Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-15
DIED IN DESPAIR.
Weary of Lies Struggles Peter
Rick Ends His Existence.
SENSATIONAL MODE OF DEATH.

He Deliberately Plans for the Tragedy
and Suicides al the Door of Police Head
quarters without Relatives or Means of
a Livelihood, He Could Find no Further
Inducement for Living-Story of His
Ending.
Weary of the struggle for life. and
without means of further support.
Peter Rick aged 63, suicided almost
at the very door of the police station
at s O'Clock last evening. The deed
was deliberately planned and eNecut-
ed. 1t was about the hour stated
that people passing in the vicinity of
Sixteenth street and Third avenue
were startled by pistol shot, but as
the disturbance was not attended by
any further sound. it was impossible
to detect the exact place from which
it came. A moment later however.
Constable l.. V. Eckhart who had
heard the shot and was passing along
in front of the Armory building had
his attention directed to Il man lying
at the foot of the west stairway rum
ming up to the second floor OF the
building, A number of people had
noticed the PROSTATE form lying
there, but supposed the man was
| drunk Mr.. Eckhart FASTENED into
police headquarters and accompanied
by Chief Miller and Officer Long re-
| turned to where the body was dis
covered and upon closer examination
found the man dead.
| A shocking Discovery.
A pool of blood was discovered un-
| der the head. while back of the right
| ear was a bullet hole. Turning the
| BODY over. 32-calibre revolver was
| found. with all the chambers loaded
J save one from which the leaden mes
senger of death had escaped. The
| body was placed upon stretcher and
| carried into police headquarters. and
Coroner Halves notified. The latter
official arrived soon after and empan-
| neled jury composed of j. h. Bran
denburg. foreman; James Blaisdell.
l.. V. Eckhart, William Dickman.
! Osborne Dunn bauld and Charles +.
Bladel. and proceeded with the in
quest. From the papers found on
| the body and the testimony adduced
it was learned that the mans name
was Peter Rieck. German by
birth. and IS years of age.
unmarried and without relatives
in this country. He had been
a shepherd in the old country and
for 10 wears had resided in America.
He has had no occupation since COM
inc to America. though his habits
were those of sober, quiet man.
Most of the time during his residence
here he had boarded with Mrs. Nigh-
ort at 1910 West Fifth street. Daven-
port. Part of the time he paid his
board. The evidence'of Herman Schu-
macher, a nephew Of Mrs. Wighort,
was taken sustaining these facts, the
witness also stating that he had
known Rieck Is or II years ago in
the old country, that the deceased
had come to this country with wit
ness family and made his home
with them until his mothers death.
when he and his brother secured
him boarding place at the
house of their aunt in Davenport,
Mrs Fritz Wighort. They paid his
board until three months ago. when
Rieck asked for IS month from
them for spending money, when they
dropped him and had not seen him
since The Schumacher family had
until the death of Mrs. Schumacher
resided on Twentyfirst street. this
CITY. Mrs. Katherine Grammar OF
city, an aunt of Schumacher corro-
borated this testimony and also said
she knew no reason why Rieck should
suicide and knew Of his having no
troubles. The testimony OF l.. V.
Eckhart and Officer Carlson was
taken. relating to having heard the
shot.
Deliberately Planned the Deed
On Rieck's person were found
number of letters written in German
some papers relating to the DISPOSE
ton Of his body and $40 in money.
The papers all demonstrated that the
act of self-destruction was deliber
atelv planned, the Inference being
that he had become tired OF living,
and having no relatives. had given
up in despair. and ended his eXls-
tence, having chosen the spot
where the act was commit
ted so as to be as near the station as
possible, where the police might find
his body.
Papers in His Possession.
Among the papers in the possession
of the dead man was deed to lot "a
:, tho Carnan lutheran cemetery.