Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-30
m!Ae Mi~attatsr.
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. 80. 1885,
Tragic Ind Of Professor Koerber.

Tragic Ind of Professor Koerber.
A telegram from Atlanta, Ca. an
nominees the suicide on Tuesday night. by
shooting himself through the head, OF
Prof. Jno. Koerber, lately OF Staunton.
He had made an unsuccessful attempt at
poisoning himself a few days before. Prof.
Koerber was q native OF the town OF
Baumberg in Bavaria, and was sixty four
years of age. He came to THIS country
when young man, and became orRanlst
of Catholic church in Philadelphia, ana
there married his wife, who was memoir
of tile congregation. lie was tine mu-
stefan. ard in 1857 came TO Stanton tn as
sume the position of instructor In piano
music at the Virginia Female Inst ltute.
From there lie went to Lexirgton, where
he gave private lessons and spent some
time in farming. Next. he was offered
position in tie Murfrees boro IN. ca Fee
male College, which he ceepted. In 1873
he became musical director ut the
ugusta Female Seminary here,
position which he held until last
June, when he RENE we'd to Atlanta.
to take similar position in female col
lege just opened there. He leaves fami-
ly consisting of a wife, daughter and four
sons, in dependent circumstances, fer
though his talents had always command q
fine salary he had not saved much OF it,
His only property Was tenement Id
Staunton, against which, legal proceedings
had been commenced BY his creditors some
weeks ago. The telegram states that his
sui ide is attributed to loss of property
and strong drink. S.
The Atlanta .Constitution, 'Afor copy
of which we are indebted to the courtesy
of Mr.. VIM. H. Peyton, contains the fol
lowing particulars OF Prof. Koerber's
death:
Last night at half.pas seven Professor
John KOerber shot himself in the head at
his residence, No. 1876 Forsyth street. A
s'Constitution" reporter repaired to the
scene Of the tragedy and gathered the fol
lowing facts relative to the terrible deed:
Professor Koerber has been in an unhappy
state ot mind for some lime past. About
seven months ago lie removed from Staun-
ton, Virginia, bringing his family with
him. He was fine musician, and found
no difficulty in procuring situation as
| teacher of music i'll Mrs. Billiards. school.
/ He discharged the duties of the position
| to his utmost ability, and gave perfect
| satisfaction 70 those placed under his in
struction.
Some time ago, however, he met with
heavy loss of property belonging to him in
StauntOn. A gentlemaa who talked with
him few days befure the rash act was
committed remembers TO have heard him
remark that he hal lost at least twenty
| thousand dollars. Being an old man, and
having quite large family dependent up
on him for support, these losses amounted
to a Calamity, aud preyed upon his mind
| until it became uulIinged. He was guilty of
many acts which clearl. showed that his
brain Was in crazvd condi ion. Within
the past week he got out a warrant for as
sault aud battery against his own son, and
also attacked. in a violent manner his own
wife, all withou. the slightest prOvOcation.
On last Saturday morning he attempted
to take his life by swallowing three grains
of morphine. Doctor Armstrong was at
once summoned, aud although che man
mad passed into stupOr; succeeded in
pumping the poison out OF his stomach be-
| fore it had completely mastered his sys-
tenn. DR.. Armstrong was with him maly
hours, but even after he had regained his,
consciousness, and was pronounced out of:
danger, he seemed to be disappointed at
finding that he still lived DIR. Arm
strong saw him no mole until yesterday
morning when he call-d, and inding him
in u weak nervous condition said that he
would give him something to sooth his
system and put him to sleep. Whereupon
Professor Koerber remarked that he wan
ted that which would give him the eternal
| sleep. DR.. Armstrong was satisfied that
his mind was wandering aud left hiu. with
| that belief. a.
Professor Koerber walked out into the,
street yesterday afteri DON and paced up
and down the sidewalk near his house for
long time aud acted in such peculiar
manner that l,okers-Ou thought him de-
ranged He must have gotten the pistol
during the afternoon. 1t was a very small
five shooter, aud could rot have cost more
than dollar and a quarter. No one knew
last night where lie got It. At any rate he
took it home, passed out at the back door,
closed it, and iiied one shot which failed
OF its mark. A young German, one Oh the
bOarders, rushed to the back door and
opened it. koerber presented himself in
the doorway and took deliberate aim at
the young man, who sprang forward to
knock the Wei:p pom up-but he was too late:
kOerb II plac d it 10 his own light temple
and fired. TIE ball lodged in his brain.
He fingered about All no II and died Wit
out having spoken word. He was at
tended by Dis Roach, Knott and Arm
strong.
Tie coroner's inquest will be held this
morning.