badly Braun was injured.
His back was found to be bruised all over
and there were a number of small cuts
caused by the glass. These were dressed
and the man was taken to the ward and
placed in the bed he had left but a short
time before. He was not unconscious. for
ne asked that a pillow be placed under his
head while the examination was i'm prog
ress.
No other statements OF an fntelligible ma
ture however, could be extracted from him.
He mumbled something about Rosy" and
talked In rambling sort Of way about a
large amount of money. Mos. of his nj
tersnces were in German He would saw
nothing In explanation OF his desire and de-
termination to end his life. Fhe man died
few minutes after IL o'clock. The coro-
ner was notified this afternoon, and he will
probably direct that an autopsy he held.
Braun had not been visited by any one
since his arrival at the hospital, and II in
not known what disposition is TO be made
of the body.
The bed at the hospital. in which Brain
stood when he made the leap had been va.
Gated just few minutes before by a ma,
tient who was transferred to Proyidencs
hospital. The physicians and nurses al
the Emergency regret the occurrence yer,
deeply, although they claim that il wa,
beyond human possibility to prevent it. Ths
man had been carefully watched and thu
nurse on duty had but a moment before
been at his bedside. She turned her back an
instant and Braun. with insane cunning
daS