The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-19

The st. Paul Globe, April 30: J. G.
Massey, formerly a bookkeeper in the
auditing department of the Northern
Pacific railroad, Is missing from his
home, 737 Martin street, under circum-
stances which lead his family to believe
that he has taken his own life Search
for the missing man since Wednesday
afternoon has failed to discover any
nected with his disappearance it is
thought that he has ended his life in
some remote place where his body may
be found later. The theory of his fam
lily is that he has drowned himself,
either here or at Minneapolis.
Massey has been very despondent of
late on account of losing his position
with the Omaha road, which he secured
three months ago, after nearly year
of enforced idleness During this time
it was an uphill struggle to provide for
his wife and four children, and at times
the family has been in Strengthened cir
cumstances, necessitating not long ago,
the mortgaging of the household furni-
ture. Worry over his financial condi-
tion had it's effect on Massey, by induc-
ing spells of melancholia, during which
the apprehension of his family was
aroused, but when he recently secured
his last position at the Omaha freight
house, where he worked in the double
capacity of night watchman and ac-
countant, it was thought he had recov-
cred his normal mental condition.
When, however, he lost this last en-
ployment ten days ago, he broke down
completely and has since done nothing
but brood over his reverses. Through
out the day, his folks say, he hopelessly
sought employment and at night wan
dered about the streets in fits of alb
straction. At home his actions excited
the fear of his wife, and it was dreaded
that worry had affected his mind.
Wednesday morning Massey left the
house before breakfast, but returned
about ten o'clock, and after going to his
room for short time, affectionately
bade his wife goodbye, saying nothing
of his intentions, but apparently labor
ing under excitement. At o'clock in
the afternoon, Mrs. Massey received a
letter from her husband stating that by
the time she received the communication
he would be dead, having decided to end
his troubles by suicide. The letter was
written from the St. James hotel in Min
neapolis, and from the postmark had
been mailed shortly before noon. From
its contents, it is judged, that Massey
had been planning to take his life for
several days. Part of the letter was
written April 2S,in this city, on Mer-
chants Hotel letter head, and stated
that the writer had become utterly dis
couraged with his inability to provide
for his family, and felt that no better
course than death was open to him. The
other portion of the epistle dated in
Minneapolis Wednesday, informed Mrs.
Massey that her husband had given up
nope and was about to take the fatal
step which he previously threatened.
by the time you receive this 1 shall be
no more" wrote the disconsolate man.
and his wife believes that he has ended
his existence. The letter is pitiable in
it's hopelessness and begs the forgive
ness OF the wife for casting her with
the family of children alone upon the
world, concluding with the expressed
wish that friends may come to her as
sistance. An old razor which Massey
kept in his room is not to be found.
and it is thought that it was for this
that he returned to the house before 60
ing away.
Mrs Massey, who is an invalid, is
completely Frustrated by her husbands
disappearance. She is wholly without
means ,and this, with the care of four
children, the eldest a girl of seventeen
years and the youngest girl of six
years old, serves to increase her dis
tress. Seen at her home by a reporter
for the Globe yesterday afternoon, she
related the story of her husbands dis
appearance and expressed the belief that
he would never again be seen alive.