Mrs. Fred Rutenbeck

RUTENBECK

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

8 August 1902 - Lowden News

Suicide at Lost Nation: Mrs. Fred Rutenbeck who had been afflicted with paralysis for about a year, being for a few moments alone on Sunday afternoon, despondently decided to end her afflictions by hanging herself. Her mother took care of her in Mr. Rutenbeck's absence but was not there Sunday afternoon. Mr. Rutenbeck having written a couple of letters desiring to send word to Lowden on Monday morning by one of his men to his partner here had left her lying on the bed, saying that he would soon return he left the children with her, these she sent out doors to play. There were a couple of cords with rings hung over her bed on which she could raise herself some to ease position. Looping one of these around her neck and rolling sideways she managed to hang herself. Mr. Rutenbeck returned in about fifteen or twenty minutes but before he got to the house the children had already found their mothers lifeless form. The hard stricken husband with his three children, ranging from five to twelve years of age, have the sympathy of everybody in their deep affliction. Mr. Rutenbeck got to be known in our town but recently to quite an extent, as the contractor for the town hall. His sad misfortune was communicated to his partner and men here Monday morning. All express condolence for the said misfortune of their fellow workman and his children.