The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-04
DROPPED DEAD
Colonel Nelson Trusler Falls Dead at the
Grand opera House.

The people congregated at the Opera House
Thursday evening to witness the play Of
"Our German Senator" were startled at see
ing q man fall heavily to the floor while
passing down the center aisle to the par
quet. He proved TO be Colonel Nelson
Trusler, the United States attorney for this
district. who had but moment before en-
tered the hall. IN company with his wife,
taken programme OF the even
ing's entertainment, and was being
shown seats by the usher. At rst 1t was
the impression that he had only stumbled
and fell, but as be did not attempt to get up,
several gentlemen near by went 10 him,
when it was found that he was dying.
He was Immediately taken into the ball.
way entrance to the theater, and medical
aid summoned. DR.. Richardson, who hap
pened to be in the theater at the time, at
tended the dying man. He revived little
sitter being removed to the ball, but IL
was only few spasmOdic heart beats,
with scarcely any pulse at all, and then the
doctor pronounced him dead. He fell at
about 20 minutes before O'Clock, and died
only a few minutes after. The cause OF his
death was undoubtedly heart disease, as the
family physician says he had an attack only
few days ago, when his pulse ran up as
high as $50, and at that time came near
diving. Judge Denny informed a Sentinel
reporter last evening that Mr.. Trusler had
often spoken to him of his condition, and
told him that he expected 10 drop dead at
any time from the effects OF a diseased heart.
His reason for attending the thester last
evening was 10 see Gus Williams, the come
dian of the play, who had been drummer
boy ID his regiment during the war. Mrs.
Trusler, who accompanied him to the the
alter. was almost frantic with grief, and her
screams while being conveyed from the sad
scene to the hack, were heartrend-
ing in the extreme. At the res
idence last evening she refused
TO be comforted, and when the reporter
reached the house she was lying upon the
sofa, sobbing and moaning while the family
were congregated about her attempting to
alleviate her suffering The body was I'M
mediately taken by Unertaker kregelo to
the family residence. No. 1872 North Illinois
street, where il was embslmed preparatory
m burial, which will take place next Sui
day.
OBITUARY.
Colonel Nelson Trusler was born Decem-
Der IL, 1923, in Fayette county, Indiana, near
the Franklin county line, and was the eldest
child of Samuel Trusler, farmer residing
there He commenced the study OF law In
the wear lS47, under Hon. John A. Matson,
a prominent attorney OF Rockville, Ind.
and in the latter part of lo4o he removed to
COnneTsVllIe, WDeIt nc prSau bho piaOtlOo VI
his profession. He served one term IS state
senator, and was also member OF the
House of Representatives from Fayette
county. between the years 1856 go.
He enlisted in the army in 1861, and served
as colonel of the Eighty fourth Indiana regi
ment until 1864, when he was compelled to
resign on account of i'll health. He fought
al the battle of Chicksmauga and other en-
sagements, and came out of the war with q
GOOD record. He was elected as secretary Of
state on the Republican ticket IN 1864, and
served one term, at the close of which be
resumed the practice of law in this city in
connection with Wilson Morrow, under the
firm name of Morrow & Trusler. In 1871
he was appointed United States attorney for
this district, and served as such up to the
time of his death.