Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-17
TIRED OF HER LIFE
Girl Tells Why She Hung
Herself.
II MUST END IT.
CHASTITY SIGHT IN A BED ROOM
ON E STRICT.
Lena Dammeyer, q Waitress in a
Lunch Room, Deaiberatsly Com
mits Suicide by Hanging.
I MUST END IT"

.eWhen is this business going to stop?"
ssxed Coroner Nevitt this morning when
he received a report from the sixth pre-
cinct police that there had been another
suicide by hanging. Lena Dammeyer.
waitress In Berens' lunch room at 927 Penn
sylvania avenue, had ended her life. The
deed was committed in the wonan's room
at 600 E street northwest some time during
the night. after she had written a note,
which reads:
"I know 1t will break my fathers heart,
hut I cannot live this life any longer; I
must end it. There is no other way out of
nv trouble. 1 have made a fool Of myself;
wrecked my own life and happiness. God
knows what I have suffered, and / trust
will forgive me-
The note was not signed. Miss Dam
meyer was about thirty years old. She had
worked as a waitress in the lunch room
nearly three years, and mad occupied a
room in Mr.. Carl Schaeffer's house. on b
street. for about twelve months A sister
was also employed there, and two brothers
are bakers, one Of them being employed at
Soldiers Home The young woman had
been Respondent for more than a month.
and while she had probably told her trou-
bles to some friend, she had not talked OF
them about the lunch room, nor had she
said anything to the QaeCabers Of Mr..
Schaeffers family about the cause OF her
despondency Yesterday she was at work
as usual, returning to her room about IL
o'clock last night. She went directly to her
room on the third floor. and probably wrote
the note and committed the deed before IL
o'clock. Nobody in the house heard what
was going on. The heartbroken woman did
not stop to speak to Mrs. Schaeffer or any
other person in the house while on her way
to her room. She did not remove any Of
her wearing apparel other than her hat
and coat. Then she proceeded to make
preparations to execute herself. This work
required but short time, for all she had to
do was to tie a towel about her neck and
make loop that would hang on the top of
the door. Throwing this loop over the
door, she closed the door, and after turn
ing the key, upset chair upon which she
had stood, and was left hanging. She
slowly strangled to death. without making
noise enough to attract attention of other
roomers.
When she failed to appear at work this
morning and her sister knew nothing OF
her whereabouts Mr.. Berens went to the e
street house and made Inquiries for her.
The person who was sent to her room re-
ported he received no response when he
knocked at the door. His attention was at
tracted by seeing the section Of a towel
hanging on the outside OF the door. Mr..
Schaeffer then went up to make an investi-
cation. He unlocked the door and was hor-
rified at the ghastly sight Of the dead wo-
man hanging there. The womafs body was
cold and stiff and Mr.. Schaeffer realized that
she had been dead number of hours. With
the assistance of Mr.. Berens and police
man he lowered the body to the bed and
Coroner hewitt was summoned. He gave
certificate Of death, and an officer remain
ed in charge Of the room until the arrival
Of a brother of the deceased. Beyond the
woman's explanation in the note her friends
say they are unable to tell why the young
woman committed suicide. It was stated
Ly one of her friends that she had been en-
gagged to be married, but that the engage
ment was broken. The body was turned
over to an undertaken by direction Of rela-
tives. Arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been made. Miss Dammeyer is the
third person to commit suicide during the
week by hanging.