The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14
HE AMPUTATED HIS HAND
TERRIBLE DEED OF JOHN sCHNAE-
BILE, sEvENTY-FIvE YEARS Old.
The Old Man Commits Suicide at the
DeacOness Hospital-Had Mon
ely in the Bank.

Old and feeble. unable to care for himself,
without home and friends and relatives to
attend him in his dotage, left to be minis
tered to by charitable organization and
fearful that he would by it be turned into
the street to find place for himself-such
was John Schnaeble yesterday. He is no
more, however. About o'clock last even
ing he took his own life at the Deaconess
Hospital He was seventy-five years OF
age. and had been at the hospital for about
three months. He was admitted to the de-
partment for the aged which is connected
with the hospital, because he had no place
to live. His wife died about year ago.
One son is in the Central Insane Hospital
and another son lives in Brooklyn, n. Y.
The old man was not confined to his bed.
and was allowed to roam about the build
ing at will. Yesterday, few moments be-
fore supper, he went into a closet. When
he did not appear for the evening meal
search for him was made. When called by
name he answered that he was mot
ready" The matron waited for some time,
and then called again. This time feeble
voice again responded, saying quite indis-
tinctly that he would be down soon. A few
moments later the matron knocked at the
door, and. getting no response. became
alarmed. The door was finally broken
down, and there, lying on the floor was
the old man. Hanging over the edge of
the sink was the bleeding stump of his left
arm. On the floor beside him was small
pocket knife. 1t was covered with blood.
By the side of the knife, in a pool of blood,
lay his left hand, which had been severed
at the wrist joint. The old man was dead.
He had bled to death. From the position in
which the body was found 1t is thought he
had stood over the sink while cutting of
the member, and then, becoming weak, fell
to the floor, and in order to keep the blood
from running on the floor reached over and
held the arm over the sink. Other attend
ants were quickly summoned, but the body
was allowed to remain there until the ar
rival OF the coroner, when IT was removed
to an undertakerS.
MENTALLY UNSOUND.
During his stay at the hospital it was
noticed he was somewhat deranged men
tally, but there were no indications Of
violence either to himself or attaches OF
the institution. Frequently in his room he
would get out a NallSe, Jake uOWu Ills
clothing and pack 1t neatly, as If he in
tended going on a trip, and then, without
comment, unpack the things and restore
them to their usual places.
John Schnaeble was Seventy-f1ve years or
age. He came here about thirty years ago
from Switzerland, and for many years had
a grocery store at the corner OF South
East and Bickings streets. He owned the
property there and had stock in a build
sx@.r Loo, N.Dfn ion &c n sol Ia
had considerable money on deposit in
Fletcher's bank, and not long ago. since he
went to the Deaconess Hospital, withdrew
his funds from the building and loan assoc
citation and put them in the bank with
other funds In the safe at the hospital
was $40 belonging TO him, and on his per-
son was found small amount of change.
The old man, who had for several years
been treated by DR.. Burckhardt, frequently
told him he was afraid something would
happen and he would be left penniless and
unable to care for himself or meet his obli-
cations. Since going to the hospital he had
often expressed fear that he should be
compelled to leave there though there was
no foundation for such a belief. Four
years ago he went to the City Dispensary
sent to the insane hospital, as he knew his
mind was failing
DR.. Nash, after examination of the body,
said he had never seen a case which indi-
Gated more nerve and will power. The
old man had deliberately stood up in the
room and cut off his hand, without the use
of anesthetics, and without the least sign
of suffering pain. The cut made be-
tween the bones forming the wrist joint