The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-25
MADE SUREOFDEATH
UNKNOWN COMMITS SUICIDE BY
THE INHALATION OF
GAS.
USED A LONG RUBBER TUBE,
STRUCIION HAVING BEEN UN-
SUCCESSFUL.
SEQ A LONG RUBBER TUBE,
Little Probability That He VIII Di-
Vulge Much to the Grand
Jury Today.

Tired of life an unknown man de-
iberately committed suicide yesterday
morning by inhaling gas on the second
floor of the building at 419 Washing
ton avenue south. The room in which
the deed was done is one of a suite of
furnished apartments kept by G. w.
Libbey at the above named number.
The suicide came first to Mr.. Lib
bey's house Friday night, and said he
would rent a room for the night. He
said he expected friend to come and
stay with him and he might rent the
room for a month if matters progressed
faVOrably. He did not rise until 1
o'clock Saturday afternoon. The pro-
prietor, thinking that something was
wrong entered his room about noon
Saturday, but the lodger was in bed
and said he was alright. He left the
house and returned about o'clock
Saturday night and rented the same
room for the night again, repeating
that he expected a friend and might
engage the room for a month He
went out and at midnight returned.
He walked straight to his room, I'M
locked the door and from appearances
went directly to bed. Yesterday, Mr..
Libbey paid no attention when his
visitor did not rise and being out in the
afternoon did not investigate until
about o'clock last evening. A cham
bermaid had left a pitcher of water
standing outside the door in the morn
ing. 1t had been un6isturbed Mr..
Libbey had duplicate key to the room
and easily effected an entrance To
his surprise his lodger was lying in
bed with a rubber tube about six feet
long, attached to the gas jet in his
mouth. The room was large and the
smell OF gas was not very strong, but
the jet was open and it was clearly
seen what had caused death.
Coroner Dennis was notified and the
police removed the body to the morgue
Tie appearance of deliberate suicide
teing so clear, it will be unnecessary
to hold an inquest.
Nothing which would avail in the
mans identification was found either
on his person or on his clothes. Before
retiring, he had Undressed himself with
the exception of his underwear. but
nothing but a bunch of keys and a
blank memorandum book was found IN
his pockets. His gold watch, still rum
ming, was lying on top of the bureau
a bunch Of three trunk keys was also
the trade marks Of Minneapolis firms,
and was completely new receipt fer
40 cents showed that he had purchased
the rubber tube from DonaldsOn's store
Saturday night. A bottle of whisky,
partly emptied, was also found in the
bureau drawer.
The man was apparently about 80
years Of age, and a Scandinavian. He
was evidently a laboring man, about
five feet eight inches tall, we'll built,
ard had slight dark mustache. His
clothes were plain but quite new and
comfortable. On his breast was tat
tooed an American eagle, this indi-
eating that he might have at one time
been employed in Uncle Sans naval
service. He did not leave his name
with the man of the house for the rea-
son that transients are not accomo-
dated, and his name was not asked as
he was expected to remain a month.
His watch was an Elgin, No. 4,191, 494
The case bore the number, 67,746
The manner in which he committed
self-destructiOn was rather novel, He
had taken out the tip in the gas jet,
put on the rubber tube, placing his CAP
under it so that it would not slip off.
and then had evidently placed the
other end Of the tube in his mouth.
After death, it had fallen onto the bed.
He had evidently done the deed Just
after entering his room Saturday at
midnight and had been dead a long
time when discovered. Landlord Lib
hey is of the opinion that the fellow
tried to asphyXiate himself Friday
night, because he did not rise Saturday
morning. When Libbey entered the
room Saturday noon, the man was
lying in bed and no odor Of gas was
noticed. However, he thinks that the
suicide turned on the jet and that, on
account of the size of the room, the air
was not sufficiently permeated with the
deadly gas to cause the deed to be
successful. The fact that he bought
the rubber tube Saturday night up
holds this theory, and the deed was
then successfully carried out.