The Jersey City news., 1899-11-24
LEMPE HUNG HIMSELF.
He Suffered Greatly From
Asthma and Commit
ted Suicide.

Because he was sick and respondent,
Ernest Lempke, forty-two years old, an
employe of the Sugar House, committed
suicide by hanging himself at his home,
No. 1873 Washington street. yesterday af-
ternoon. Mrs. Lempke, with her four
children, went out about haH-past two to
call on several friends who lived in the
city Lempke was at work in the Sugar
House At 2:45 the family residing on the
lower floor heard Lempke enter his apart
nents. He remained there long enough to
wash He left and returned about fifteen
minutes later. He had visited corner
saloon and taken a glass of whiskey.
The saIoonkeeper later told News, re-
porter that Lempke seemed to be in the
best of spirits Lempke was not seen alive
after that.
Lempke screwed a small hook into the
door jamb of the passageway between ms
bedroom and kitchen. He then took a
piece of white rope, made a loop and hung
it on the hook.
Before hanging himself Lempke locked
the door leading into the bedroom and
placed a chair beneath the knob, evident
ly to prevent the door from being forced
in. Lenpke then placed chair be-
meath the hook and stood ON it. He put
the loop around his neck and kicked the
chair from under him. His neck was
broken by the fan and he must have died
Instantly.
When Mrs. Lempke and her children re-
turned home about $50 o'clock Mrs.
I.empke attempted to enter the bedroom.
She could not open the door. Mrs: Lempke
Immediately thought that her husband
had committed suicide and she broke
down completely. The sounds OF her
cries were heard by the other tenants OF
the house, who rushed into the rooms
.My husband has done 1t" cried Mrs.
Lempke over and over again.
Several of the men who entered tried to
force open the bedroom door, but they
could not. They went downstairs and
asked the painters who were engaged IN
painting the house to raise the scaffolding
to the second floor and enter the rooms
by means Of window. This was done.
After entrance had been effected one OF
the painters lighted a match and they
proceeded to search the place. They had
not gone far when the ghastly sight Of
Lempke hanging from the doorjamb met
IlelT eyes. 1ilcy iCiAVsS " tAtS SA&etiA = -
the door knob and the door was unlocked
Mrs. Lempke tainted at the sight of her
dead husband. His tongue protruded from
his mouth and his eyes nearly bulged out
of their sockets. Lempke must have been
dead fully two and one-half hours.
Word was conveyed TO the Gregory
street station house. Captain John Cody
dispatched Policemen Downes and Steele
to the house on Washington street. When
the officers arrived at the house the body
was still hanging. A sheet had been
wrapped around dt. Policeman Downes
cut the dead man down and with the as
sistance of Policeman Steele the body was
placed on the bed in the room.
"A reporter for "The News called at the
house shortly after the matter had been
reported to Police Headquarters. Mrs.
Lempke was hysterical and was being at
tended by physician. The children cried
bitterly.
Between her sobs Mrs. Lempke said
I'VE have been in this country fourteen
years. During that time he never lost
day from his work. He was a good man.
but he suffered greatly from asthma. |
think his sufferings prompted his rash
act. He had no other troubles and ne was
well thought OF by his employers
Mrs. Lempke has four small children
County Physician Converse was notified
of the suicide.