"Steve" was a transient man who had hung himself in his jail cell in Lamar, Missouri, on July 6, 1910.
Case[]
On July 6, 1910, the decedent was seen two miles south of Golden City, Missouri, attempting to cut his throat with a piece of sharp iron. The people in the neighborhood, who were previously annoyed with his begging, called the police from Golden City, who sent officers Phil Coiner and Jap Stewart to arrest him. Police in Lamar were notified, and Sheriff Harrington came over and took the unknown man to the county jail.
Two members of the county court saw the man, who appeared destitute and had no money. They decided to fit him and send him to St. Louis, where he said he had friends. Sheriff Harrington bought him a new shirt and gave it to him at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., Harrington returned to bring dinner to his cell and called three times. When he heard no response, he entered the cell and found the man hanging by a leather strap and towel. When the sheriff called the coroner and the undertaker, they ruled his death a suicide by hanging.
During his arrest, the man said he was a 35-year-old Austrian (modern-day Austria was part of the Austria-Hungary empire) who spent the last five years in Missouri. He stated his mother was deceased, he had not seen his father for 19 years, and his brothers and sisters still lived in Austria. He also said his name was "Steve," but his surname could not be understood due to his poor English. He wrote it down on paper, and it was interpreted as "Trebbeg" or "Trebbg."
He was buried at the East Side Cemetery in Lamar later that day.
Characteristics[]
- Dark complexion.
- Dark hair.
- Dark beard that had five days of growth.
- Dark-gray eyes.
- Rough features.
- Depression on the right side of head, caused by a rock falling in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Clothing and accessorie[]
- Brown hat.
- Old mixed colored suit.
- Blue shirt.
Belongings[]
- Towel.
- Matches.
- Needles.