Love-Lorn Indian Attempts Suicide
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William Way [sic] Slashes Himself With Knife When Girl Spurns Him.
Tries to Die After Buying Xmas Gifts
Unrequited in love, William M. May, a Soux [sic] Indian who lives in the rear of 1819 Federal street, attempted suicide by slashing himself across the chest with a penknife.
May, whose Indian name is Sequa Montezuma, was enamored of Elsie Staley, aged 14 years, a daughter of Frank Staley, of 1819 Federal street. He had been befriended by the Staleys and was allowed to sleep in an outhouse. He fell in love with Elsie at first sight and while she rebuffed his advances he persisted in his love making to such an extent as to propose marriage.
Miss Staley turned a deaf ear to his proposition, telling him that she was too young to be married and that besides her folks did not approve of his wooing. Not daunted by the girl’s refusal the Indian saved up his pennies and made her a Christmas present of a gold bracelet and a veil. On this occasion he again offered her his hand and again she refused him.
May then left the house in a state of great dejection and drawing a knife he gashed himself across the breast with frenzied rage.
Exhausted from loss of blood he was found leaning against a telegraph pole near Eighteenth and Federal streets, and in response to the alarm sounded by Miss Staley, word was ‘phoned to Police Headquarters from Schultz’s bottling establishment and he was sent to Cooper Hospital in the police auto.
At the hospital this morning it was said that the Indian was in no danger whatever and would be able to be transferred to Police Headquarters some time to-day. He is but 21 years of age and came to this city three years ago from Carlisle Indian School.