The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-26
A SUICIDE FAILED
Alexander M. German,
Native of Raleigh.
Drank Laudanum in Hall Of Build
ing, Where he was Found UnCOR-
COnsCiOds. He was Carried
to a Hospital.
to a Hospital.

Washington, D. c., March 24.-Alex-
ander M. German, native of Raleigh,
n. c., a prominent real estate and in
surance broker of this city, last night
attempted suicide in the Kellogg
building by drinking laudanum. For
several hours his condition was crltl-
CAL but today he was much improved.
He admitted this morning that he took
laudanum with suicidal intent, and it
Is understood that he has been
financially embarrassed for some time,
and had grown respondent He was
found unconscious in the hallway OF
the building, and was taken to the
Emergency Hospital, where, shortly
afterwards, he became conscious. He
at first declined to disclose his identity
or make any statement concerning
the affair." and a mysterious cloud still
shadows the case. the police apparent
w being in ignorance of the cause OF
the deed His office is in the Bond
building, and it is thought that he
was on his way to visit some one when
he drank the poison.
The janitor of the building in which
the poisonous dose occurred, has
made statement, substantially this:
/ was working in the cellar when a
stranger ran toward me, saying
man had taken poison upstairs. l
followed him to a dark corner in the
first floor hallway, where the poisoned
man was lying on the floor. The
ambulance was summoned and the
man taken to hospital.
The informant of Martin is unknown
to either the janitor or the police.
1t was said that he and German en-
tered the building together, and
- not Toys
man drank the poison. It is not be-
lieved that German entered the build
ing on a business errand.
When German regained conscious
ness at the hospital he refused to ex-
plain the occurrence but when
searched, papers in his pockets con-
tanned on them his name, and when
pressed he admitted that his name
was A. M German He would not
give any information as to the cause
of his action.
Mrs. German was notified and went
to the hospital, and was at his side
during the night, but she, too, refused
to make any explanation.
Mr.. Alexander NJ German is we'll
known in Raleigh. His brother, Mr..
Maxwell German, is a we'll known
newspaper man of this place. Mr.. "A.
M. German was in Raleigh last week,
arriving here Wednesday night, it be-
ing his first visit here in several years,
and remained while here at the home
of his brother until Monday morning,
when he returned to Washington via
Norfolk. While here he was very i'll
and extremely nervous, being i'm q
serious physical condition. He was
respondent and his friends thought
that his mentality was temporarily
affected He did not utter the slight
est intimation that he was in any
monetary difficulties, and his despon-
dency was attributed wholly to his
mind, and to physical debility. He did
not talk much while here, and did
not leave the home of Mr.. Maxwell
German but once during his stay that
being on Sunday afternoon. He APP
peared to be much improved when he
left for Washington.
Mr.. A. NJ. German is forty years OF
age. His father was A. M. German.
ST., and edited '"The Spirit of the Age,
temperance periodical. The father
died before the close of the Civil war
Mr. Germans mother, who was mar
ried a second time, and was Mrs. W.
p. Weatherell, died in Washington
city in September, 1908. He left RAJ
leigh for Washington about twenty
! years ago. He kept books in whole
sale grocery store nearly four years,
and then entered the real estate busi-
ness, as a trader for capitalists, and
was successful. 1t was said that he
| has made several fortunes. His
| reDutation makes him steady, active,
energetic and prosperous, and it is be-
Iieved by some of his friends that the
unfortunate occurrence was due to
reverses caused by speculation, 1t be-
ing hard to find any motive for the
deed
Mr.. German was married to Miss
Mary l.. George, of Delaware, four
teen years ago, and has one child, q
boy eleven years old. He has a Sec
ond brother, George German, who is
assistant to the Attorney General Of
the United States. His only sister is
dead.