The herald., 1898-12-16

spinal trouble, and in spite of his healthy ap-
pearance, was in very poor health. lie tried
many treatments, frequently for the wrong
disease, but got no relief, and as the days
passed by, Zinsgraf found himself becoming
worse, and less able to conduct his business.
He would Aquently have to go home in the
afternoons, tired out. His wife saw his
malady growing worse, and though she tried
to aid him, as best she could, their finances
gradually became lower and lower, and last
week Mrs. Zinsgraf decided that it would
be necessary for her to go out to work III
order to provide for the family until her hus-
bands health could improve. She told her
husband Of her determination, and he op-
posed such course. She urged its neces
sity, as they could easily. by combining their
earnings, make enough to meet current ex-
penses, and keep out of debt. Znsgraf did
not like the idea, but reluctantly consented
to her plan.
Zinsgraf did not say much on the subject,
after it was decided that she should 60, but
it is evident that it proved upon his mind
Mrs. Zinsgraf left last Tuesday and went to
work for the Morse family at 1856 Temple
street. The absence of his wife must have
had very depressing effect upon the sick
man, and on the day following her depar-
ture he seems to have made up his mind to
end his existence. He went to work as
usual in the morning, but returned about >
O'Clock in the afternoon. He seemed to be
in his accustomed spirits, and went to
his room. Then he wrote farewell letters
to his wife. for about o clock in the even
ing he left his room and was seen mailing
a letter. This letter was his death war
rant, which his wife received the following
morning Znsgraf did not leave his rooms
after returning from posting the letter, and
early in the morning prepared to take his
life.
The couple occupied three rooms on the
second floor. Insgraf carried a mattress
into the kitchen and placed it on the floor.
close to a wash tub. Then, clad only
in his underclothes, the man took
razor and began to sever the arteries in his
left wrist. Apparently he did not succeed
at first for the razor was found badly broken
by his side \ second razor was taken and
the man continued gashng his left wrist
The second instrument was badly nicked.
the damage to both razors no doubt being
made by striking against the wrist bone.
but Zinsgraf must have been successful with
the second razor for he made ghastlv rent
In his wrist. which severed the arteries. He
held his bleeding wrist over wash tub and
allowed the blood to flow into the water
there. Death did not come fast enough
to satisfy him, for he walked into the seep-
ing room with the intention OF securing some
other instrument with which to hasten his
end. lie must have been very weak hv this
time, from the loss of blood for he went
to one of the beds and lay down, as stains of
blood were noticed over the mattress.
lie started to return to the kitchen. hn;
fell on the floor from weakness. for the
nose OF the fall was heard by Miss F. NTol1e
Young Frenchwoman who was sleeping on
the lower floor. The Young woman su.
rected that Zinsgraf might be i'll. So She went
upstairs and knocked at his door to inouire
i he was sick. He replied in the negative
She asked him if he was sure he was moi
SICK, and when Zinsgraf again said "ro"
the young woman walked down stairs ard
Thought nothing more Of the occurrence In,
III she heard noise in the room overhead
as II man were crawling on all fours across
the floor Finding himself too weak to wall;
TO the kitchen, he dragged himself over r.
the mattress.
Miss Mole did not observe the fumes Of
gas when she went to the door of Zirs
graz room, so the exact time when thf
man tried to asphYXiate himself is mat
Ter OF conjecture. He may have broken off
the end OF the rubber supply pipe which
was connected with a gas cooking stove
when he crawled back into the kitchen. o,
ne may have set loose the fumes Of gas be-
lore he started to cut his wrist. In any
event the end of the tube was placed close tc
ms nostrIs and death is thought TO have
occurred about o'clock this morning.
As all OF the doors leading into Zns.
graz rooms had been locked and the tran
sons closed down. it took some time f.,
the lumes OF gas to circulate through the
rest OF the house. The other lodgers dc
t91 t1c'ed the sMeIl Of gas after they arcse
w. HWIh' roomer at the house. hurriff
10 spring street and there found Police a..
fiicer McGraw and explained to hin, ,ba.
Alnsgraf had probably committed suic;de
The officer forced an entrance and there the