St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-08
THEY DIED TOGETHER.
Premeditated Double Suicide of
a Pennsylvania Physician and
His Wife

pennsylvania PHYSICIAN anu
His Wife.
HAZELTON, Pa, Jan. 7.-Dr. j. FL.
Nyer, the oldest dentist of the town,
shot and killed his wife this morning
and then committed suicide by placing
the muzzle of revolver at his temple
and sending a bullet into his brain. The
death of both was instantaneous. The
deed was evidently a premeditated
double suicide by the doctor and his
wife. The latter was an INVALID for a
number of years and suffered consider
ably from an incurable disease. The
doctor had large practice and all the
money he made was spent in attempts
to obtain relief for his wife for her NAL
ady. They had no children. The affec-
ton of the couple was strong, and moth
to the comfort of the wife. Last winter
was spent in Florida, with the
hope of helping the wife's health,
and repeated visits have been
made to physicians in nearly every part
of the country to secure relief for her.
Last Saturday they returned from one
of these trips and Mrs. Nyer had been
confined to her bed since that time.
Every circumstance points to mutual
understanding between the two that
death could only end their trouble and
her suffering. The doctor went to his
Office this morning and spent few
hours. He then returned to his resi-
dence, went to his bedroom, where his
wife still laid in bed. locked the door
and shot her in the head. lie then took
position before mirror and killed
himself with the same weapon. A letter
was found in the doctors pocket adj
dressed to friend, in which he said his
wife's health and trouble with relatives
had prompted them to end their exist
ence, and that his wife was perfectly
willing to die. Both of the victims were
attendants of the English Lutheran
church, and Mrs. Nyer was prominent
in church work. They have resided
here for about sixteen years and had
numerous friends.
Following is the letter found i'll the
coat pocket of Dr.. Nyer:
To Mr. William Olewine: Enclosed please
find my last will and testament. My nervous
system has been undergoing more or less OF
a strain for the past three or tour years, and
of late it has entirely broken down by some
of Mrs. Myers brothers and sisters charging
me with endeavoring to cheat their father S
estate, and, taking all in all, we have come to
the conclusion that life is not worth the living
for. 1 ask you to take charge of our bodies
and see that they are properly buried IN one
grave in Mittiinville cemetery. Have mon
qment put up not to cost over one thousand nd
Pardee. which is to pay for the last two
lots as soon as the l.. V. company makes
out the deed. The other valuable papers you
will find in trunk. Sell all the real estate
and divide the money according to the in
closed will. L bid you all farewell forever.
j. Fl. NYER.
P. ST. have but few debts. 1 bid all our
friends and enemies farewell forevermore.
My claim against John Smith, deceased, is
an honest claim. j. ID. n.
This letter was written at his office
this morning, just previous to his COM
mitting the awful deed, and when near
his home he opened the envelope, read
over carefully the contents of the letter.
then cody folded it, sealed it and placed
it in the pocket where it was found. The
measure of deliberatiOn which charac-
terized the entire affair is astonishing,
and has added great deal to the horror
of the awful crime.