St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-13
ENDED HIS OWN LIFE
John B. Mueller Puts an End
to His Existence With a
Winchester.
His Mind Was Affected by
the Raseality Of Emil V.
KoesSel.
Brooding Over His Loss, He
Became Dependent and
Resolved to Die.
All Of His Preparations for
the End Showed Careful
Fermentation.

The Minneapolis public was shocked
yesterday afternoon by the news that
another well known business man had
compassed his own death. 1t was John
B. Mueller, recently of the firm of
Mueller & Heinrichs. He committed
suicide at 11:40 yesterday by shooting
himself with a Winchester rifle. The
body was found a few minutes after
noon by Peter Settlemeyer. Mr.. Muel-
ler's uncle, who had gone up to call him
to dinner. The body was then cold,
death having been apparently instan-
taneous. The suicide is believed to
have resulted from the loss which Mr..
Mueller sustained through the depart
ure of &. V. Koessel, the butcher who
disappeared last Monday, leaving sew
eral thousand dollars in debts, and a
dozen victims of his duplicity who had
faith in his integrity.
The whole amount which the deceased
lost through KoeSSel'S dishonesty will
not exceed $1,000, and he is not known
to have had other debts of any conSe-
Quence. That this slight loss, slight TO
a man whose estate is estimated Varl-
ously at from 100000 to S200,0O0 should
have worried him to the extent that he
would resolve upon self-destructlon, is
incomprehensible. He seemed to brood
most over the violation of his trust and
confidence by the departed KoeSSel
at any rate, he had become somewhat
Respondent over the matter. Friday
evening he had gone down to meet his
son-in-law, A. G. HeinrichS. with whom
he talked over his business affairs.
Heinrichs did his best to cheer up the
old gentleman and his words had such
an effect upon Mr.. Mueller that
he left feeling much better in
spirits. 1t was also remarked by
his son and his uncle yesterday
morning that he was much more cheer
full than he had been at any time since
Koessel's departure. He laughed and
joked with all about the saloon yester-
day morning, and that he could be med
itating upon suicide was the last thought
that could enter the minds Of any who
met him. Up stairs, over the saloon,
Mr.. Mueller had fitted up an Office,
where he spent good deal of his time,
and where lie transacted all ms DuSl.
ness. Thither he went taking leave OF
several friends cheerfully, and as II he
were leaving them but for a moment.
About ten minutes after his departure
report was heard. Nothing was thought
of it at the time, it being supposed that
some one had exploded q large fire
cracker. Twenty minutes later Peter
Settlemeyer went up the stairs to call
Mr.. Mueller to dinner. He opened the
door, and then stood transhXed with
horror. There before his desk, sat the
dead body Of Mr.. Mueller. His
coat and vest were unbuttoned and
thrown back, his hat was Oh the
back of his head, his mouth was open,
his eyes fixed and staring, the shirt on
his breast was burned and blackened
by powder, and blood was flowing from
hole IN the left breast, the clothes
being saturated and stffened with the
vital fluid. A WinchestcGs rifle, which
lay on the desk, told only too plainly
how the deed had been done. The bull
let passed completely through the body,
entering Just above the heart and pass
ing out betw cen the shoulder blades and
burying itself in the wall. 1t is believed
that the suicide used paper folder to
push the trigger of the rifle.
The act by Which John B. Mueller
ended his earthly career was not the
result of a momentary impulse. 1t had
been in the mans mind for days. Yes
terday he arose before any OF the other
members of the family were
then that he removed his rifle
from the house to his office over the
saloon. His apparent cheerfulness was
only the natural result OF his having
resOlutely resolved to end his life. He
had telephoned to his son-ip-law, Helm
richS, yesterday morning, to not bother
coming up town, as the matter about
which they had agreed to consult was
settled satisfactorily. That was about
10 o'clock, and two hours afterward
HeinrIchs heard of his death. He left
several letters to his friends, all show
ing that the deed was premeditated. He
commended the care of his property anG
family to A. G. neinrichs, and left {
last message for all his friends. telling
them that he had searched in vain fol
rest. and asking pardon for the deco
which he was about to commit. He alS(
left a note to Robert Blum lodge, l. 0
o. F., of which he was past grand. HI
was also chief patriarch of the state en-
campment. |. o. o. F.
Mr.. Mueller was fifty-siX years old
and was married just thirty-three year,
ago. He leaves wife and seven chill
dren, all of whom are well grown, thu
youngest being ten years old. He wa
for long time secretary OF the Ger
mania Brewing association and tn
senior member of the firm, Mueller
Heinrichs. Recently he purchase.
the saloon of A. j. Rosander, princi
paIly for his son Frank. He wa
known as a solid business man, an
leaves an estate worth, at the least cal
eulation, 100000. The family residenc
is at 211S Fourth street SOUTH The in
terment will take place in ST. Paul
where some members of the family ar
buried, the time to be announced later