Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-06
Prisoner Tries To Sever
Artery In Wrist With Tin
On Lead Pencil
MORGAN WOULD SEND
HOLT TO ASYLUM
Suicidal Attempt Confirms Be-
lief That Holt May Be
Erich Muenter

N"'"' - L. JulN O.--t rank Holt,
who shot }. P. Morgan twice after en-.
tering his home at Glen Cove Saturday.
attempted to commit suicide in his cell
in the Jail here today His condition
is not serious, Jail officials said
Holt attempted to cut an artery in
his wrist with lead pencil
Holt displayed the greatest cunning
in fashioning knife like instrument
from a pencil with which he attempted
TO end his life He removed the rubber
eraser from the pencil and mashed the
TIN container with his teeth until it
presented straight sharp edge. With
TINS he gashed his wrist until the blood
poured out from the punctured artery.
Charles Apted, assistant custodian
at Harvard, visited Holt in his cell TO.
day, He said the prisoner resembled
Muenter, the missing professor charged
with the murder Of his wife but that he
was not positive Holt was actually
Muenter. He intends to see Holt again
after the bandageS about his head have
been removed. These were necessitated
by the beating Holt received at the
hands of Morgan and servants in the
household
Two alienists, reported to have been
employed by Morgan, will examine
Holt soon, it was learned today. They
are understood to be DR.. Carlos Me.
Donald and Dr. Austin Flint, noted
alienists who have been identified with
the Thaw case.
DIR, Cleghorn said this afternoon that
Holt was too weak TO be taken to Glen
Cove tomorrow for preliminary hearing
In addition to being weakened from the
loss of blood owing to the injuries re-.
ceNed when overpowered in the Nor.
gan house ne is suffering from stomach
trouble and is unable to take any
nourishment except orange iuice and
the whites of eggs. 1t is possible that
the court hearing may be held in the
Jail in view of the fact that Hot's con.
dition was made worse by his attempt
at suicide.
Holt's suspenders and other articles
OF wearing apparel which he might use
IN attempted suicide have been taken
from him before last night but when
the prisoner asked for pencil saving
ne wished to write letter, the turnkey
suspected nothing. He had been rest.
less during the early part of the night
and had not slept. shortly after mid.
mght he became strangely quiet, how.
1'er and it was then that the turnkey
investigated and found the prisoner
bleeding from the cash in his wrist
There was pool of blood on the
iloor Of his cell. The pencil, with It's
sharpened tin cap was found on the
floor where Holt had dropped It after
cutting himself He had Lost consd.
cradle blood, but the flow was quickly
stopped when DR.. Cleghorn was sum.
moned and bandaged the wound.
only prompt action by a turnkey
frustrated Holt 5 attempt upon his life.
lie had lost considerable blood when
the discovery that he had gashed his
wrist was made, but the jail physician
was hurriedly summoned and the wound
vas sewed up. Holt made the attempt
some time during the night, but this
morning was said TO be IN no danger
John Leckersteicker the turnkey
Who found Holt wounded. had watched
him at intervals through the night
Soon after midnight he noticed blood
tlekhng down his clothing He rushed
into Holt's cell aud found the blood
pouring from a cash Ia his wrist A
bloody pencil was on the floor Of the
cell.
Holt attempt 70 take his lie Is re-
21rded as significant, in view OF IN,
tset that he is now suspected Of be-
Jug Erich Muenter, former Harvard pro
tessor, wanted on o murder charge
Charles Apted assistant custodian OF
Harvard, I. W. Hillyard. MiddleseS
policeman, and two former pupils OF
huenter are expected in Mineola TO-
lay when they will endeayor 10 iden
tIfy the prisoner.
Holt dismissed T. !. Ready, whom he
first engaged as his attorney and 70
day retained Martin Littleton TO de-
iend him, A telegram from Holt ,,
wife Ia Dallas was received today and
delivered 20 the prisoner. Ia her mes
sage Mrs Holt said:
Have best counsel here. Advised 3,
rest and wait. You must do same
loving greetings hourly Beautiful
tribute 20 you IN both evening papers
] am iarrying for details Of our fin
tnces. viii come when YOU need me
Don't be afraid. Rest (Signed
Leone -
Holt's Wife interviewed
nl1Ina Tawma lie l4 r. "a 1