The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-28
JUST FOR A JOKE
OoLORED JAIL-BlRD COMMITS SUI
eide IN NEW JERSEY.

4 OlUb In NbW ubhcD1s
Following the Bona Eide Attempt of an
Italian Prisoner to Shuttle on His Nor
tai Coll, Which Attempt Is Unsuc cess
| fuI, the Coiored Man Strings himself
Up to the Bars in His Cell Door just TO
Scare the Guards. and Succ eeds beyond
His Most Sansuine Expectations -
Murders and Suicides.
New York, Dec. 27.-Two prisoners,
Frank Barbain an Italian, and Henry
McCallum, colored, attempted suicide at
aoous the same time in the penitentiary
at Caldwell, n. j., today. McCailum.
who attempted suicide as a joke, is dead.
Bsrbain will recover.
Barbain, who has been i'll and despond-
ent foE some time past, fastened a strap
to the bars Of his cell and hanged him
SELF, but was discovered by a keeper be-
fore life was extinct and was resuscita-
ted. Bartain admitted that ne tried to
Kill himself because ne was i'll and tired
of living.
Waen the excitement caused by Bar
bain's attempt to Kill himself, had sub
sided somewhat. McCallum announced
10 his prison mates that he would play
joke on the keepers. A few moments
later, convict in a cell adjoining Nc
Callum's heard the latter's cell door rat
tie, followed oy a low groan.
shout Of warning brought the keep
ers to the scene. McCaIlum was found
hanging from the coor. He had tied one
end Of a tsrap to the bars and the other
about his neck, bent his knees under
him and allowed his full weight to hang
on the strap. He showed no signs of
life when the keepers reached his side,
though he had not been hanging more
taan a couple OF minutes. The body was
carried down stairs and physician sum
nloEed. The physician worked hard over
McCallum but could not save his life
The doctor said that the strap must
have pressed against the mans jugular
vein in such a way as to render him un-
conscious almost instantly. McCallum
was serving a sixty days sentence for
larceny and was booker for release on
next Thursday
LUETGERTS BIRTHDAY.
Chicago, Dec 27.-Today was Luet-
ger5'e fifty-second birthday and while
MS trial was in session before Judge
Gary he wore a rose in his button hole
to celebrate the event. He was in good
hum0r and frequently laughed as Mrs
Agatha Tosch told Of damaging state
ments he had made to her. She was on
the stand nearly all day and was fol-
lowed Dy C. C. Clark and Swan Nelson,
clerks. through whom Luetgert pur-
chased the potash and arsenic.
John Biaak, the last witness of the day
told Of meeting Luetgert in Tosch's sa-
loon when Luetgert asked MIN what the
police wanted of his father and also
urged the son to tell the old watchman
to come and see Luetgert. It was
through the son that Luetgert went 10
the watchman's house on the occasion
when klinSer Was under the bed and
heard the conversation. Tomorrow the
state vii lbegin the identification of the
rings. /
SHOT HIS SWEETHEART
St. Louis, Mo-, Dec. 27.-Late this af-
a
living in Clayton, a suburb of this CITY.
shot his sweetheart, Miss Katie Dosen-
bach, daughter of the ex-sheriff, and
then blew out his own brains
For some time Nsssauer had been pay
ing attention to Miss Dosenbacn, but
as he was comparative stranger to the
family, who knew nothing of his past,
the young lady repulsed him. He called
at her home this afternoon and was ad-
mltted 10 the parlor by the girl's sister.
As soon az Katie entered the parlor
Nassauer drew a revolver and shot her
through the breast. AS she fell he put
the weapon 10 his head and pulled the
trigger. He died instantly. The girl is
thought to be fatally wounded.
Her father was for many years col
lector and Sheriff of St Louis county.
In 1892 he shot and killed Major Smith, |
well known attorney. He was SEN
fenced TO six months in Jail and fined
$500. Since then, although wealthy, he
has lived in retirement.
KILLED WIFE AND SELF.
Bethlehem, Pa, Dec. 27.-George A
NIorast, aged SO years, tonight shot his
wife Annie, anG then blew out his own
brains. The woman viii Recover. The
couple were Germans and came here
from Colorado a year ago. Mrs. Morast
conducted a dress making shop. They
Quarreied and separated week ago and
tonight he called to attempt a reconcil- |
tation. She ordered him from the house |
and the shooting occurred. Morast IS
said 10 have belonged to a well-to-tio |
family of western farmers.