Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-01-02
A Prominent Citizen Dies by His
Own Hand.
Sad suicide or Gustavus Werlich

Sad suicide or Gustavus Werlich.
The most startling event that ever oc-
CURED in our midst was the tragic death
last Saturday forenoon of Gustavus Wer-
Itch by his own hand, the weapon he
used for self-destruction being % cali
bre pistol and the place chosen for the
terrible deed his own Office in the second
story of Schempfs block, on Main street.
A few minutes before noon Charles Skin
ner, having business with Mr.. Werlich,
called at his office and found him slit ing
in his office chair at his table with blood
trickling down his face. Mr. Werlich
was breathing easily, with no apparent
suffering, his appearance giving Charlie
the impression that he had the nose bleed,
and he did not realize the true situation
of affairs until he spoke to him twice and
received no reply. He then discovered
a bullet hole in Mr.. Werlich's head about
an inch above the right ear, from which
the blood was flowing tely and on the
table lay the weapon with which the deed
was committed Charlie gave the alarm
at once aud went for medical assistance,
DR.. NJ. N, Barber being the first physici-
an he found. From the first Mr. Wer-
Itch was beyond all help, the leaden
messenger being so we'll directed as to do
It's deadly work and the victim fingered
in an unconscious condition without ut
tering word until he breathed his last
at half past one o'clock, about two hours,
as is supposed, after be shot himself 1t
may we'll be imagined that Mr.. Werlich's
death under the circumstances we have
narrated, created the most intense excite
ment ia the community and to divine
the cause for the rash act seemed to be
puzzling to everybody For years he had
been regarded as among our safest, most
responsibleIand prosperous citizens, doing
a large business in his land, loan and no.
tary Office and the owner of a saw mill
at Hamburg, Marathon county, which was
in charge of his oldest son. There is now
little doubt existing that Mr.. Werlich was
heavily involved financially and that other
troubles preyed upon his mind to such an
extent as to impel him to take his own
life, thinking by so doing to rid himself
of his difficulties. He was naturally of a
proud, high spirit, but the last person in
the community that would be pointed out
as likely to commit suicide. Mr.. Werlich,
during his long residence in this commu-
nifty had always the confidence and esteem
of his fellow-citizeHs to a marked degree.
Being of a retiring disposition he was
never ambitious of preferment and when
ever he has filled responsible positions it
has been the result of the offices seeking
him. At the time of his death he held
the Office of Bond Commissioner of the
First ward and secretary and treasurer of
the WATERFOWL Gas Company.
Mr. Werlich was born in Hamburg,
Prussia, May, 1926, and was therefore in
his 58th year. In 1847 he reached Water
town and after residence in this place
of about year settled on farm in the
town of Emmett, where he continued to
reside for about four years when he again
removed to this city, from which time it
has been his home. In 1851 Mr.. Wer-
Itch married Miss Theresa Niemeyer, who
survives him with three sons and three
daughters. The oldest son and oldest
daughter are married. One son, Percy
J., is an ensign in the United States Ma
Wy; another son and two daughters are Of
tender age and living at home.
An inquest was held Monday morning
before Justice Halliger and the following
jury summoned: G. A. Sprague, G.
Goeldner, W. Humphrey, @. Hahn, S. S.
Woodland and H. T. Eberle, The jury
returned a verdict Sof deliberate suicide,
no testimony being adduced that the de-
ceased was not in his right mind when he
perpetrated the act. It is well known
that Mr.. Werlich transacted business
around town up to within an hour of be-
ing found in his office dying. Among
his last acts was to purchase draft at
the Bank of Watertown and call on bus
mess at Hall & SINNERS Office. The
only insurance Mr.. Werlich had on his
life is a policy of $1,000 in the North
western, of Milwaukee, which, with
present accumulations amounts to about
81, 400.
Yesterday, at 10 a, NJ, on the.frst day
of the new year, the funeral of Mr.. Wer-
Itch was held from his late beautiful
home on Eighth street. Mr.. Werlich
had been a member of Washington Lodge,
I. O. o. F., for the past 80 years, and
for long period had been identified also
with the Concordia Society. The obse-
orias Uvora under tho aucnicna of both