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Show AlE;lATCMBS:lEllffi:i:::'; 10 CSEAI GALLOWS, !3EN . v?i : CUT IHEMillM Nciiermeicr, thc.ConYlct-.ed thc.ConYlct-.ed Car Barn Murderer, Makes Determined Effort Ef-fort at Suicide; Life Hangs in the Balance. . SAVED UP MATCHES $ . FOB WEEKS SO HE $ COULD END LITE. S . Xeldermeier got his Idea of swal- J lowing phosporus when a prisoner ( in the Jail committed suicide in that ( manner while N'eidermeier was awaiting trial.. Kor the last two Q weeks Keldermeier has been sav. Ing the matches he waa able to beg. . He gave up smoking to some extent ( .so he could hoard them. (S CHICAGO, April 18. Peter Neider-mler, Neider-mler, one of the car barn bandits, at- ' tempted to commit suicide in his cell early today, and not until he was unconscious un-conscious from the effects of loss of blood was his condition noticed. He was taken at once to the Jail hospital, and after much work he was revived. His condition is serious, but the physicians physi-cians said that the chances of life or death are. about even.. The head of matches were eaten as , one method by which the bandit attempted at-tempted to cheat the gallows. The other method was by. opening an artery In his left arm. This was done by means of a lead pencil, with which he tore a jagged wound in his wrist. Discovered by Guard. Guard John Roeder. passing Nleder-tnler Nleder-tnler cell, saw him huddled on his cot with a blanket drawn over his head. A moan attracted his attention and when his attempt to arouse him proved fruitless fruit-less he summoned Jailer Whitman and the cell was opened. Niedermeir was unconscious, and his clothing and the blanket were found soaked with blood, which was flowing from a ragged hole in his wrist. Other guards were sum- . moned and he was taken to the Jail hospital. The artery in hi wrist wa fastened. ' In his . cell was found a quantity of matches from which he had eaten the heads, and Jailer Whitman said most of these probably had been smuggled to him by other prisoners. The physician at the hospital said he had not taken enough of the poison to prove fatal, but that he Is In a serious condition from loss of blood. - A close watch has been kept on the -bandits since they were sentenced to be hanged, to prevent an attempt to commit com-mit suicide, and even matches have been kept from them. Glorified His Crimes. A letter written ty Neldermcler prior to the attempt at suicide was found concealed con-cealed in his cot. In the letter the writer incidentally expresses repentance of hi career and regrets leaving the few who have loved him, but chiefly the letter Is a morbid glorification of the writer's courage cour-age and his loyalty to his kind In contrast with Neidermeier's associate, Gustav Marx. The letter says: "There are four reasons why I should take my own life. "First Because of the public boast that I cannot, suicide while I am so closely guarded. "Second That I cannot cheat the scaffold. scaf-fold. "Third That they cannot say they executed exe-cuted me and made me pay for a crime. "Fourth To have another mystery fer the ignorant police to solve." The letter concludes as follows: "It sems very pleasant to have this everlasting enjoyment of rest. I am an atheist and do not believe In any religion. "PETER NE1DERMEIER." |