The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-26
MOURNED HIS SON.
Frederick N. PirscE Suicides After
Leaving His Sons Craze.

Frederick N. Pirsch. decorator aud
artistic painter. Of No 1911 Third street
committed suicide last evening by shoot
ing himself twice back of the right ear
with 32-calibre revolver. No cause is
given for his act except sudden fit Of
melancholy brought on by a visit to his
sons grave.
His favorite son Otto died nine years
ago at the age of twenty years, and it is
said that Plrsch has visited the grave
regularly once week for the past nine
years, spending an hour or two each
time praying there. Yesterday. after
eating his dinner, he went to his room
and dressed himself In his best clothes,
telling his wife that he was going to
make his accustomed visit to his sons
grave, and not to wait supper as he
might be detained.
IL was about one fifteen when he left
his home and he must have reached the
cemetery at about two o'clock. He
prayed there for about two hours and
afterwards left, and. as was his habit.
went 10 the saloon of Kraus Bros, VINO
were his personal friends.
Mr., Antoine Kraus was in, and he and
Plrsch chatted pleasantly for moment
or two over a glass of beer.
hraus noticed that he looked rather
NOT and excited and that at times he
would become quito morose. Kraus
didn't question him, however, as to what
was the trouble, as he knew that he had
just come from the cemetery and
tnought his being thus was merely
natural. kraus tried to cheer him up,
but without success.
After he had finished his glass of beer
ne said that he thought he would take a
look around through the summer garden
In back OF the sal BON. He had beeu gone
out couple of minutes When kraus WAS
sudde My startled by two pistol shots in
quick succession.
He hurried out there and saw Pirsch
sitting upright on one of the benches,
holding smoking revolver in his hand,
with the blood ooZiug out of a nasty
wound In his head, behind the right ear.
lille death must have be en- instantaneous.
as he was dead when Kraus got there.
But a single bullet had entered his
head Another one had just grazed his
ear. The body was Immediately taken to
the undertaking establishment of Zerger
Brothers on Ocean avenue nearby. where
II is at present awaiting the coming OF
County Physician.
Two letters were found on the body,
one address TO his wife and the other to
DIR. Sslnon. They were both handed
over to Mrs. Pirsch, but their contents
have not yet been made known.
Pirsch was over sixty years of age. He
was we'll known in Jersey City, where he
at one time conducted splendid business
and was quite wealthy.
His present wife was his second one
and she told NEWS reporter last night
that she knew of no reason for her hus-
bands deed except his grief over his dead
son, as he had no domestic or business
trout bleS that she was aware Of
Mrs. Plrsch is an Irish Swoman. but
Mr.. .Kraus Indignantly denies the story
published in this mornings World, that
Pirsch had told him in the course of
their conversation yesterday never to
marry an Irish woman Pirsch leaves
two daughters by his first wife. both of
whom are married, but no children by
his second one.
The body will be sent to Pirsch's for :
mer home, No. 291 Third street, as soon
rs the County Physician makes his ex-
animation,