Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-08
DEPLORABLE DEED.
Robt. Koehler Makes an Unsuc-
cessfuI Attempt at Suicide.
SHOCKING DISCOVERY BY HIS WIFE.

He Arises Early. Goes to Barn and
Opens the Arteries of Both Wrists
Found Unconscious, He is Resuscited, and
it is. Believed He viii Recover-Cause of
the Unfortunate Act and Attendant Cir
cumstances
Ex-Citv Clerk Robert Koehler made
an unsuccessful attempt TO take his
own life at an early hour this morn
ing by opening the arteries of both
wrists. The act was committed in
the barn on his premises at the head
of Twenty-second street. The means
of destruction employed was pocket
knife.
He arose at D O'Clock this morning
before the other members of the fam
| ily had gotten up and went out of
the house. He did not return and
! after 40 minutes had elapsed Mrs.
| Koehler got up and went out to the
| barn in the rear OF the residence
where she was Mortified to find her
husband PROSTATE in one of the stalls
with both wrists cut. and he uncon-
scious. Other members of the fam
| NV anu were
| in and Drs. Barth and HoIlowbush
| being summoned arrived in n few
minutes, and binding up the arteries
| applied restoratives and made other
| efforts to resuscitate him. DR.. Carter
| arrived later and Mr.. koehler was
| placed upon cot and carried into
| the house where the doctors worked
| with him for some time. When the
4 L. i -,
| such that it was feared that efforts
| would be fruitless. but after some
| minutes the circulation was strength
| encd and it is now thought that he
will get through all right.
Sorry He Did Not succeed.
The captain remained in an I'M
| conscious condition for some time but
finally regained it. and after liz
ing that he had failed in his etorts
at self-destruction. expressed him
self as sorry that he had not been
| successful.
Later the captain frightened up
and seemed more like himself but he
declined to disclose am reason for
| the deplorable act on his part. The
attending physicians attribute the
deed to temporary mental alteration
| n.
appointment. Tie captain ordinar-
ilv Il light heart ed man. had been
! noticeably desTondent of late. especi-
| ally did he appear so to those who
i were brought in Immediate contact
with him. City Clerk Huesin@ no
ticed it in particular when he relieved
| him of his duties of city clerk last
| Tuesday morning. The night before
! when he was succeeded in the council
| chambe by Mr.. Huesing he seemed
in n particularly happy frame Of mind
! and was courteous a he always Is,
! with all he met and he took occasion
, there to personally offer his thanks
! to few personal friends for
| their kindness to him during his
| term of office. The next morning his
demeanor had changed as regards his
lirht heartedness. though he was
oblirinr to ali as of old. and par
( ticularlv to Mr.. Huesing. his success
! sor in Office The latter gentleman
| had asked him to remain in the Of
, flee indefinitely until he could be-
! come familiar with the duties. and
| the captain had consented. though
! no definite arrangement had been
| made. But it was generally under
stood that Capt. Kochler would stay
for time at least
Mr. Huesing Noticed His Despondency-
Il had noticed the captains de
| spondencv ever since last Tuesday,
said Clerk Huesing this morning
He complained repeatedly Of not
/ feeling well. and spoke particularly
! about his head bothering him. He
also seemed worried about his future
plans and his own condition pecu-
niarily speaking. For instance, one
dav he said to me. i hope that II
| Won serve IS years rs city clerk
| when YOU will leave the office, you
will be better off than | am fixed. .
| SATURDAY. afternoon | advised him TO
90 home and rest-he seemed to
be feeling so badly. He went
to drug store and secured
some medicine for his headache.
He returned 10 the Office and re-
manned until o'clock. Before start
ing home he asked me if | had every
thing ready for the council meeting
| told him had. and that if he was
feeling indisposed he had better not
| come down to the council meeting
He said perhaps he would not come
down then. When closing-up time
came. we left the office together.
| When we reached the foot of the
stairs the captain said he had forgot
ten something and returned to the
office. / waited for him at the police
| station. and then walked slowly up
the street and stopped at one or two
places in expectation OF his overtak-
| ipu mo But he did not and / have