The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-16


FINANCIAL reverses, coupled with i'll
health, lead Albert w. Lownsbury to
end his life sometime Sunday, at the
Model Dairy which he conducted at
OH Rice street. His preparation for
death was careful and the method en-
ployed unusual. Attaching a piece Of
small rubber hose to a gas Jet, he ran
1t into an unused refrigerator several
feet away, and climbing In slowly as
phyxiated himself. The body was
found yesterday morning, when a son
of the dead man went to open the
store
The dead man had lived in St. Paul
twenty seven years. For twenty three
years he was9a conductor on the Oma-
ha road. When he left the service Of
the railroad company seven years ago,
he was in easy financial circumstances,
owning a comfortable home at 1872 Nina
avenue, and possessing something Of
ali independent income. During re-
cent years, however, he embarked in
several business ventures, each Of
Which was a failure. He first lost
money in the laundry business, then
failed as retail grocer. Later he
and here, o,slost money. Still anotner
restaurant venture proved disastrous,
when Mr.. Lownsbury found hims-l at
the end of his resources. Then the
family home was mortgaged, and from
this time on he was much discouraged.
Two years ago he suffered an attack Of
nervous prostration, and his wife says
his mind was afterward affected He
sometimes remained up all night, pac-
inO hn Of h 10 NbJ1y>c sf1.1xr
night he was in an unusual state Of
unrest and did not go to bed at all.
Throughout his troubles Mrs. Lowns-
bury says her husba nd never threaten
ed suicide, though he frequently spoke
disconsolately.
It was Mr.. Lownsburys custom to
keep the dairy open during the Sunday
| n1orr1ng hours. He went to his place
Of business as usual the day of his
death, apparently i'll composed frame
Of mind. About 10 o'clock his son,
Frank, went to the store to tell his
father that dinner would be ready at
home at 1 % clock Mr.. Lownsbury was
quietly reading a paper and smoking
| his pipe. He said he would be home
III time for dinner. This was the last
| seen of him alive. He failed to go
home Sunday night. but this did not
! alarm the family until his prolonged
y
son went in search of him.
Reaching the dairy the young man
| found the front door locked. When
the door was forced open the room was
| found to contain an oppressive odor Of
gas The rubber tube extending from
| the gas jet to the refrigerator at once
attracted young LoWnsbury'S attention.
Raising the lid he discovered the body
i of his father lying at, the bottom Of
/ f1,n. ho6v was rigid
/ showing that Lownsbury had been
| dead some time A search Of the dead
| mans clothing failed to disclose a COM
! raunicaticn Of any kind explaining his
act. In prepa ring for death Towns
bury had spread an old awning in the
bottom of the refrigerator and had
! propped open the lid short distance
! with a steel staple to keep the tube
| from being squeezed SO that the gas
! viewed the body. Finding the case I'M
i nistakably one of suicide, he will hold
no further inquiry.
Mr.. Lownsbury was f1fty-eight years
/ old He leaves wife and two sons,
| John and Frank, the younger being
nineteen years of age. He was born in
| New York, but spent his early life In
| Illinois, coming to st. Paul In 1871. He
served four years In the army during
! the Civil war as sergeant and color
bearer of the Thrice .th W1-cons,n vol
unteer regiment.
He was a member Of the local branch
of the Order Of Railway Conductors.
| The funeral will take place at the
! family residence at o'clock this aft
ernoon, and will be under the direction
OF the Order Of Railway Conductors.
The body will be taken to Sharon, Wis,
for burial, this evening.
|