Evening journal., 1911-07-03
DEAD BODY
ON BEDPOST
PfetSCh Evidently Mentally
Affected, Hangs Himself
While Wife is Away
LETTER COMES TO-DAY
AFTER CORPSE IS FOUND

Evidently becoming mentally Affect
ed. Theodore p. Pfetsch, aged about
50 years, employed in the works OF
the American Car and Foundry Co..
committed suicide sometime during the
night by hanging himself to one Of the
headposts of his bed at the boarding
house OF John W. Dean, No 1922 Tat.
nall street. His lifeless body was found
by Mrs. Dean when she opened the
mans bedroom door this morning after
repeated knocking had failed to arouse
him She was almost overcome by the
sight which met her gaze and with diff
fculty aroused her husband who was
asleep on an upper floor
pfetsch hanged himself with a trunk
strap. In order 10 accomplish this he
had to lift his feet and hold them off
the floor and then he slowly strangled
to death. The strap was more than an
inch wide but it left a deep imprint
about the mans throat.
Pfetsch's wife who boarded with him
at the Tatnall street house went to her
former home at Lockport. ~ Y, about
two weeks ago on a visit and since
that time he has acted strangely On
Wednesday last he packed his trunk
and went TO New York He had been
drinking somewhat. He forgot to check
his trunk TO that city and II was left
at the French street station He re-
/ turned Friday and had his trunk taken
back TO his boarding house. From that
time his condition became more acute
/ nj f41u D. IL. 10.
Dean.
There we're two letters in Pfetschs
mail this morning, ono from his sis
ter. Miss Georgia Pfetsch OF No TO
Amsterdam avenue, New York city. and
the other from his wife The latter ap-
peared anxious about her husband and
wanted to know why he didn't write.
She and the sister were notified by
telegraph today of the mans death and
are expected TO be here by tonight.
Yesterday Pfetschs condition be-
came so alarming that Mrs Dean was
much worried about him. She fur
nished him with his meals and called
her husband 10 talk with their board
err in order TO attract hia attention.
Last night. however, TIE mans c9rai
tlon became so bad that he paced
his room and talked incoherently lie
constantly spoke of some one having
some kind of machine to take his
thought from him. He was unable TO
sleep ana finally Mrs. Dean sent to q
nearby druggist for powders to in
duce sleep. These she gave the man
and he took one. A half hour later
h. took another and became quiet
after that Nothing more was heard
of him during the night
The pfetschs occupied the front
room on the first floor It Is a large
room and IN it was their bed. Recall
ing the mans condition when he went
TO bed Mrs Dean did not attempt to
grouse him this morning, thankful
that he was getting some sleep About
$50 o'clock she went 10 the front door
and found two letters lying In the
vestibule, both addressed to Pfetsch
Recognizing the hand writing of the
man wife on one of them she went
TO the door of his bedroom to awaken
him thinking that the letter might
: buoy him She raped at the door
several times and finally turned the
knob 1t opened and she peered into
the room. She looked on the bed but
he was not there An instant later
: she espied the body hanging from the
J head post The face was black and
J distorted and the sight completely un-
nerved her She ran to the foot OF
the stairs and screamed for her hus-
! band He hurried down and he. too.
saw the grewsome sight. Word was
sent 10 the police station and later
TO the coroner's office. Deputy Cor
! oner Myers took down the body.
The Pfetschs formerly lived In
p Lockport. n Y. where they had fur
, niture stored. Mrs. Pfetsch went to
that city to dispose Of their effects
. and spend a short time with their
I friends intending to return this week