The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-04-23

Mrs. Frank Wilmas, who lives in
the house back OF J. B. FOrd'S resi-
dence, on South Fourth street, facing
the court house square, went down
celler at eleven o'clock this forenoon
to get some potatoes for dinner.
Knowing the cellar like a book, she
did not take a light, but when near
the further end Of the cellar close
to the potato box she ran
against a swinging object. 1.-The cellar
was dark, and she felt of the object
with her hands, and at first thought
that her husband had hung something
up to the joist in a sack. Feeling
further, she touched cold hand.
Badly frightened, she was just able to
make her way up stairs and notify the
neighbors of her find. An investiga-
tion with the aid Of lamp showed
that the swinging object was Frank
Wilmas, and that he was hanging
by the neck by a small rope or clothes
line attached to joist above.
A FREE PRESS reporter took look
into the cellar few moments later,
and saw the body in the position in
which It was found. Wilmas had
evidently first carefully taken meas
urementS and then tied the rope
around the ioist several times, so as
to leave about two feet hanging
down. This end he had formed
into moose, had stepped up
onto the edge of the potato box,
slipped the moose over his head and
stepped off into eternity, One foot was
inside of the potatoe box thirty
inches to one side. while the other
hung straight down, as did also the
arms. The face wore an expression
denoting anything but pain, and the
features were not blackened, as is
generally the case when death results
from strangulation, as 1T must have
resulted from in this case.
Deputy Coroner Kennedy was noti-
fed and after viewing the remains
had them removed to John Klein &
Co. IS undertaking establishment.
Mrs Wilmas was seen and gave
the following account of the matter:
''My husband had not been we'll for
years, and had been treated by physi-
leans more or less. He was quite de-
spondent and often said that he
wished he was dead so that he would
not have to work'again. He would
sometimes ask what would become of
US if anything should happen so that
he could not work. For the past two
or three years have been sick more
or less, and he has devoted good deal
of his time attending to me.
yesterday ne complained of pain
in his side, and l told him that he had
better see the doctor. He left home
at a little after one o'clock, and re-
turned at about three o'clock, while L
was away. He took off his coat and
put it and other articles, including
his pOcketbook, on the table. He
must have gone down stairs then, but
L thought that he had gone to visit
some of his relations over night, and
was not much surprised at his absence.
l knew nothing of the real cause un-
til found him in the cellar"
The deceased was sixty years of age,
and had resided in Mankato for about
twenty-seven years. He was born in
Germany. Twenty-Five years ago he
was married to Mrs. Peter Schulen-
berger, who survives him. No chill
= dren were born to them, but Mrs.
Wilmas has several by her former
marriage, including John Schulenber-
ger and Mrs. Thos. Huettl, of this
city. Wilmas has brother, Henry
Wilmas, in this city. He ran farms
for Leo. Lamm land Geo. Peter H9rr
several years ago. Of late years he
has been a teamster in this city, and
has worked some for the city. He
was hard working man, and
much respected by all. sHe was
not in any financial distress, and his
act is thought to have been due to
dependency, induced by i'll health.
He was a member of the German
Catholic church and attended mass
yesterday morning. The time for the
funeral has not yet been set.
Mr.. Kennedy decided that an in
quest was unnecessary.
DChas. H. Griebel saw Wilmas going
into his yard at two o'clock yesterday
afternoon, with his head inclined
downward and talking incoherently
to himself. Mr.. G. remarked TO some
one at the time that Wilmas seemed
to be off mentally.
MEON DEE FUL are the cures by
~ Hoods Sarsaparilla, and yet they