The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-20
SUICIDE MLl
FINALLY LEADS
TO Death
John Binklemann, Who Has H.
Many Attempts on Life, 1izut
One When Only II, suo-
ceeds at Last.
Engineer of Bagley Tobacco Par
Found Hanging From Boiler Just
After Drinking With Enploys.


Too much prosperity was the cause
of the suicide. early Monday morn-
ing, OF John Binkelmann, 40 yeara
old, OF No. 1887 Military-ave. Twenty3
minutes after he arrived ut the auxitl
liary plant OF the Bagley Tobacco Coz
Woodbridge and Bates-sts., where be-
was employed as assistant engineots4
employees found his dead body hanging
from a steam pipe. behind the boiler.
He hadn't even removed his coat O. 4
hat, but hastily picked up some pack
age Irvine. wrapped II In Ave strands
about his neck, stepped up on . a
trap" pipe and after fastening tho'
cord to pipe above, jumped on the
trap. His neck was broken.
Coupled with the fact that Binkok
mann had been unable to stand tho5
prosperity. incident to q rise ~
wages from SIS to 1880 per week.
last fall. he was possessed OF well
developed suicidal mania. which hrDt
made its appearance when he wa47
only IL years old, and had recurrodl
at frequent intervals since. Another
element was the fact that Binkef
mann's desires and capacity. az ~
liquor, were widely different. He
drank regularly and perseveringlys
but as soon as he had taken two or
three drinks, it was his unfortunately
failing to pick up a rope. and try TO-
hang himself. Only the slightene'
provocation was necessary. to cause
a suicide attempt by Binkelmann.
Last fall. when his 1b-year-old'
daughter cut him down as he was
hanging in the barn. he confided TO-
his wife that he tried to hang himself
when he was IL years old. becauso
his father gave him q whipping. Tha
occasion of his attempt at suicide,
from which he was rescued by his
daughter, was In connection with the
confirmation Of one of his nephewo,
last fall. Binkelmann took two drinks
of whisky, during the ceremony. and
then announced that he had to return
home as ne had forgotten something,
His daughter followed him, and saw
him 60 straight to the barn, uncCil =
clothes line. hang It over q hook. and
start to fasten the other end around
his neck. She argued 1t out with him,
and he returned to the confirmation
ceremonies.
Later, while his wife was sick In
bed, she chided him for coming home
intoxicated. He told her that he had
only two drinks OF whisky. She sent
her mother after him when he left.
He went straight to the barn, and In
a moment was wrapping a clothes
line about his neck His mother-in-
law dissuaded him Sunday evening,
Binkelmann and his wife visited the
latters sister, Mrs. Frank Kasner, OF
No. $40 Wesson-ave. Before going.
he took drink of whisky, At the
sisters, they had key OF beer, and
Binkelmann drank several glasses. He
was soon In condition OF intoxication
and his wife scolded him for II.
When they reached home. she warn
ed him that he couldn't stand liquor,
end should never drink It.. Without
word. he stalked out to the barn,
took a clothes line. and was just about
to hang himself to the front door OF
the barn. when his wife arrived. and
talked him out of 1t.
Monday morning, when he left
home, he told his wife that she need
not prepare his lunch, as he wouldn't
need II.
Il told him that II he hadn't got
that boost in wages last fall, and X
he would try and drink nothing.
he would forget about dying" said
Mrs Binkelmann.
He told her that he would nevar
come back home Then he kissed each
one Of the three children, and left FOR
work After he had gone. his wife
found tina, he had taken large drink
from his ever ready bottle OF whisky.
Near the shop he met Fred GilS@-
dorf fellow employe, at 6:10 o'clock
He bought Gilsdorf "schuper" OF
beer, IN a saloon on Woodward-ave.,
and drank one himself Then they
went to the shop. At $3.50 the whistle
failed to blow. William Brandt went
downstairs TO investigate. He found
Binkelmann swinging from the steam
pipe. successful at last in his many
attempts to hang himself.
Mrs. Binkelmann says that since
her husband was promoted from fire-
man TO assistant engineer, with q
boost in pay, she has had to exercise
constant vigilance TO keep him from
hanging himself.
Binkelmann leaves three children.
Ella, aged IL; Hertha. 8. and Arnold.
3 wears OLD.
Coroner Burgess decided that an In.
o,,aat ie upnarxsaarv