Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-19
NO PLACE I'm LIFE.
Peculiar Reasons Given by Mother and
Son for Their Suicides.

Peculiar Reasons Given by Mother anc
Son for Their Suicides.
| Minneapolis, Nov. 1S.-On marble
| slab at the county morgue lies the body
of Mrs. Sarah Nordeman. On cot il
| the city hospital lies her SON. Knut Biz
| ger NordeInan. His mind is crazed from
| the effects of morphine, which both hat
taken with suicidal intent III his hall
| lucid moments he says he wants to die
that he is too good for this world. His
condition is serious. and 1t is highly
| probable that his wish will be gratitied
To prevent his doing himself any harm
lie has been strapped to his cot
The mother and son took morphine
some time Saturday night at their room
256 Thirteenth avenue south. They were
living with the family of D. b. Johnson
Mrs. johnson is sister of the unfortu-
rate woman. This mother and son found
social conditions so contrary to their
ideals that they decided to die together
Saturday morning the two were found in
daZed condition in their room. He sat
in rocking chair by her bed and their
hands were clasped. The son was taken
to the hospital and the mother allowed
&c remain. She died at $3.50 o'clock Sun
day morning, and her body was removed
to the morgue.
The reasons why the mother and son
desired to depart from this world are
told in a letter, written Nov 10 and
signed by both. This letter was in part
as follows:
Il. We cannot live in this world be-
cause we are foreigners, strangers
\, - y u,
ton. having not their business spirit,
their business capacities or their bust
ness interests.
2. We cannot live in this world be-
cause we belong to society which DUR
ing the past century ceased to exist and
therefore compeis us to die also.
%. We can not live in this world be-
cause we are met by q heartlessness
from all our fellow beings which tells
US that our existence is at an end
a. We cannot live in this world be-
cause we cannot get any footbold on
the earth, there being no one who wants
our services.
10 We cannot live in this world be-
cause we, due to our hate of the present
slavery system. by no means are willing
to support life on those conditions
which are only possible-namely, those
conditions on which the soul cannot
live.
'6 We cannot live in this world be-
cause we find that we are pressed on all
sides, and are finally convinced of our
superfiuous existence
Hoping to win at least the recogni-
ton of the Just on these points, and in
different to what else people may say
on this matter. we depart with good
conscience and in the conviction OF our
future welfsre"
Mrs. Nordeman was 60 years old and
the son is "a. They were natives of Swe-
den and came to this country five years
ago. For some time the son attended
the state university at Austin. Texas.
They came to Minneapolis four weeks
ago and have roomed with the John
sons.
The suicide had been planned several
days. The letter which states their rea-
son tor deciding to die had been written
two days before the drug was taken.
The mother mad taken the precaution to
destroy what photographs she had of
herself and her son.
Mrs. Nordeman's husband had been
dead eighteen years but during all
these years she maintained deep love
and reverence for his memory. Mrs.
Nordeman was the mother of seven
children, but 1t is understood that all
are dead but the one who is now at the
city hospital