The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-09-08

Not more than three of the thirty
opposed to the plan, and all of the
others pledged themselves to do
what they could with work and
money to put the plan through sue
cessfuly. Fourth street, if opened
up, will be one of the most beauti-
full and longest streets in the city.
There are several fine buildings To-
Gated on that street in the north
end Of the city and the opening Of
the street would increase the value
of all of the property in that end
of the city very materially.
From Thursdays Daily.
w. G. Schneider, one of the most
prominent and respected farmers of
Steele county, attempted to commit
suicide by shooting himself in the
head Wednesday,. near noon, but
probably failed through the remark
able fact that the bullets did not
penetrate the skull. The deed was
undoubtedly the result of his being
temporarily unbalanced mentally.
Is Sensitive Man.
1t seems that Mr.. Schneider, who
is very conscientious and sensitive
man, has been brooding for some
time over some jnconsequential er-
ror he had made in keeping the
books of the township of Owatonna,
of which he has been clerk. He fl
nally became possessed of the idea
that he would be arrested and sent
to prison, and his family were UNI
able to stay the progress of this
mania, which has been growing upon
him for weeks.
Asked Peculiar Questions.
Wednesday morning he drove to
Owatonna and made few purchases,
also calling upon a physician to ask
some questions which seemed peculi-
ar to the doctor.
Upon his return to his home near
Pratt Mr.. Schneider took the team
to the barn where his father took
charge of them for him, and then
went to the house. After speaking
with his wife and saying that there
was nothing new about the matter
which had been preying upon his
mind, he went upstairs, changed his
clothes from head to foot, and then
laid down upon the bed and shot
himself twice in the forehead with
a large caliber revolver.
Summoned a Physician.
A physician was summoned from
Owatonna at once, and on his advice
the unfortunate man was immediate
ly taken to a hospital, where it was
found that the bullets had simply
fiattened out against the frontal
bone of the head without penetrating
it. While Mr.. Schneider is of course
not believed that any serious harm
was done by the bullets.
Clarence, the little tenyear-old son
of John Luckhardt is dead at Spring
field as the direct result of mis-
chievously setting fire to straw
pile on the farm last Friday after
noon.
The little chap, accompanied by
his little four-year old brother, went
to the grove just north of a newly
made straw pile, and with a fork
made q small pile of straw, which
they set afire. This fire soon spread
to scattering straw and chaff in the
field and later set fire to the large
straw pile. Realizing that the blaze
was getting completely out OF their
control, the elder of the boys made
a heroic effort to extinguisll it by
stamping upon it, and while thus o.
cupied his clothing caught in barb
ed wire Tense and held him securely
right in the midst of a settling mass
of flames. He finally extricated
himself, and apparently in a Devil
dered state, ran out into the field, a
distance Of perhaps forty rods, where
he succeeded in pulling off some OF
the burning clothing, and he then
ran a distance of sixty rods, where
he found relief by jumping into a
mud hole.
His distressing cries were heard
by his little sister, who promptly
saw his predicament and secured
help from the house. Medical atten-