The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-20
HANGING FROM A TREE
UNKNOWN MAN FOUND IN THE
WOODS NEAR THE HIGH
BRIDGE
NO CLUE TO HIS IDENTITY
Unable to Earn u Living 1t Is
Supposed That He Had Been
Hanging Since Saturday-BOdy Is
at the MOrgue-Deceased Was APP
parently LabOrer.

q LSlDOrePs
Swaying In the wind from the limb of
a small oak tree in clump of thick
woods on the West side. near the end of
the high bridge, couple of hunters yes
terday morning found the body Of an
unknown man. The spectacle was
CHASTITY one. About the mans neck was
a moose of thin rope, firmly tied at the
other end to the limb of the tree, that
bent under the weight, the body turning
slowly about with each breath Of wind.
The hunters notified the Ducas station
police, who in turn summoned Coroner
Nelson. When the body was cut down
the following note, clearly indicating sui
eide, was found in the dead mans pocket.
My back is injured land is so painful
that 1 cannot work to earn living. I
have decided to commit this terrible deed.
God have mercy for a poor sinner. There
are many people in this city and Chris
tiania. Norway. that 1 have helped. but
they do not care to see me now. I will not
mention either their names or mine"
No clew to the dead mans identity, ex-
cept that offered by the clothing he wore
and his personal description, could be
which was written on the leaf Of a memo
randum book. The book was also found
In the mans pocket, but contained moth
Ing that would tell who he was The
body is that Of a man about fifty years
or age, five feet nine inches tall and
weighing 100 pounds. From the man
dress he was doubtless laborer His
clothing Is rough and poorly made. He
wore a suit of overalls, under which was
a nf {oI1t CIV
flannel shirt and a heavy double-breasted
coat, with peculiar plaid lining Near
the body was found a black hat The
mans shoes are heavy lace footwear all
most new. His features are prominent
The nose is large and angular, the eyes
prominent, dark in color, while the hair
is dark brown. He also had a thin. brown
mustache. The hands are hard and
rough, indicating that the man had been
used to manual labor. The thumb nail
on the right hand is missing, having evil
IDENTIFY been torn off or crushed. It is an
old wound and may lead to establishing
the mans identity. On the ground near
the body Coroner Nelson found a cheap
black valise, containing several articles
of wearing apparel, as though the man
carried a change Of clothing.
The body was discovered shortly after
II o'clock yesterday morning by Frank
Wynacht, living on the West side, and
A. Weber, living at 3OS WASHINGTON
street They were hunting in the woods
about 300 feet from Cherokee avenue,
back of Smith avenue, when they sud
denly came upon the sWaying figure Cor
oner Nelson is Of the opinion that the
body had been hanging since Saturday
afternoon. No one of the dead mans
description is reported to the police as
missing, and 1t is believed the suicide was
stranger, but the fact that reference
was made in the note he left to people
whom he had befriended in this city
seems to indicate that he lived here In
qu1ry on the part of the police elected the
information that the man had been seen
near where his body was found Saturday.
afternoon. Residents of the vicinity re-
call having observed a man corresponding,
to the dead mans description walking on
cherokee avenue and carrying a black
satchel Saturday afternoon about 4
o'clock. At this time the man appeared
to have come from the direction of the
woods and was going toward Wabasha
street.
In effecting his self-execution the man
took every precaution to assure the sue.
cess of his plans. The rope was Of a small
size, but easily capable of sustaining a
mans weight, while the knot about the
limb was securely tied and the slip moose
around his neck worked readily. The
man evidently climbed into the rather
low tree and sat on the branch while ar
ranging for his death. With the rope.
about his neck he lowered himself from
the limb by his hands and slowly stran-
gled to death.
From the fact that the dead mans
shoes were covered with what appeared
to be dry cement and that two of the
workmen. employed by Fielding & Shep-
ley, on the Eagle street paving, did not
report for work yesterday, it was at first
believed the suicide might be one of the
missing men. The one whom he most
strongly resembles however, was found
alive and well at his home last even
ing.
The body was taken to the county
morgue. where it will be kept as long as
possible, to permit of possible identifica-
ton.