The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-04
MADE DEATH CERTAIN
-
BERNARD MICHEL USED A RAZOR
ON THROAT AND
WRIST
THOUGHT HE WAS INSANE
Had Been Prominent and wealthy
Business Man i'm This
City for Many
Years.
THOUGHT HE WAS INSANE

Bernard Michel, a prominent and well
to do business man of the city, COM
mitted suicide early yesterday morning
by cutting his throat with a razor. Fear
ing that the cut in the throat would not
prove fatal, he also made deep SLASH
in his left wrist, which severed the arte
ries. The deed was committed in mis- Of
fee at 3S7 Rice street. Temporary insan-
ity is thought to be the cause of the
act.
Mr. Michel lived with his daughter,
Mrs. John Venue, 1S1 West University
avenue On Thursday evening he ap-
peared to be cheerful and happy and
talked and joked with the members or
the family and with some visitors VINO
were present. AT 10 o'clock he went to
his room and was supposed to have
retired for the night. That was the last
time he was seen alive.
AS he did not appear at breakfast. his
daughter went to his room to call him.
When she entered the room she discov.
cred that the bed had not been occupied,
and that Mr.. Michel had not spent the
night in the room. Feeling alarmed, a
search was instituted, which resulted In
finding the lifeless body of the man in
his office. Shortly after going to his
room he had quietly left the house and
made his way to the Office, where he
committed the act.
AS soon as the body was found DR..
Fitzsmmons, who has an office in the
building, was summoned, but he found
that the man had been dead at least
six hours. Coroner Miller was at once
notified and made an examination of the
remains. He decided that it was not
necessary to hold an inquest, as it was
plainly a case of suicide. The remains
were taken to Wilwerscheid's undertake
ing rooms.
Mr.. Michel left a note addressed to his
children, which was found lying on the
desk in his office The note was as fol-
lows;
Dear Children: [ am insane. 1t came
almost at once. ] have to act quickly.
BY tomorrow, perhaps, I would be sent
to an insane asylum. 1 prefer death. 1t
is better for you and for me. Goodby-
-''B Michel
which was addressed to his son George.
This envelope contained the combina-
ton of the safe and some other things
relative to business matters.
Mr. Michel was seventy years of age
and was born in Germany. He came
to St Paul in 1852 and engaged in bust
ness. He succeeded in amassing large
fortune, and he leaves a large estate,
most Of which is invested in real prop
erty. The estate is estimated to be $780,
900.
Mr. Michel was married shortly after
coming to ST. Paul, but his wife died
about ten years ago. He is survived
by four children, all of whom are mar
ried. George Michel was associated with
his father in the real estate business
and is also proprietor of a grocery store
at Rice and Martin streets. Theodore
Michel is connected with the Union Brass
ard Metal Manufacturing company on
Front and University streets. Joseph
Michel, another son, IS engaged in the
wholesale hardware business at Spo-
kane. Wash. The other child is Mrs.
John Venue, who lives at 181 West UNI
versity avenue, with whom Mr.. Michel
made his home.
The funeral will probably be held Sun
day from the home of the daughter.