The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-05-09
CUTS THROAT FROM EAR TO EAR
Otto Stramm Sewers Windpipe with
Razor and is Expected to Die.

BY literally cutting his throat from
ear to ear with a razor, Otto Stramm,
the Line street shop keeper who has
been mentally deranged for some
time, attempted suicide at noon to-
day in the home of a relative at
Shepard and st. Phillip streets, and
will probably die before night as the
result of his self-inficted wound.
Some time after his removal to the
hospital where delicate operations
were performed on his slashed and
gaping throat, it was reported that
the man was barely living, and that
the chances of his recovery were re-
mote. The wound would have been
almost instantly fatal to a man of
less rugged and tenacious constitu-
ton, as the arteries and trachea were
severed by the blade, and only the
most prompt attention sustained life
at ALL
Members of the household in which
Mr.. 'Stramm was temporary visitor,
discovered him lying on the floor of
the room which he occupied just be-
fore II o'clock, with his throat slash
ed and bleeding. Help was summon
ed from neighbors and police head
quarters notified as soon as possible,
with the result that DR.. NJ. S. Moore
was attending the man when the po-
lice automobile arrived, within a very
few minutes. Although apparently
unconscious, the wounded man strug-
gled desperately with his rescuers,
the physician and Officers Eaton and
Finley having great difficulty in TAX
ing him to the hospital in the ma
chine. Little could be done to a
wound of the sort without instru-
ments, and during the trip to the
hospital Mr.. Stramm was breathing
through the cash in his neck, so
badly was the wind-pipe and throat
severed
At the hospital emergency meas
ures were taken by the staff, and the
parted tissues sewed together so
SUCCESSFULLY that considerably later
the man was still alive, though his
recovery would be miraculous.
Mr.. Stramm has only recently
been dismissed from the insane ward
of the hospital, where he was sent
several weeks ago after his store at
st. Philip and Line streets had been
burnt out, as was thought by his
| own irresponsible act. At that time
he had only recently returned from
the asylum in Columbia to which he
had been committed by his family
and friends who recognized his men
tai disorder. For some three years,
it is understood, the mans actions
have occasionally been irrational and
at times dangerous, though between
attacks he has been entirely himself.
He was dismissed from the Columbia
institution apparently cured, and af-
ter the trouble in his store recently
was detained in the local hospital
for several weeks. The reason of
his recent commitment to medical
supervision was the apparent ire
sponsibility of his actions just be-
fore the fire which destroyed his
store and which he was believed to
have started himself. Since his re-
lease he has not taken up the busi-
ness again, but has been living with
the relatives in whose home he at
tempted to end his own life to-day.
The wound was inflicted evidently in
another deranged moment, or in re-
alization Of the mental condition in
which he has Decentralization
Evening Post, May 1.