Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-20
WELCOMED A CORPSE.
William Schade Shoots Himself Be-
fore Wife and Daughter,
WHO WAITED TO RECEIVE HIN.
A Well-Known Business Man and Promi-
nent in Societies.
MELANCHOLY DRIVES HIM TO SUICIDE

MELANCHOLY DRIVES HIM TO SUICIDE
Just as day was breaking and the world
was awakening to beautiful Sunday morn
ing William F. Schade, the Wood street
real estate and insurance agent, unhappy
and miserable in mind and body, ended his
life with a bullet almost before the very
eyes of his loving wife and daughter The
suicide was probably known to as large
circle of friends and acquaintance as any
man in the city and, though his immediate
family had nearly "a hours before been ap-
prised that the deed would be done, the
shock of his tragic death will be felt all
over the two cities.
For the past six months his business has
been unsatisfactory, his health has been
poor and he has exhibited signs of mental
alteration. but his family were not arpre-
hensive until within the past week, his ac-
tions having become decidedly erratic. Or
Friday morning he dressed in his best suit
of clothes and departed for his Office, bid
ding his family an effectionate goodby and
vainly striving to conceal the melancholy
he felt. He was seen at his Office that day
but did not 60 home Friday night
Notified His Friends He Would Die.
On Saturday morning Schade's wife, his
brother-in-law, John n. Woche, who lives
on Lincoln avenue, near the Spencer street
bridge, in the Twenty-frst ward, his father
in-law, Gottleib Woche, of the Thirteenth
ward, his brother, Christian Schade, of Law
renceyille, and DR.. H. Asthalter, of $500
Penn avenue, all received letters from him,
written Friday evening, in which he init
mated strongly that he intended to end his
life To his wife he gave information as to
property and private business arrange
ments and instructed her what she
should do in event Of his sudden
death. To his brother, father-in-
law and brotherin-law he expressed
a desire to end all his troubles, and init
mated that the taking of his own life was
the only step left to him. To DR.. Asthalter,
his intimate friend and family physician, he
suggested the same thought, and requested
Finley street, Twenty first ward, on Satur-
day evening, as his services would be great
ly needed.
Watching for Her husbands Return.
Naturally the receipt of these letters Gre
ated CONSERVATION among the suicides
friends. As he had not come home Friday
night, a search was made for him Saturday,
but he could not be found, and in the even
ing Mrs. Schade and her daughter fearing
her husband might go to the house of John
Woche, on Lincoln avenue, went there to
watch for him. Mr. Woche' and his
father went to the Schade house to
watch for him there. The mother and
daughter with Mrs. John Woche sat up all
night, watching, waiting and dreading.
About O'Clock yesterday morning. they
heard a rustling among the leaves in the
vineyard on the hillside in rear of the
house, and looking from a rear window they
saw Schade slowly walking toward the
house and looking at them, Joyfully they
ran downstairs to open the door for him,
they caught a second glimpse of him, a
pistol shot rang out on the morning air.
The three women ran out quickly and to |
their horror found tho suicide lying on his |
face on the ground, a large revolver tightly |
clutched in his hand and the blood gushing |
from gaping hole in his right ear. He was |
dead before they reached him. The shot |
had awakened several of the neighbors who |
came rushing out and a doctor was hastily |
called, but it was too late. The body was |
carried into the house and the coroner and |
veyed to the family residence on Finley |
street opposite Silver Lake grove.
He Loved the Bright Sunshine.
Schade was one OF the most prominent hee |
of the city, which will account for |
the socialistic tone of the following letter |
which was found on his person, not dated nor |
addressed, but evidently written within |
few days:
Il did not want to die but was compelled |
to as millions have before me and l sup |
pose a great many will do after me. like |
the sunshine and the beautiful in nature, |
but If the price for my being here
has or rascal or 0i If neither ssrs or OF shess
then to live on charity and be treated |
then, l say moi rather dead. If
in the sad condition am in can't make an
living for my small family hon.
estly and retain my freedom without taking
unfair advantage of my fellow men, then 1 |
will quit. As long as the present competi-
for himself and God help the last
where the. god of greed reigns
supreme and crushes his millions every
year, where flesh and blood is so cheap and |
happen. 1t is a natural result-it can't be
helped. 1t will be passed over with the re-
mark, Another fool gone.' All right. it will |
matter very little to me what name you use |
But think whether these so-called fools |
have not been compelled to do as they did"
Changed His Clothing Before suicldins.
The clothing found on the body showed
hat Schade had returned to his own no use
without the family knowing it after he left
IN Friday morning, A search was made,
Ind in a stable in the rear of the house was
found his best clothing, which he had OK
changed for his business suit and hung up
n the stable. In a small basket
llgh up on sne Enna bans ms
80 in money and some papers and other
articles usually carried in his pockets. The
etter to his brother in-law referred to these
lrticIes, but now he managed to get into the
house and effect the change in his dress
without detection is not known.
The revolver used was new 3s-calfber
,ull dog, which Coroner's Clerk Grant
|
It the inquest this morning. There were
hree empty and two loaded cartridges in
he pistol and several unused cartridges
v ere found in the pockets.
Schade was a native of Germany, but came
% this country when q child. When he was
luite young the family settled in Lawrence
lille. and he made his first start In business
periodicals., which he continued until he
rev to manhood, and was known bv every
nan, woman and child in that part of the
ity.
Went Into Real Estate Business.
In the meantime he had opened a store for
he sale of newspapers. cigars and notions
IN Butler street, which he continued at
'arious locations until q little more than
wo years ago. when he sold out and en-
,arked in the real estate and insurance busi-
less at No. 3l5 Wood street, Sut while little
3 known about his business his letter indi-
ates that he was not successful.
In business and all other relations he bore
he reputation of being strictly honorable
nd upright. He was prominently con-
lected with numerous German social clubs
nd turnvereins in the two cities, and was
lighly regarded by all who knew him. The
ome he occupied ON Finley street was his,
nd he owned other property in the city.
Ie leaves q wife and one child, q H-year-old
laughter. His brothers, Christian, George
nd Carl, are all well-to-do business men in
and his sister, Mrs. Berger, is
lso well known in that part of the city. No |
auSe for his suicide except melancholia, |
reduced by business reverses and i'll health, |