The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-01
Took Laudanum in Sax
ton Street Resort and
Women Worked Over
Him for Hours Before
Calling for Help.
No Motive Known tor the
Deed, But utLetters Writ
ten Before Taking Fa-
tai Dose Might Tell
the Story.

Alex F. Grief lies dead at Miller
and Blanchard's morgue from the ell
fects of dose of poison admins
tered by his own hand.
Late yesterday afternoon Pa;rolmen
Schlemmer and Rifle, on duty in the
Pennsylvania depot dis .rict, were in
formed that a man had committed sui
eide in the place at SIT South Sax on
street, kept by John Schanuvely.
The affair had been kept so quiet tha-
even residents next door knew moth.
ing Of the mater until the officers
began their investigation. The po-
lice headquarters and the Morning
News were notified of the happening
about $3.50 O'clock.
Inmates in the place were free to
give all information in their power,
bul could assign no reason that might
have caused the man to take his own
life.
The mans name Is given as Alex f.
Grief, and his age as about 81. His
home was at Carrollton, Pa. He was
a lineman by occupation and had
worked Tor the u. s. Telephone Co.,
in various parts of the country. He
had been married, but was divorced
and is said to have been hard drink.
err. ts
Grief had stayed at the house ali
night Monday night with one Of the
women, who appears to have known
the man previous to his appearance
here. At that time he appeared to be
In good spirits.
II was about o'clock yes erday at;-
ernoon when Grief again appeared
at the house He walked through
the barroom into the back room where
he requested one of the women to mail
some letters for him. He had been
drinking but was no drunk.
The woman was absen, only few
minu' es and when she returned. Grief
was discovered writhing upon the
floor and frothing at the mouth. The
women Immediately telephoned fol-
physicians and Drs. c. e. Fraunfeltc
doctors efforts were unavailing. afte'
several hours labor and Miller 6
Blanchard's ambulance was summone'
and stsr ed with the stricken mar
for Aultmnr hospital ct about 4:3'
o'clock. Grief expired, however, jus
as the hospital was reached, and tn
body was brought back to the city and
4. DIo, ., rA
where the remains now lie.
The inma es of the Saxton stree
place deny that the poison, which wa
laudanum, was taken In their house
but claim 1t must have been takcr
previous % his entrance. No reasor
is assigned for the deed. and none vii
ever be known, perhaps. unless some
statement may have been made II
one or more Of the letters he cause"
TO be posted few moments prior E
bis being found writhing upon tn
floor.
Coroner March was called and exar'
iped tho body of the dead man. Th'
coroner links that the laudanum
about an ounce of which had beer
BWalICWen, UiBht nave ptSH tdhSh "
accidenr. hit that circumstances iool'
ed more like IL had been taken wit
suicidal intent. In the pockets OF III
dead man we're found several smal
notebooks. several letters, obscene, ir
character, two cheap rings and eigh
Z. cents in money. The letters wer
addressed in care of G, A. Deal. u. s
Telephone Co., Kingsville, Ohio.
In appearance Grief had dark hair
brown eyes with short mus ache
He wore nose glasses and was wei
. dressed.
The people in the house from whir
the man was taken, telegraphed
Grief,s father at Carrollton, Pa, G.
the death of his son. but late las
night no renfy had yet been received
In answer thereto.
SO far as can be learned Grieff hat
no relatives in this vicinity and hui
few ecqueintances.
The remains will be held at tbs
morgue awaiting word as to their dis
position from relatives or friends.