Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-08
SLASAED HIS NECK
John Weber Out His Own Throat
With Jack Knife.
VICTIM RESIDED NEAR COMPETING
Attempted suicide-Accomplished
Piece of FrightfuI Butchery-Is Half
Demented-DuIl Knife Prevents the
Accomplishment of His Purpose.

! Competing, Jan. John Weber,
resident of near here, attempted to
kill himself yesterday on the platform
of the railroad station at Mediapolis
| by slashing his throat with rusty
jack-knife. After he had butchered
himself frightfully and was nearly
dead from loss of blood he was dis
covered by the night operator. Ply
| sicians were summoned who sewed his
neck together and the man was
brought down to the county Jail in
Burlington yesterday. Following is
the story as told by Burlington
newspaper:
The attempted suicide was in this
city Monday night. He took the early
morning train north and got off at
Mediapolis. 1t was still some time
before daylight when the night operat-
or, r. D. Burke, left the station to car
ry the mails over to the postoffice. He
noticed the man wandering about the
platform and spoke to him but receiv-
ed no reply. 1t occurred to the opera
tor at the time that the man might be
a little bit off. He carried the sack
of mail for the south-bound train into
his office and few minutes later went
out on the platform again. He found
the stranger leaning up against the
door to the freight house. The operat-
or accosted the man, telling him he
could come in out of the cold, but re-
ceived the reply that he didn't want
to move. Mr.. Burke stepped up to
the fellow and then noticed that blood
was streaming down his coat. He
dragged him into the waiting room and
the man fell over on the floor, his neck
gaping with two grievous cuts from
ear to ear. The operator got word
to Doctors Higbee and Pennington of
Mediapolis as speedily as possible and
they hurried down to the station. A
freight car door served as an i'm
promptu stretcher and DR.. Higbee
sewed up the wound. The man had
slashed himself twice, down from eth
er ear. The jugular vein was scratch
ed and narrowly escaped being ripped
open. While his. throat was being
dressed the attempted suicide said:
IF she hadn't been so dull I'd have
finished her up all right" The jack
knife which was found in his pocket
covered with blood was so rusty that
difficulty would be experienced in at
tempting to cut cheese with it.
| L
Mediapolis hotels and Mayor Bridges
was notified. The mayor thought it
advisable to bring him at once to the
shall Allison, Operator Burke and DR..
Pennington, the party arrived here
early this morning.
During few moments of sanity on
the trip down the, man said that he
had just returned from Chicago, where
he had had an operation on one leg
and where they told him his other leg
would have to be cut Off Brooding
over the fact drove him into half
demented condition, with the conse-
quent attempt upon his own life.
/ At the county clerks Office Mayor
Bridges swcre out warrant for Web
er's arrest and he was lodged in the
county Jail, awaiting a decision as to
what disposition to make of his case.
Sheriff Williams received a telegram
at noon Tuesday from Joseph Weber,
a brother of the attempted suicide,
with the request to send him to Pekin,
by the first train with a bill of all
expenses. Bailiff Cronin has been
deputized to take the man to his home
in Pelin, and started with him for that
destination Tuesday.
Competine, Jan. 7.-NLrs. Bayliss
Burgess and Polk Mowery returned tc
their home near Baker Okla last
week.
Mrs. Ida Dickens and children Ray
and Alma went to Ohio for visit with
relatives.
Miss Matte Phelps was the hostess
to large number of her acquaintanc
es last Tuesday night.
Services were held in the church
here New Years day with roll call OF
all members. That evening Rev. Ech
: OILS begun a series of revival meetings
Miss Mamie Dickins is spending
few days with her grandfather, e. w
; Bottorff at Martinsburg.
Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Vim. Sylves
ter, Jr., Jan. 3, 1903, son. -.
One of Eliza Vannoy's children i:
quite sick.
j. w. Sward of Hayesylle, was here
last week on business.
Mrs. Mary Howell of Hedrick, spen
a few days here last week with rela
tives.
Cal Thompson OF Smithshire, Ill,
is visiting at the home of t. w. Moore
Batavia.
Batavia, Jan. Mr.. and Mrs Riggs
of Ottumwa, visited last week at the
} home OF Mr.. Riggs sister, Mrs. Ell;
/, Dean.