The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-02-02
CASE OF SUICIDE.
Orlando F. Chapman Ends His
Own Life.
In Moment of Dependency He Draws
q Razor Across His
Throat.

OAe'AAO OhoPilSh, oAAO OioCSO oOh
of Mrs. Jane Chapman, who resided
with his mother at 525 Record street,
was found dead in bed Mondaynor ning
with deep cash cut in his throat, ex-
tending from one side to the other and
severing the wind wipe and jugular
vein: That it was case of suicide
there Is no doubt, as a razor was found
beside the dead man, where it had evil
IDENTIFY dropped from his right hand
Mr.. Chapman retired at about nine
o'clock last evening, and' few mo-
ments afterwards called down stairs to
his mother. saying that he had forgot
ten to wind the clock and asking her
to do so These were his last words
He was in the habit of getting9up and
making the fire in the morning, but did
not do 80. Mrs. Chapman made the
kitchen fire and then called her son.
Receiving no response, she went to his
room. 1t was still dark, the hour be-
ing seven o'clock, but she saw the
young man lying motionless in bed,
and fearing that he was deadgshe ran
to the nearest neighbor, F. L. Clark's
residence, and stated her fears, Mr.
Clark and Chas. Jones made an investi-
cation and found that Mr.. Chapman
was dead.
The sight which met the eyes of the
two gentlemen was a horrifying one.
On raising the bed clothing, the wound
in,the throat was discovered, and the
bedding was found to be saturated
with blood. 1t was evident that Chap
man had been dead for some time.
After a careful search razor was
found. Chapman was lying on his
back, with his right hand on his
breast and his left hand to his left
shoulder. The razor was at his
left side, just opposite his right hand,
and was lying open, From the ap-
pearance, Chapman had made one deep,
clean cut, and then drawn the bed
clothes up to his chin, so that no blood
was visible when Mrs. Chapman first
saw him.
Mr.. Clark telephoned to Geo. w. Sug'
den and notified the police station. re-
questing that the coroner be summon
| ed. Coroner Kennedy and Officer Ohm
stead visited the house and viewed the
surroundings. Mr.. Kennedy expressed
the opinion that no inquest would bt
necessary, and the remains were turned
over to the undertaken.
The deceased had not been we'll for /
year or two, and during the last weel
was feeling worse, but would not con
suit physician. Yesterday, whe1
urged by his mother to have medica
attendance, he spoke of the expense
but promised to have doctor thi
morning in case he did not feel an!
better. He had maintained that doc
tor could not benefit him.
Mr.. Chapman was single man
about forty years of age, and had SOM
property. No reason is known why n
should have committed suicide, unles
it was that he had become desponden
over the condition of his health. HI
was employed last summer and fall al
freight handler at the Omaha depot
Four brothers and one sister suryiy'
him: Lincoln; Arthur B., who conducts
a farm north of the city; Harry, wht
lives in St. James; and VIM, who's
whose home is in South Dakota; ant
Mrs. Geo. w. Sugden, of this city.
The deceased was we'll liked by al
who knew him, and his sad death is ,
source of general sorrow.