The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-11-10

Leo Altenburg, prominent Owosso
township farmer, killed her eight
months old son by slashing his
throat with a razor as he lay asleep
in his cab, and then cut her left
wrist and throat and tried to drink
carbolic acid, in an effort to end her
own life, late Saturday afternoon.
The woman lived until l o'clock Sun
day afternoon, when she died of her
wounds. The child was dead when a
neighbor entered the house, a short
time after the tragedy occurred. The
cause of the woman's act is said to
have been that her mind was affected
as regards religion and that she hau
consulted fortune teller at Sagi-
nav recently and had been told that
her husband was to be killed in some
violent manner and that she was to
emarry, her second husband to be Ca
tremely cruel with her. This theory,
however, is not given credence by
her neighbors and others who knew
her. They can ascribe no cause for
the act.
Mr.. Altenburg left the farm about
II o'clock Saturday morning to come
to Owosso. His wife had not been
feeling well, and before he left, he
asked her if she wanted to accom-
pany him, or would rather have him
stay at home. She is said to have
replied that she would stay, and that
he should go. The woman was alone
at o'clock in the afternoon when
her sister and husband, Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Jacobs, who live not a great
distance away, called. They say that
Mrs. Altenburg held the child in her
arms, talked and laughed as usual
and seemed to be in the best OF
spirits. While Mr.. and Mrs. Jacobs
we're there, the three planned on a
visit to the Jacobs home on Sunday.
by the Altenburg family. Mrs. AL
tenburg, it is said, was also planning
upon going to church Sunday.
Boy Spreads Alarm
The first intimation neighbors hao
that the tragedy had occurred was
when the Altenburg's ten-year-old
son ran to the home of o. F. Harry
man, about forty rods from his own
home and almost out of breath, told
Mrs. Harryman that his mother was
lawful sick ct home on the floor"
and that he had smelled carbolic acid
Mrs. Harryman tried to reassure
the lad and fastened to the house.
There on the floor of the bedroom,
she came upon terrible sight. Mrs.
Atenburg was lying on the floor,
semi-conscious, in pool of blood,
while strong odor of carbolic acid
filled the home. In the cab lay the
babe, dead, and literally bathed in
it's own blood. Mrs. Harryman was
nearly overcome by the gruesome
spectacle, but was able to summon
by telephone, Christopher Scott, an
other neighbor. A physician was
called from Bennington, and later
two Owosso doctors were called. Mrs.
Altenburg was conscious but unable
to talk.
Used Husbands Razor
1t was found that she used the
razor with which her husband had
shaved in the morning, to cash her
left wrist very severely and then
slash her throat, up the middle, in
front, nearly to the mouth. After
this, it Is believed that she tried to
drink quantity of carbolic acid, but
was unable to swallow the poison
and 1t spilled over her face ana
breast, burning the flesh where it fell
The windpipe and the jugular vein
were severed The physicians sewed
up the wounds as much as possible,
and Mrs. Altenburg was able to talk
to those about her. The wound In
her throat permitted air to pass in
and out and In this way, 1t is be-
lieved her life was preserved tenn
porarily.
She told her husband that she did
not want him to think she had COM
mitted this act because or any mis-
treatment on his part. She admitted
that she had been brooding over this
and planning on 1t for several days.
She said she wanted to end her own
life and did not want to have her
child crying for her after she was
gone.
The infants throat was cut from
The right ear to the middle, appar-
emily while he lay asleep. Death Is
believed to have followed immedf-
ately after the throat was slashed.
Mr.. Altenburg was reached by tel
nphone in Owosso and he started for
home as fast as his horses could take
him. The Altenburg farm is about
two miles northwest of Bennington
station. His wife was still lying on
tho floor, suffering great pain when
ne arrived. The dead woman leaves
four other children, besides her hus-
band. She was about SO years old.
Inquest not Considered
Coroner Guy A. Cole was called to
-he home, as were members of the
,heriff's force. The statements OF
persons who were on the scene short
y after the discovery of the tragedy.
we're taken Inv tho OfioioIS hu. x,,h %,