The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-02

anu Inherent fuInOrS were dIlOdl DIS
to his condition.
some grossly exaggerated and others
nearer the truth. Niedenhofer's prom
inence and good standing among the
young men of the town gave the
stories wide circulation. 1t was re-
peated that his marriage had taken
place at an inopportune time; that he
was suffering from nervous prostra-
ton, and that he was financially in
volved. While these reports were cur
rent, Niedenhofen and his wife were
on their way TO Salt Lake City, where
he was being conveyed for medical
treatment, his mental condition having
become so serious that the families en-
| tertained grave fears for his sanity.
After reaching this point he was taken
TO a private house, but Niedenhofen
was not satisfied with the arrange
ments that had been made. He knew
A. Fred Wey, and besOught the lat
ter to provide for him at his hotel.
About three weeks ago Wey furnished
| Niedenhofen with a suite of apart
ments on the first floor of the hotel,
which were occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
! Niedenhofen. Joe Wilkins, deputy
clerk of the district court, visited the
| city about that time, and appeared to
be dissatisfied with the attending ply
sician, so DR.. y. J. HOsmer, a recent
| arrival, was engaged on December 10
~ tdAE Cl4SiI Sc VI lllc NdSC- <AlNCA al
examination he declined to act, and
advised that NiedenhOfen be sent to an
asylum, but neither the patient nor his
| wife would consent to such an ar
rangement, and on the earnest en-
treaties of Mrs. Niedenhofen and Will
kins, DR.. Hosmer finally yielded and
! began a course of treatment
SUFFERED FROM HYPOCONDRIA.
He found Niedenhofen always ra-
| tional and without any hallucinationS,
| but suffering from the form of de-
/ mentia known as hypocondria, sTherein
he dwelt upon his own infirmities,
magnifying them far beyond their
merits and fully convinced that he
would never get better. Frequent dis
paraging remarks induced the phys-
clan to order that a constant watch
/ be kept of the patient. Mr.. Wey per-
formed these duties. Niedenhofen was
never permitted to leave the room
without being under surveillance.
! Wey and Niedenhofen were to
have attended the matinee at
the Grand Opera House yester-
day. but at the last moment
NiedenhOfen changed his mind. Ed
Potting of Butte, an employee of Me
denhofen's mother, had arrived from
Butte the day previous, and remained
with his friend. About o'clock Me
I
the next floor to the toilet room. and
left Potting in the apartment After
! a moment or two POtting'S vigilance
suggested that he follow. AS he reached
the upper hallway a chambermaid
came to him in an excited manner to
say that the sick man was
CLIMBING THE FIRE ESCAPE.
Paralyzed with fear. Potting was
helpless for a second, then, recovering.
he ran to the bath room window and
looked out. Sam Gordon, an attache
of the hotel. had already taken in the
situation and was ascending the fire
escape in Niedenhofens wake. The
escape is z simple iron ladder-way with
landings at each floor and extends up
ward to the roof.
Niedenhofen was too spry for his
purSuer and was sitting on the edge
OF the roof near the corner of the build
ing while Gordon was on the ladder.
Come back. come back here. cap
tain" demanded Gordon. Niedenhofen
said nothing, and Gordon persisted in
his efforts. Niedenhofen cOolly regarded
Gordon and said: What date is this,
Sam ?"
Gordon waxed earnest and about this
time Niedenhofen lowered his body
over the caves until it hung by the
arms. his hands gripping the edge of
the IOOG- I16 luIECu lllS ur1Q lON dl u
Gordon, then relaxed one hand, was
suspended for a second by the other
hand and then dropped.
DASHED TO THE EARTH.
Three circles were made by
the body as it dashed' toward
the earth. Gordon saw it strike
on the head, rebound few inches and
settle down into a shapeless heap. Gde
gave the alarm and Il minutes after
ward Dr. HOSuer RESPONDED. but Me
denhofen was drawing his last breath.
The body when reached by several men
working about the building, lay in a
cramped posture. the right arm twisted
beneath the breast. the neck awry, but
otherwise perfectly natural. There
was not a scratch upon the remains
except on the forehead, and the cloth
ing was not nOticeab bly, diSarranged.
In a pool of murky water near by was
found a diamond stud, valued a $3.50,
the setting and stone being broken
from the screw by the shock Other
than a Knights Templar charm with
the mark H a. \. and few trinkets
in the pockets, there were no personal
effects. Niedenhofen had fallen into
the rear alley directly behind the cor
oner's office, and the remains were
conveyed but a few steps through the
back door TO the mOrgue.
EMULATED fCULLOGH.
It has been suggested by friends of
Niedenho1en that ms method OF suicide
was suggested by the reports of Editor
McCulloghs death at st. Louis, the
circumstances OF Niedenhofen's de-
parture being nearly identical with
those of the venerable journalist, who
was also suffering from mental col
lapse.
Niedenhofen had been commenting
upon the McCullogh suicide just a few
hours before and talking of turning
over a new leaf on the first of the year.
An autopsy will be performed this
morning, followed by an inquest. The
remains viii be shipped to Butte at
7:30 o'clock this evening, accompanied
by the widow and Edward Potting.
Niedenhofen was insured in a first
class New York insurance company for
$25, 900, the policy being fully paid
Mrs. Niedenhofen, who is a very young
woman, is prostrated by the shock |
The deceased was only so wears of
age, of medium stature and we'll pro-
portioned.
BUTTE BURGLAR.