THE DESLOGE SUN, Desloge, St. Francois Co. MO, Tues. May 5, 1925
W. E. REITER KILLS SELF AT STATE HOSPITAL NO. 4
W. E. Reiter, 42 years of age, who had made his home in DeSoto until three or four months ago when he was placed in the state hospital at Farmington for treatment, committed suicide by hanging, in his room in that institution, early Friday morning.
Reiter had seemed as usual, Thursday and had spent the day, or a part of the day, in doing certain work that had been assigned to him. He had always been quiet and had not given the attendants any reason to fear that he contemplated an attempt on his life.
The night attendant in the building where Reiter had his room, says he last saw the unfortunate man alive at 1 o'clock Friday morning, when he was making a tour of inspection of the building. Reiter asked for a drink of water at this time, which was given to him. The attendant next went to this room at 5 o'clock in the morning to awaken the occupant.
He found Reiter hanging, lifeless by a window. He had taken a sheet from his bed and had wrapped one end of the sheet around his neck, had passed the other end over a large hinge that held a shutter at the window, securing the ends deftly, and so they would not slip. Evidently he had stood on the window ledge while making these preparations and had then jumped off. The window was sufficiently high to prevent his feet from reaching the floor. Reiter had died of strangulation, his neck not having been broken.
Coroner J. R. Horne of Elvins conducted an inquest Friday morning at the state hospital. The remains were taken to DeSoto for burial.
William Edward Reiter was my great-great uncle (my great grandmother's brother). For more on him, click here. Thanks to Stephan W. who found this article and sent it to me.
