Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-16
TWO BULLET HOLES.

i wv DUIIIl HOlIO.
Derner Furnishes Another Chapter, and
this is the Last One--He Executes His
Threat.
The following dispatch was received at the
GLOBE office last evening:
Especial Telegram to the Globe.
RIVER FALLS, Wis.,. June 15-The body Of a
dead man was found ten miles out, near Bel
denville, to-day with two bullet wounds in his
head, and q seven-shooter near him, two cham
bers of which were empty. Papers about him
and a marked handkerchief give his name as
r. G.. Derner, Dayton's Bluffs, St. Paul. He
was well dressed, and aged about As.
The language of the dispatch pretty clear
ly pointed to suicide, and taken in connec-
ton with facts subsequently brought out
through the Investigations of reporters of
the GLOBE made out clear case. Mr.. Der
ner had been employed as travelling sales
man for the wholesale liquor firm of Kiefer
& Heck for several years up to last spring.
He had been injured shortly before that
time, and was obliged to quit work, when he
started in business for himself on the corner
of Bates and Plum streets, on Dayton's Bluff.
His venture was not a successful one, and his
habits not being of the best, he soon ran
through with what little money he had, be-
sides making way with liberal allowance
his wife had received from her relatives. His
stock in trade was mortgaged for all it was
worth, and his household furniture was also
heavily incumbered.
A few days ago be turned up in a new and
dishonorable role. On the 9Th inst. he Wis
tied the saloon kept by Mrs. Morton, q col
ofr md
scented himself as an officer, demanding to
be shown her license. Mrs. Morton knew
him through his former connection with
Kiefer & Heck, and showed the documents.
He claimed that she had no city license and
threatened to arrest her if she did not pay
the tax right away. Mrs. Morton demurred,
but Derner persisted in his demand, and
thoroughly frightened her into giving him
$3.50, which she had been saving with which
to pay her rent, promising to pay the balance
in few days. He pretended to give
her receipt, but it turned out
ito be note for the money, payable
the next day. Mrs. Morton being unable
to read. showed the paper to an acquaint-
;ance, who at once detected the fraud, where
upon warrant was sworn out and Derner
was arrested on Wednesday last. Brought
before Judge Flint his case was continued to
Thursday morning, he being released on his
own recognizance. On Thursday morning
he did nor appear, and nothing further was
heard of him till the receipt of the above
dispatch.
A reporter of the GLOBE called upon Mrs.
Derner at late hour last evening, and also
conversed with gentleman who had seen
and spoken to him on Wednesday last, and
from them learned that he left home early on
Thursday morning without eating his break
fast. He was gloomy and down-hearted and
told his wife he was going to kill himself.
She ridiculed the idea, but without making
any apparent effect upon him. He took his
revolver and, loading it, put it in his pocket,
and came down town. This was the last
seen or heard of him by his wife. She stated
last evening that he was not in the habit of
carrying revoler, and his actions on Thurs
day alarmed her somewhat, but yet she
could not believe that he would do himself
any harm. She had made every inquiry
possible all over the city, but had
been VI . le to find any trace of him. After
leaving LONE he was not seen by any of his
acquaintance, and must have taken an early
train for either Prescott or River Falls,
from there started across the country on
foot, and finally, when his remorse over a
wasted LIE nad become unenduraOle, ne naQ
ended his life as already related. At one
time he was promising young man, was
energetic and capable, but had an inordinate
desire to live in style that did not comport
with his means. He spent money freely,
borrowed wherever he could, and was con-
tinually in debt. He fell into bad habits
and descended the social scale at breakneck
pace, finally committing crime against the
laws that would probably consign him to the
penitentiary. He was about thirty eight
years of age, and leaves wife and one child
in poor circumstances.
Mrs. Derner's brother arrived from Min
neapolis yesterday, to give him what assist
ance was in his power, and was surprised to
learn of his disappearance under such sus-
picious circumstances. None of the family
had any idea of his whereabouts until in
formed by the GLOBE reporter.