The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-10
HL0BE'S MINNIE EAPOLIS OFFICE,
I0 60 WASHINGTON AK. SOUTH.

His mind weighed down with despond-
ency over the condition of his health
and his nerves shaken from brooding
over his physical ills, Herbert Nelson, Of
Minneapolis. yesterday found refuge in
death by his own hand. His body was
found yesterday afternoon at 1890 just
oItside the city limits of st. Paul on the
old territorial road. A revolver lay be-
side the body and a CHASTITY wound in
the back of his head told the manner of
his death.
The body was found by two boys who
were driving along the road, but they
feared that murder had been done and
drove away without giving notice of the
death to the police. Not long after
fireman from the st. Anthony Park sta
tion drove by in a carriage and found
the body lying on the sod beside the
road. He left man on watch and going
to the nearest police telegraph box sent
In word OF the suicide to the ST. Paul
Prior avenue station. Officer Brenck was
detailed to watch the body, and the Hen
nepin coroner was notified.
When it became known that body had
been found on the road the two boys,
John Allen and Harry Burnham, told
what they had seen.
The coroner arrived about o'clock and
had the remains taken to the Hennepin
county morgue, where an autopsy will
be held.
An effort was made to find out who
the dead mans relatives are, but beyond
the fact that he was relative of ex-As-
semblyman Nelson, of Minneapolis, moth
ing definite was learned
There is no doubt but that the bullet
which ended the mans life was fred
while he was not in his right mind. Nell
son was committed to the Rochester hos
pital for the insane some time ago, and
afterwards discharged. but ever since
has given signs of mental weakness. His
health has been poor and he was recent
ly sent to the city and county hospital at
Minneapolis for treatment. He remained
there several days, but on Saturday aft
ernoon managed to make his escape from
the Institution. Several hours passed be-
fore his departure was noticed, and in
QuirieS were made at once as to his
whereabouts, but without success. I'm
til his body was found yesterday no one
knew where he was.
Constant brooding over his misfortunes
and the state of his health is thought to
have brought on another attack Of men-
tai trouble and led to his suicide. It Is
reported from the hospital that he made
several previous attempts to end his life,
and had been in the habit Of morbidIy
thinking OF death as the only recourse
left to him. After leaving Minneapolis
1t appears that he wandered into the
Midway district and deliberately took his
own life ~ ~
When found the body lay on one side.
as If he had fired the fatal shot in a.
standing position and fallen. The re-
volver lay several feet away, an empty
cartridge before the hammer The muz-
zle of the weapon had been placed In
side the mouth and the bullet tore hole
through the rear of the skull, turning
and coming out at a point almost exact
1y on top of the head. Death must have
been instantaneous.
The spot where the body was found is
untrequented. and for distance in each
direction along the road there are no
houses But for It's accidental discov-
cry ii might have lain there for several
days, as from the road it was not at first
perceptible. The remains will be given
burial in Minneapolis.