The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-17
CONGRESSMAN LOUD DESCRIBES
THE TRAGIC DETAILS OF ANN
ARBoR MANS LAST DAYS.
REALIZED HE MIGHT LIVE MANY
YEARS IN AN ASYLUM.
His Leap to Death Made After He Had
Knocked Down His Attendant,
Says Congressman Loud.

decided further life meant hopeless
dependence upon his family
With that heart-Dreaking realiza-
ton still In mind and in what may
have been truly the most lucid in
terval since his breakdown, the
physical giant pitched his attendant
headlong into row of steamer
chairs, darted behind the Keeling
figure. and plunged over the top deck
rail of the steamer Panama into the
Caribbean sea.
1t was understood that Congress
man n. L. Kendall, of Iowa, was to be
Congressman Wedemeyer's stateroom
companion, but on boarding the steam
ship Panama at New York, late in De-
cember, for the outward voyage. other
arrangements were made, and Con-
gresham George A. Loud, of Bay
City, Mich took the other berth in
Mr.. Wedemeyers cabin
Story Of Pitiful Collapse.
1t is only fair to tell the progress
OF the Ann Arbor mans increasing
mental decline, day by day to the
end, in justice to those who did every
thing they could for his welfare and
to show his friends that he was not
allowed, through neglect, to make way
with himself.
Congressman Loud, who has return
ed to Washington, fairly heart-sick
over the tragedy, has detailed each
step to the catastrophe.
Congressman Wedemeyer, from the
beginning of the voyage, made a con-
fident of the Bay City member, and
then, with a sudden evident loss of
memory, declared he had no one to
look after him nor his money.
Give the money to me-" said Con
gresham Loud, adding Ell look after
you" This treasured Wedemeyer. and
he showed no further apprehension
about material things after passing
over his valuables, including gold
watch left him by brother.
He talked necessarily of his defeat,
and IL was always in the same strain:
"A few days before election he
said, Il directed my secretary to mail
out some government documents,
horse books and the like. After cleo
ton found in the rush Of other things
this had not been done. II those books
had gone out I would have won"
Told of Suicide Desire.
Mr.. Wedemeyer was troubled with
sleeplessness. The last night out, on
the outward voyage, he woke Con
gresham Loud about one a. IN. and
said:
I've thought about ii two or three
times and | a go overheard but | can't
just make up my mind to do it,
Congressman Loud reported this to
the captain of the ship ana the sur
VIGILANCE that had been maintained
over w edemeyer since early in the
voyage was redoubled 1t was this in
cident that gave rise to the report
tried to leap overheard. Congressman
Loud declares he made no attempt.
Lest he resort to an overdose of
drugs, the ships surgeon had taken
from Wedemeyer a box of pills-op-
iates-said to have been given him
in Ann Arbor to induce sleep. On land
ing at the isthmus this box was re-
turned to Wedemeyer without Con
gresham LIQUIDS knowledge.
The afflicted man was taken to a
hospital on the isthmus. Each day
saw his condition intensified. Daily
\ 1T
Wedemeyer usually sat on his bed
deploring his condition or tortured
by Authorizations, either that he was
insane or that he was being prepared
for a painful surgical operation.
Congressman Loud says the phase
was ever in Wedemeyer's thoughts
was not his becoming hopeless bur-
den on his family, Of whom he was
passionately fond. Not yet 40 years of
age, he calculated on at least 40 years
more of life-that this should be in an
asylum with his maintenance a con-
slant source Of expense haunted him.
Goes to Deck After Dark.
After dnner-darkness had come
with rough -Wedemeyer went
mp on deck with his attendant. They
stood for some time looking down on
the second cabin deck watching chill
dren at play. Wedemeyer commented
on the great beauty and brilliancy of
the evening star and commenced
humming tune.
Around the corner was the con-
gressional party-Mr. Loud among
them. Wedemeyer wanted to join
them, so he and the attendant started,
the attendant holding Wedemeyer's
arm and ever keeping between him
and the rail. Just as they turned the
corner Wedemeyer drew back the arm
OF which the attendant had hold,
caught the man in the small of the
back with terrific blow, sent him
SPRAYING among some steamer chairs,
darted behind his Keeling form, and
was gone.