Herman Dahms 1857-1904

DAHMS

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 3/9/2010 at 20:08:20

Tri-City Star
Davenport, Iowa
11 Oct 1904
Page 1

Davenport Man Takes Poison and Expires in Agony
Hermann Dahms of Davenport Takes Cyanide of Potassium.
Ill Health Caused Deed
Loss of Right Arm and Terrible Rupture Hastened Suicide.
Sisters Rush to His Aid
Upon Hearing Screams They Dart Into yard of Mercy Hospital Too Late.
After Dashing a Dose of the Deadliest Drug Known to the Medical Science Into a Glass of Water and Drinking the Contents Herman Dahms Died in Terrible Agony Yesterday Afternoon at Mercy Hospital.
He Had Begged the Glass of Water From One of the Sisters and Asked Permission to Take it Into the Yard.
The Sister Returned to Her Dinner But in a few Moments Was Startled to Hear the Agonized Screams of the Man.
The Sister at the Hospital Hurried to the Yard, But Already Herman Dahms Was in the Last Throes of the Terrible Death Which He Had Meted Out to Himself.

The story of his suicide and the causes which led to it are pathetic in the extreme. About seventeen years ago, he lost his right arm at the shoulder by being run over by a train. Since that time he has worried constantly about the injury, fearing that it would cause his death until at last worry drove him to the very thing which he most feared. The shoulder had been an open, running sore until a short time ago when it began to close. This gave him cause for more worry and he feared death was near at hand. The shoulder combined with a terrible rupture are the only causes known to the family which could have induced him to commit the terrible act.

His family life has always been of the most pleasant. Every inducement has been used by the members of his family to make life pleasant for him. Twice before, however, he has attempted to take his own life, in spite of the kindness of his family. A number of years ago he attempted to drown himself, but was saved in time. Then, a few years later, he was found measuring the depth of the cistern at his home, and it was thought that he had suicidal intentions. He was closely watched.

Dahms has a family, consisting of a wife and a son and daughter, living at 1131 West Seventh street. He is employed at the Davenport Foundry & Machine works as toolkeeper. Yesterday morning he did not go to work, but wandered about town, finally going to the butcher shop and ordering a big roast for yesterday's dinner and also one for today's.

He then went to Mercy hospital, arriving there about noon. He asked one of the sisters to see the man who had had his foot cut off by the street car, evidently thinking that John Stanton, who died yesterday at St. Luke's hospital, was at Mercy hospital. He was told that there was no man there of that description.

This would not satisfy him, however, and he strolled through the hospital. Finally he was satisfied that the man was not there. He then asked one of the sisters for a glass of water. This was given him, and he asked that he be allowed to take it into the yard.

Giving the desired permission, the sister went back to dinner. Shortly afterward she heard the agonized cries of the man and rushed into the yard. The man was already past aid.

At the time the sisters did not believe that the man had committed suicide and did not call the coroner until 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, at that time saying that the man had merely dropped dead.

Dr. Lambach went out to the hospital immediately after notification and discovered the terrible truth. Undertaker Runge was notified and the body was removed to his undertaking rooms on West Third street.

Dr. Lambach held an autopsy last night, which confirmed his convictions that Dahms had taken cyanide of potassium. It is not known where the deadly poison was obtained, but it is thought that it is used at the factory, and while handling some of it, knowing the powers of the drug, retained it. In his pockets two large lumps of it were found when the body was examined.

Herman Dahms was born Oct. 16th, 1857, in Germany. He came to this country when quite young and has resided in Davenport for a number of years. He is well known here and it is owing to that fact that his identity was immediately discovered. His survivors are his wife, Mary; three sons, Carl, who lives at 1457 West Seventh street; Edwin, living in Iowa City, and Raymond, at home. He also leaves a daughter, Mamie, who lives at home.

The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock with services at the house 1131 West Seventh street, and interment at City cemetery.