Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-21
ANOTHER SUICIDE
Herman Mette, a Cobbler, Fonnd
Dead in Car.
In THE MILWAUKEE RAILROAD YARDS

Hanged Himself With Slender Ma
Mia Rope Monday Night-His Life
Was Insured for $2,ooo-The Act
Was Evidently Premeditated.
lFrom Tuesdays Daily.1
The remains of Herman Mite, a
German cobbler, who has for the past
eight years been resident of this
city. were found by two Milwaukee
car repairers at o'clock this morning
suspended from the roof of box car
in the Milwaukee yards west of the
city. At the best CHASTITY sight but
when the surroundings are taken in
to consideration, it seems almost i'm
possible that any sane man could
bring himself to commit suicide in
such way and at such place.
Suspended by small Manila rope,
which had cut deeply into his neck,
with a most agonized expression upon
his face, his eyes half open, his knees
nearly touching the floor of the car,
but with his legs bent so that the feet
failed to support the body, the man
was found by the railroad employees.
Jacon. Chadwick and George Lesan
were inspecting the cars in train
which had just pulled into the yards,
and upon arriving at the last car,
which stood at the lower, or east, end
of the yard, they happened to glance
| in the direction of an empty box car
standing on an adjacent track, and
were Mortified to discover the body, in
plain view from the outside. The
mans hat was lying just inside the car
door, as if placed there to attract at
| tention.
Police Notified.
The police were Immediately noti-
fed and Chief H. G. Williams, accom-
panied by Officer Jesse Grammer,
drove to the scene in the patrol wagon.
| The car was brought to the yard Office
and Mr.. Williams cut the rope sup
porting the remains, (which were then
the undertaking rooms of John O'Don-
nell on West Main street and later
removed to the establishment of E. S.
Scott on West Second street.
| Coroner Views the Remains.
Coroner David Throne viewed the
remains at the undertaking rooms, and
| decided that an inquest would be ne
cessary. This will be held at 8
o'clock tomorrow morning. The jury
will be T. j. Miller, j. M. Crawley and
| T. e. Norfolk
His Life Insured.
| A search of the clothes of the dead
man revealed the act that he was a
member of the Modern Woodmen of
America, in good standing, and his life
was insured for $4,000, the dues for
| which were paid in full, as Indicated
by receipts found in pocketbook he
carried.
No Valuables on Person.
No other property was found on his
person, but this fact is not accepted
in support of any theory as to murder,
| for the case seems to be one of clear
suicide.
Victim of Liquor Habit.
The man was employed by w. j.
| Donelan, as a cobbler at the ST. Louis
shoe store, and had held that position
| for about a year. He resided at the
South Ottumwa. hotel, but for several
years, and until about year and a
half ago, he made his home a. the
residence of Mrs. Philip Grimmer, PA
4 North Moore street, South Side. He
/ was a victim of the liquor habit, and
in recent months has been yielding
more and more to his appetite for in
toXicants. Several times in the past
two weeks, however, he told acquaint.
ances that he had taken his last drink
and would "straighten up" The
change was never made, however, and
yesterday he was decidedly intoxicat.
ed all day, according to statements
made by employees of the ST. Louis
4 shoe store.
i About 2 o'clock, it is said, Mite
left his work bench in the store, say
ing nothing as to where he would &c
or when he would return. The next
time he was noticed was this morning
when found as above stated.
i Act Was Probably Premeditated.
4 The deed must have been premedi
tated, altho nothing was said by the
man to indicate his intention. An
drew Sander, clerk at the shoe store
above mentioned, stated to Courier
reporter this morning that he had no
ticed, at various times, a small rope
around Mites neck, and once had
asked him about, but received grufi
4 answer. He thought nothing of the
matter, as Mite has always seemed Of
peculiar, retiring character, and his
irregularities in habits would not be
noticed as would those of other per
sons. From all indications, however
the rope which the man wore arounc
his neck for SO long was the one which
eventually choked him to death.
Past History Unknown.
Very little is known of Mites
whereabouts before coming to Ottum
wa, some eight years ago. 1t is said
however, that he came to this place
from Kansas City. 1t is also said tha
he has at different times spoken O.
distant relatives residing in Illinois
but aside from this nothing is known
as to his family, except that of hi
| +, h; me Y,01in,