The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-23
ROMANCE AND FIGHT
LEAD MEUNSTER
TO ASYLUM
Man Who Was Well Known
and Prosperous in st. Paul
Has Quarrel Over a Wo-
man, Is Shot, Disappears,
Comes Back a Tramp and
Insane.

Seventeen years ago a we'll known
| and prosperous young contractor OF
this city, Adolph Meunster, now
tramp and without friends or money,
was yesterday declared insane in the
probate court and viii be taken to
the asylum at Rochester this after
noon.
Meunster who is about 40 years old,
walked into town two weeks ago, and
appeared in police court with requcNt
that he be given some assistance in
searching for property which he
1magines he still owns. The mans feet
were so badly frozen that it was
thought at the time they would have
TO be amputated, and he has been I'M
der the care of a physician since that
time. lie is laboring under the deu-
sion that he is a very wealthy man,
and tells Of spending millions Of dol
lars. He believes he has built and owns
towns and cities all over the world and
that MS wealth is so great that he
cannot estimate it.
MeunSter was at one time a promi-
nent young contractor of this city He
was Welk to do, and was received in
good society. About that time he fell
In love with girl, AMI had as a rival
young man named Myers. The two
suitors for the hand Of the girl met at
dance on the West side one night
and quarrel followed, which terrni-
mated in a fight
When policeman appeared to stop
the fight, Meunster ran and was shot.
the bullet going through one leg and
lodging in the other. The shooting o.
CURED on Wabasha street, near the
west end of the bridge. Meunster was
taken to the hospital to be cared for.
but after he had been there month
he escaped and went to the home of
his relatives on the West side
1t was noticed at that time that his
mind appeared to be impaired, and
shortly thereafter he disappeared from
the city A few years later he return
ed to st. Paul, but remained but a
short time, when he again disappear
ed and after a few more visits to this
city he went away and nothing more
was heard of him until he returned q
tramp two weeks ago.
When the man reached town the last
time his clothes were ragged, and he
was not recognized as the young con-
tractor who was at one time so pros
porous. His mind is almost totally de-
strOyed, and he is able to give but lit
tie information regarding his move
mentS during the past ten years. All
he will talk about is his imagined
wealth and the many cities he owns.
Seventeen years ago, when Meunster
lived here, he was very popular. He
was a member of the German Lu-
theran church on the West side, and
sang in the choir.
After he recovered from the wound
caused by being shot by a policeman,
his friends induced him to bring suit
| against the city for damages, and such
a suit was started, but when the trial
| of the case was called in court the
mans aunt, who now lives at White
Bear, induced him to withdraw the
suit, fearing that some scandal might
result from it.
Relatives of the man were in the
probate court yesterday, but they were
! able to tell but little regarding his
| movements during the past ten years.
| When Meunster came here two
| weeks ago he said he had walked from
| Chippewa Falls, where he had been
| working on a farm
Judge BazilIe decided that the man
was a resident of this county and or
| dered him committed to Rochester.