The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-30
SUICIDE OF AN OLD MAN.
The Domestic Troubles of William Richter
Cause Him to End His Life-A
Pathetic Story.

William Richter, old and well-known Ger
man citizen, committed suicide last evening by
shooting himself through the bowels with a shot
gun. Domestic trouble, which he seems to have
made hopeless attempt to adjust, was the
cause OF his rashness. The relations between
him and his wife have been of a very unhappy
nature for some time. Mrs. Richter, who is
seventy-twc years old and is eight years the
senior of her husband, left home about two
weeks ago, leaving no word behind her to
here she had gone. 1t was feared by the fam
lily that she had wandered aimlessly away, and
considerable solcitude lest some misfortune
might happen her manifested. Men
ton of her strange disappearance
was made in the city papers at
the time. Two or three days later she was
found at tho residence of James Belcher, six
miles east of the city, where she had walked.
Richter went to see his wife. Upon his return,
he said that she talked very strangely, and that
he believed she was demented. He caused o
formal examination to be made before one of the
justices, and the verdict pronounced her sane
He then requested her to return home, and sew
eral of the friends of the family urged her to CO.
but she refused. 1t is claimed that Mrs. Belcher
and two or three other women had advised her
not to again live with Richter, and she seems to
have been influenced by their advice She re-
turned to the home of Belcher, and has been
there since. 1t Ia claimed that efforts were
made by Richter to effect a reconcil-
iation, but without any success The breach
seemed to Widen, and IL was announced two or
three days ago that Mrs. Richter was about to
institute proceedings for a divorce. The prop
erty which had been accumulated by the two
old people is nearly all held in the name of Mrs.
Richter, and If the divorce should be granted 1t
would leave Richter homeless. Yesterday
afternoon he engaged Henry Elk, an express
driver, to take him out to Beleher's, and he had
another interview with his wife, but 1t seems to
have been very unsatisfactory He returned
feeling very respondent, and laid considerable
stress on the prospect of his being reduced to
AFFECT poverty in his old age. saloon at No.
476 East Washington, in the house where he
OF livelihood Upon returning from the visit
to his wife yesterday afternoon, Elk suggested
that Richter "Ought to treat" A glass of beer
was drawn, and in handing IL to the driver
Richter remarked that IL would be the last treat
he would ever give. He left the bar-rOom and
passed through the adjoining room, in which his
daughter, Mrs. Neab was sitting, to the rear of
the house. A moment afterward the report of q
gun was heard, and upon running TO the room
from whence the sound came his dau Rhter found
him lying on the floor dying. Mrs. Louis
Theme neighbor, was with Mrs. Neab, and
upon reaching the wounded man, asked him
what he had done, but he was unable to give
any reply. He had placed a double
barrelled shotgun to his abdomen,
and bending over it SO as to worK the trigger of
the gun with his fingers, had fired. The gun
heavily loaded, and large hole was made in his
side. He died almost Instantly. The remains
were prepared for burial by Herman, the under
taker and an inquest will be held by the coroner
this morning.
Mr.. Richter was sixty-four years old, and has
been resident of this city for many years. He
is a brother of August Richter, and has several
relatives in the city. He has q son, william
Richter, living at Kansas City, and daughter,
Mrs. Neab. He is very well known among the
Germans. and the Dews of his suicide created
something OF a sensation in the eastern part of
the city, in the vicinity where he lived, last
night. He was member Of the nruids and of
the German Pioneer Association.