The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-05-07
FROM THE GRAVE.
w. A. Laufman Claims That he Was
Slowly Poisoned.
Was Thought to be Dead and Was
Packed il, Ice.

ing business in the Thayer building,
and who left rather suddenly some
thing over a year ago. The account
of the divorce proceedings begun
against her by her husband, on the
ground of alleged cruel and
inhuman treatment and adul-
terry, has been published in
in the local papers, slow poisoning be-
ing one of the allegations. Mrs. Lauf-
man could not be found at Logans-
port, Ind, where she was supposed to
be, nor at Kansas City, where it was
given out from Logansport that she
went, and the summons is now being
served by publication.
The Minneapolis Times of today
contains lengthy interview with
Mr.. LaUfman, wherein he purports to
give an account of the alleged poison
ing and claims that he died, was dis
embodied and returned to inhabit his
body. The story is an interesting
one, no matter what other comments
may be passed upon it. He says that
he was married to Emma B. Miller at
Marion, Indiana, in 1887, he being
nineteen years of age and she seven
teen. 1t was runaway match and
disapprOved by the parents Of both,
but Shey were subsequently forgiven.
His married life proved to be
a very happy one. They had no
children, but few years ago adopted
daughter, who is now sixteen years
of age.
Mr.. Laufman states to the Times
reporter that his strange experiences
date from about two years ago, when
he took sick in Mankato. He then
goes on to relate the story of the al
legged slow poisoning with Indian
hemp, accusing his wife of attempt
ing to take his life. He says that
he believes her mentally un-
balanced and does not hold her
accountable for her acts. He con-
tinues:
''In my suit for divorce l submitted
the deposition of young lady whom
my wife tried to draw into the scheme.
While was i'll she told of the prepare
tions she had made for my death and
of the clothes she would wear after l
was gone. She also told the young
lady, Nellie, of my $4,000 life in
surance and how she would spend it
when she got hold of it. The young
woman refused to be drawn into this
scheme, however, and my wife pro-
ceeded alone"
Mr.. Laufman then tells of the acCi
dental finding of the prescription and
small phial of Indian hemp in his
wife's hat in a bureau drawer, while
searching for some article. They
were in Council Bluffs at the time,
and he jOkingly asked his wife
whether that was the stuff that she
had been doping him with, having no
idea that she had been doing it.
He states that he believes that the
drug was given him only in sufficient
quantities to produce heart disease.
Shortly after accusing his wife Of try
ing to poison him, she left him. He
says that the deposition of an Omaha
woman, admitting that his wife OBJ
tanned the poisonfrom her, constitutes
part of his divorce case.
The narrative proceeds:
Il took sick and was removed to
the hospital IN Omaha. There 1 hid
an experience which few men have
lived to tell about. Under the in
fuence of the drug l sank into a con-
dition which was called death by the
physicians. This was on Dec. Goth,
1896, at IL o'clock in the morning.
The doctors pronounced me dead and
my body was turned over to M. Maul's |
undertaking establishment for pre-
paration for shipment. 1t was given |
out that l had died of heart disease. |
My brother, G. H. Laufman, Of Des |
MoineS, Iowa, was telegraphed for
and came on to take charge of my
remains.
son that fatal morning l was sud-
denly aware of an indescribable sensa-
tiOn, beginning at my feet and snap
ping clear through my frame and out |
the top of my head. [ was standing
in the center of the room and plainly
saw my dead body lying on the cot.
/ started to leave the room and met
one of the doctors. | wondered that
he did not say something to me, but
as he made no effort to stop me l went
out on the street. l walked down
Fourteenth street to the corner
towards California avenue, and there
met an old acquaintance from Mitch
ell, S. d., named Milt. Blose. 1 at
tempted to strike him in the back by
way Of salutatiOn, but my arm passed
right through him, l did not speak
TO him, but struck at linn again with
the same result. l utterly failed to
attract his attention, although | fol-
lowed him at. least a block. | dis