The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-15
SUICIDE OF JOSEPH 0FFERMAN.
he Cuts HIS Throat and Jumps into
q Pond OF Water.

has " shufled off this mortal col"
and rushed unbidden into the awful
presence of his Maker. Scarce a day
passes but that a case of suicide oc
ours, and the frequency of this ter
rible mania has become absolutely
alarming. The theme is a mournful
one, and the evil difficult to remedy,
from the fact that no human foresight
can foretell that a man will die by his
own hand.
Yesterday morning, about eleven
o'clock, the body of Joseph Oferman
was discovered fOatingin a pond on.
the Poor Farm, about one hundred
yards from the Poor House. When
pulled out of the water, it was dis
covered that his throat was cut The
body was yet warm, he having appar-
emily been dead but short time.
Immediately on the finding of the
body, word was sent to the Coroner.
who went out to the Poor House
shortly after dinner. Through the
kindness of DR.. Mageniss, the County
Physician, VIC were offered a seat in
his buggy, and accompanied him TO
the scene of the sad tragedy.
The Coroner impanneled a jury
about two and a half o'clock P. IT,,
and proceeded. to investigate the ease.
The testimony elected was to the
effect that Oferman had been brought
to the Poor House on Wednesday /;
that he. seemed to be laboriDg under
temporary insanity, and also was suf-
fering from deliriu1n tremens; that he
remained at the Poor. House on
Wednesday night; that Mr.. Fredes
rich, the Superintendent Of the Poor
House, heard Mr.. Oferman rattlipg
the knives ia the safe during the
night; thathe asked Oferman what
was the matter, and that the deceased
replied SNothing;1 that Oferman
had parlaken OF. his breakfast with
Louis Frederick and his family;
that shortly afterwards nIr. Frede-
rick, left for the city; that one
the women asked 0 Farman to make a
fire, and he lit a GAMBLER that on be-
ing told that a ffein the stove was
wanted, he put one piece Of shaving
in the stove and lit il z that he acted
as if he was outef his mind that he
was missed about ten O'clock, upon
which search was made, and that an
old caseknifs was, found in the out
house, and some drops of blood on
the ground; and that his body was
afterwards found in the pond. TIE
verdict Of tie Coroner's jury. was in
accordance with the above testimony.
Joseph Oferman was about forty
years of age. He was born In Prussia,
and was educated at the University of
Cologne. on the Rhine. and was fine
scholar AT the time Of his death he
could speak and write English,
French and German. lie held aa
Office under the Prussian Government,
but was Involved in the troubles of
'48, and left his native country about
that time. He has resided in this
city for number of years, and was
a soldier in the Union army. He en-
listed in Company K, Thirty second
Indiana Regiment, August q. 1861,
and was discharged on the 18th of
January, 1868, on account of disabih-
ty. When the Thirty second Regie
ment was recognized, he again en-
listed on the Sd of October, 1863, in
Company D. and was mustered out
October 4, 1866 as First Sergeant, and
subsequently got a commission as
Second Lieutenant of Company D,
although we believe he was never
mustered in as an officer.
At the close of thewar Lieut.. Offer
man returned to this city, where his
wife andchild resided. His wife died
shortly afterwards, as we understand.
His child IS alive, and is boy about
fourteen years of age. For some time
past the deceased has been on the police
force, and was accounted an efficient
officer. Offerman has been laboring
under domestic troubles for some
time past, which. after being brooded
over continually, finally induced. to q
certain extent, alteration of the
mind. He was on police duty last
Saturday night; and, on Sunday, the
Chief was notified by Charley Miller,
with whom he boarded, that he was
unwel, which illness continued until
Wednesday. when he was taken to
the poor-house by Mr.. Frederick, a
warm. friend Of his, who desired to
personally take care Of him, for day
or two, until he could have reliance
to get well. Those who knew him
intimately declare that he seldom in
dulged much in intoxicating liquor,
and expressed doubt as to whether
he had delirium tremens, although it
was so stated before the coroner's
jury.
This is a sad case. Another brave
man-an educated man--one whose
talents were sufficient to qualify him
for any ordinary position, has passed
from among US by his own act. By
those who knew him, he was esteemed
as kind, generous hearted man. and
will be mourned by many sincere and
true friends, who will feel terribly
shocked on learning of the sad man
ner in which he ended his earthly