The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-31
CASHED HIS NECK
N. g. Robertson Tries in Vain
to Kill Himself.
Uses Manicure Knife to Cut
His Throat.
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Wife Struggles Vainly With
Frantic Man.
Though Suffering From 20 Cuts
May Recover.

N. G. Robertson, a prominent nurse
ryman of AItus Ok. made determin-
ed attempt to end his life at his room
in the Fifth Avenue hotel few minutes
before 6 o'clock this morning and only
the nerve and determination OF his wire
kept him from accomplishing his pur-
pose. II he survives his fearful injuries
which consist of % wounds. The guests
of the hotel were awakened about 6:45
this morning by the screams OF a Wo-
man on the second floor.
Three or four guests on the same
floor rushed to the room occupied py
the Robertsons and found Mrs. Robert
son covered with blood and struggling
for the possession of small knife with
which Mr. Robertson was slashlng al
his throat. For some unexplained rea-
son they left the couple without at
tempting to render aid to the woman
who was struggling with her insane
husband to keep him from killing him.
self
heard by the clerk on duty at the hotel
who rushed to her room ana grappleu
with Mr.. Robertson who was struggn ns
with his wife for the possession OF
small pair of scissors. At almost the
same moment r. T. Fasley, travelling
man who had a room on the floor above
clerk and Mrs. Robertson and the
frenzied man was overpowered.
The room in which the struggle oc-
CURED resembled the killing room OF
a slaughter house and the victim as
we'll as his wife and his rescuers. was
covered with blood. AS soon as he was
overpowered Mr.. Robertson begged
piteously of his rescuers to be permit
ted to kill himself.
Just let me loose for a minute and
Iof nj iOh I want to die
and l don't want to botch the job IN
this manner It's all for the best and
you will do me great favor If you
will do as 1 ask. 1t makes no difference
to you"
PenwelTs ambulance was called and
a record run made to DR.. Keith's hos
pital with the injured man. He was
placed on the operating table where il
was found that he was suffering from
"a wounds on his neck and stab
wound in his left side near the heart.
The wounds were inflicted by a small
knife taken from a manicure set ana
email pair of scissors from the same
outfit.
Mrs Robertson was awakened early
in the morning by her husband lceN-
ing the bed and when she spoke to him
he returned and made some plausible
excuse for his actions. She then drop
ped off to sleep again and was aroused
when he began slashlng at his throat
with the manicure knife. She Crap
pied with him and screamed and final
ly succeeded in getting the knife away
from him
Three or four men came to the door
of the room which she had opened hut
did not offer assistance and MIR. Rob
ertson then secured a small pair o.
scissors from the manicure set and
again. began jabbing at his throat and
inflicted a number of jagged wounds
In desperation he then attempted to
stab himself in the heart though the
wound made was not dangerous one
The most severe wounds are on the
left side of his throat and the juguar
vein was missed by narrow margin
and several large veins were severed
which would have cost the victim his
life IL he had not received immediate
medical attention. AS 1t is there is a
chance that he will recover.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robertson and ]. H.
Steers who is employed by them have
been at the hotel for several weeks
while the trio were selecting a nursery
stock, two carloads of which has al
ready been shipped to Oklahoma. They
have been coming to Topeka for num-
Der of years on the same mission and
are well known about the Fifth Avenue
hotel which is their home while in To-
peka.
Mrs. Robertson is as composed as
It Is possible for a woman to be under
tho present conditions and tells a
connected story OF the attempted sui
eide Of her husband. IT was awaken
ed by noise made by Mr.. Robertson
and grabbed him at once" said Mrs
Robertson. He is a large man and 1
screamed for help but before the
clerk and stranger from the top
floor reached the room he had cut
himself severely with my manicure
knife and scissors.
He has complained for the past
week or so of not being able to sleep
at night and has been up and about
the room more or less of the time
during the night. He was Worrying
somo about business matters and
must have lost his mind for n few
minutes when he ATTEMPTED IN XIII
himself this morning.
II am sure that this act was NOT
premeditated, for he never talked of
such thing. and there was a razor
in my suit case and he knew that n
was there. He was not drinking and
has not touched a drop of liouor ana
this could not have been the cause
for the act. He must have been taro
porarily Insane on account of loss ~
sleep and nervousness occasioned nv
worry over business matters
Mr.. Robertson is a man ahout Ak
years OF age and considerably above
medium weight. That he ia a rarea
man probably accounts for the fact
that the wounds which no inAicted
did not prove immediately fatal as
the fatty tissue on his neck protecte5
the vital organs. Mr. Robertson bas
purchased nursery stock from tbo
watson nursery for number Of