The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-22

neapolis since his discharge from the
army and the story was "hoax"
but it nevertheless worried the old
gentleman very much.
Many stories are told of Wheeler.
As has been stated, he was a cow
ard, notwithstanding he lived alone.
He was susperstitious also. Nights
when he was compelled to traverse
the country roads he would carry
a lantern and a pitchfork for pro-
lection against highwaymen. He
was constantly in fear of attack. He
was over six feet tall and in his
younger days WAS active and one
whom it would not do to trifle with
He never used liquor, did not smoke
and chewed tobacco moderately. He
was thoroughly upright in his deal
ings.
From Mondays Daily.
Isaac E. Wheeler committed suicide.
This is the verdict reached by Sher-
iff John Donahue, and there are many
others who take the same view of the
case which has kept all Sterling and
the surrounding country in state of
excitement during the past several
days.
Coroner Kennedy has made arrange
ments to hold an inquest over the mans
remains at Mapleton on Wednesday
morning at ten o'clock. He will sift
the matter to the bottom. No stone
will be left unturned to bring before
the jury anything and everything that
will throw light on the sudden end
of Wheeler. Coroner Kennedy has
spent the day looking up witnesses
and will be engaged in like service
tomorrow. He will marshal these wit
nesses at Mapleton on Wednesday and
the probing into Wheeler's death will
then proceed.
Not a Vital Organ Touched.
Wheeler's body was taken from
Maple river late Saturday afternoon.
An investigation revealed number of
stabs and cuts but none of them touch
ed vital spot. The old man made a
sorry attempt to fight himself to a
finish, but it proved a bungling job.
He cut into both sides of his neck,
but did not reach the juglar vein. He
jabbed himself in the left breast below
the heart several times but did not
reach that organ. One of these cuts is
deeper than the others, but it is not
one that could prove fatal. The gashes
on both arms were made with the evil
dent intention of reaching the AFTER
les, but none was harmed. Had the
old man been victim of an attack
is does seem certain that his assail-
ants would have managed to stab
him in vital spot, if the assault was
committed while he was asleep and
those who take stock in the murder
theory think the blows were struck
while the man was in that condition.
Before stabbing himself in the breast
Wheeler opened his shirt wide so that
the garment would not be mutilated.
He rolled up his sleeves to that they
would not be cut when he slashed his
wrists. Murderers would not have been
so careful of his clothing. Wheeler dis
played the economical trait in his char
acter to the last.
There are two cuts ON the left fore
arm, one at the elbow joint on the
inside of the arm and another just
above the Joint. Neither was deep
enough to reach an artery. There were
two cuts on the right arm-one near
the elbow and another at the elbow
almost identical with the cuts on the
left arm.
The knife that Wheeler used has not
been found.
Could Have Walked Far.
Cut and slashed as he was, and after
losing the quantity of blood he did
Wheeler had no difficulty in reach
ing the river where his body was
found, three quarters of a mile from
his home Physicians state that a per-
son even though badly cut up can
get over great deal of territory. If
no vital organ of the body has been
reached by the knife, person will
retain his strength for some time.
Wheeler attempted to end his life
by using knife. His efforts proved
a failure and he walked to the river
and drowned himself. Concluding that,
that was the best way to end his ex-
istence. A careful and painstaking in
vestigation of the case can lead the
Free Press to no other conclusion.
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