Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-07-08
gallg Gmpipe,
From the st. Lonis Democrat July
Suicide of a Remorse1uI Lover
Tragic Results OF "a Jest

a.
A week OF two ago we mentioned thl cir.
cumstsnce of young lady drowning hefseli
at Venice, on the opposite side ol the riter,
on account OF disappointment in love afhr
with one Andrew Funkhouser On Saturday
morning Funkhouser visited the scene Of tie
suicide, and there, in fit Of remorse, shbt
himself through the heart
Funkhouser was q German cigar max er
and boarded at Bobn's boarding house on
Franklin avenue, between Twenty second and
1 ITwenty--third streets. He had q room near
by, where he slept and worked III had been
a soldier in the army, and soon after obtain
ing his discharge, paid his addresses to Miss
Elizabeth Lsderer One day, during stroll
gu the bank of the Mississippi, near the viii
Iage Of Venice, the lovers sat down under
the shade OF 4 tree, and there exchanged their
vows OF love. They were engaged 30 be
married, and to them the horizon Of the future
was tnged with the rossatc hues of hope and
undyiDR affection. They met iAily, and we're
exceedingly fond oil each other But fate as
| If enyious Of their happiness, sent he malie-
nant demon of doubt TO plant horns in their
| pathway. The course of their true love did
not long run smooth taet
One day, about month ago, Andrew, in
the excess of his happiness remarked play-
fully to Elizabeth that be did not intend 10
marry her, and left her She pondered upon
bis parting words, and thinking he might be
in earnest felt greatly depressed, and became
prey to harrassing doubts and suspicious
Filled with boding thoughts OF evil, she re-
visited the trysting tree on the bank of the
river, near Venice, and wandering along the
shore, mingled her tears with the food that
flowed at her feet Seating herself under The
tree, she gave vent 10 her feelings in re-
prosches against her lover, and repininqs .st
her cruel fate She returned TO the city.
after short time spent on the opposite shore,
but failing to hear from Andrew, che went
back to Venice, and 10 a moment Of despair
rushed into the water, ard was swallowed up
oy the remorseless current
The body OF Miss l.ederer was recovered.
and her lover, who was almost distracted by
the intelligence Of her death, took charge OF
the body, purchased lot in a cemetery, had
the remans inferred, and tombstone placed
above her. He told his friends that he wished
TO be buried by the side of his lost Elizabeth,
ard assured them it would not be long before
he would go to bis resting-place
Funkhouser was man OF about thirty, but
after ths sad death Of his betroibea he be
came apparently an old man; his hair turned
gray, and his whole aspect was changed On
Saturday morning, he went over to Venice
with friend, to revisit the spot where he bad
exchanged vows with his dead mistress His
friend asked him to take glass of beer, but
he declined, and said he had drank ali the
beer he intended He was seen sitting under
the tree, on, the bank of the river, with his
breast bare, a pistol lying by bis side, and
tniniature Of Miss Lederer in his hand Not
willing to iutrude upon bis meditations, his
friend turned to leave him, and had gone a
short distance, when be heard the explosion
Of the pistol Ranpiug to the spot, he found
Funkhouser welteriEg in his blcod He had
placed the muzzle of the pistol to his heart
and fred His agony was brief In mo
ment he was dead His remains we're brought
over to the city yesterday afternoon and
buried by the side Of his betrothed, q, be had
requested, Thns it will be seen that little
word, spoken in jest, has caused the death of
two innocent and loving beings, who might
have lived 10 be happy and useful members Of
society. We therefore admopish all persons,
especially lovers, to be serious in all things,
and beware Of practical jokes.iD }hasa m