San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-28
A SAD SUICIDE.
A WELL KNOWN SAN ANTONIO
PHYSICIAN DEAD.
Ill Health and Low Spirits Leads
DIR. Wilke to do Self Murder
With a Surgeons Blade.

news that DR.. VIM. Wilke, the
we'll known homeopathic physician
had committed suicide.
Such proved to be the fact, how
ever, and every evidence surround
ing the death of the Doctor estab
lished this beyond question.
DR.. Wilke had his suite Of
office rooms in the Alamo
Insurance building, adjoining
those of General J. H. Nc.
Leary. He has a residence on
Taylor street, where his wife and
three children reside.
During the absence Of Gen. Nc.
Leary's family In the east he has
occupied his law office as a sleep.
ing apartment and this morning
about 20 o'clock he was aroused
by hearing groans issuing from DR.,
Wilkes room. He arose, tried the
door and finding it locked, reused
the janitor. A duplicate key was
found and the door was unlocked.
DR.. E. l.. Beaumont was also
aroused and these gentlemen, when
they entered the room were horri-
fed to find the now lifeless
body Of their neighbor lying upon
the floors with a bloody cash in
the throat, and blood-stained sur.
geon's cotton and two surgeons
knives close by. The hands were
crossed upon the breast and the
body, only clothed in its undergar-
ments, was stretched full length
upon its back, on a run.
Death had resulted from exhaus.
tion from loss OF blood.
That the unfortunate man had
committed suicide by severing the
jugular vein, was established by
the bloody surgeons knife, and a
bloody razor lying by. A spittoon
was also found nearly filled with
blood. The latter had been used
to catch the greater part of the
blood from the wound, until be-
coming exhausted. The physician
had lain upon the floor and had en-
deavored to saturate the cotton
with the last drops in order, no
doubt, to make as little stains upon
the floor as possible.
No letter or message of any
kind was found in the room. A
dimly burning night lamp was the
only light.
Officer Maltsberger was at once
notified and Coroner Jones was
summoned. He took the evidence
OF the first corners in the
room and then notified In
dertakers Sheern & Burnett, and
gave them charge Of the corpse for
preparation for burial pending
the wishes Of the family, who
were notified. Soon after the body
was removed to the family resi-
dence, No. 135 Taylor street, where
his grief stricken wife and children
were left with their dead, with sew
ersl kind friends remaining in at
tendance.
The cause Of the suicide is said
to be entirely due to i'll health. He
has long been a sufferer from heart
disease and for the past few days
has been very greatly dis
pirited. Yesterday morning he
sent note to DIR. Beaumont
telling him he was ill. Later in
the day he called on him and the
doctor asked for some coffee. Sew
eral patients came in and to these
he chatted awhile, telling them
what they should do If he were
called away. DR.. Beaumont left
him lying upon a lounge at |
O'Clock p. m.
DR.. Wilke was member OF the
Masonic fraternity in good stand
ing, but to some Of his intimate
friends, one of whom was General
McLeary, he discussed Bob Inger.
soils views upon suicide, adhering
to the belief that when a man was
i'll and there was nothing to live
for, suicide was not criminal.
He often expressed solicitude for
his family and said were it not for
the idea of leaving them he would
kill himself.
DR.. Wilke was from Chicago,
where he was a practicing physi-
clan until four years ago, when he
removed to San Antonio. He has
two brothers, physicians, now in
that city. He had built up a very
good practice while here, and had,
it Is said considerable means and a
good income.
Justice Jones, as coroner, has
rendered a verdict of suicide. The
hour of the funeral has not yet
been announced.
Traveller Changes Hands.
BOSTON, Mass, Nov. 2S.- The
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