The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-22
DRANK SOME PRUSSIC ACID
w. S. LAMB COMMITS SUICIDE
BY POISONING
Minneapolis Man Who Has Been
Selling Opticians Supplies Sc
cures the Drug Under Representa-
lions That He Is Doctor
Found in His Room at His Lods-
ing House on Fifth Street.


w. S. Lamb, Wearied of life doubtless
from i'll health, ended his life at a
lodging house at 13S West Fifth street,
some time Wednesday night, by swal-
lowing two drains of prussic acid
Lamb was a resident of Minneapolis,
who has recently been selling opticians
supplies in this city.
Among the effects of the dead man,
Coroner Nelson found letters showing
the suicide to have suffered from phys
zeal ailments and that he was at one
time an inmate of the insane asylum.
business card found in his possess
sion read DR.. Lamb, 521 Hennepin ave-
nue., Minneapolis.
From information gained by Coroner
Nelson, 1t was learned that Lamb has
been selling spectacles and eye glasses
in this city for several weeks. He
obtained his supplies from G. D. Bruce
Tudor, a local optician.
Lamb secured a room at a boarding
house kept by Mrs. Mary Mclaughlin,
139 West Fifth street, Tuesday after
noon. He gave no account of him
self, but moved into the room the same
afternoon, after paying a weeks rent.
He was seen going in and out several
times Wednesday, and nothing unusual
was noticed in his demeanor.
Shortly after Z o'clock Wednesday
evening, Mrs Mclaughlin met Lamb
going to his room. He spoke to the
landlady pleasantly about the weather.
This was the last seen of him alive.
Yesterday morning a domestic went
to Lambs room to awaken him. The
door was partly open, and, seeing his
clothing on a chair, the girl concluded
the occupant was still asleep and con-
cluded not to arouse him.
When o'clock in the afternoon ar
rived and Lamb did not appear. Mrs.
Mclaughlin suspected something
wrong and went to the room to inves-
tigate. Getting no response to repeat
ed calls, Mrs. Mclaughlin pushed open
the door and saw her ledger dead in
bed. Other members of the household
were summoned to the scene, when the
indications showed that Lamb had I'M
doubtedly been dead some hours.
Coroner Nelson viewed the body and
searched the room for a clue to the
nature Of Lambs death. On the wash
stand he found a half-ounce bot
tie, labeled "prussic acid" The bottle
was empty. and the case of suicide ap-
parent.
The fact that Lamb had taken prus-
sic acid concerned Coroner Nelson
deeply, as this deadly poison is not
supposed to be sold to any one but a
physician. Upon investigating how
learned that he had represented him
self at a local drug store as a DR.. Cook.
The druggist at first refused to sell
him the drug, but Lamb insisted that
he was physician, and finally secured
two drains of a diluted solution Of
prussic acid.
Lamb was about twenty eight years
of age, we'll dressed and man of edu-
cation. His father, who lives in Sank
Center, was notified of the death.
The dead mans wife is said to be a
clairvoyant, living in Minneapolis at
the address on the card found in his
possession. The card also contained
her business advertisement as Nine
Lamb.
The body was taken to the undertake
ing rooms of Nagel & Co., where it
will be held until claimed by relatives.