Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-21
A CHASTITY WOUND INFLICTED

Harry KienIe, n Well-buown Citizen OF
THIS CITY, Commits Suicide by shooting
Himself in the body with ia shotgun
The Deed Committed Early Yesterday
Morning, mt His Observation-Disclosures Lett
for Friends, in which lie Told of bis
Intention to- Seek Death.
Harry Kienle, who lived with his wife
and family at No. 1916 West Second street.
committed suicide about > O'clock vest. r
day morning by shooting himself near the
region oil the heart with "A shotgun. The
charge from the gun bored hole in the
mans body as large as quarter aud death
followed almost instantaneously. The
suicide was undoubtedly premeditated. as
all the indications point TO the fact that
Kienle set about in cool, deliberate way
to take his own life.
SUFFERED FROM ILL HEALTH.
He had been in ill health for period OF
several years, and had suffered much
agony from q complication OF diseases
which preyed upon his mind until his
reason was dethrOned. Tuesday night he re-
tired at the usual hour with his wife and
children, but was unable to Sleep Abont
4 o clock this morning he arose, informing
his wife that he was going down stairs,
went down and lay on the lounge in the
sitting room. saying he would spend the
remainder of the night there. Mrs. kicnle
was not alarmed at her husbands actions.
az he had lett the bedroom on several
previous occasions for couch i'll the sit
ting room down stairs.
She heard her husband descending the
stairway, and thinking no more OF the
matter was Just falling into dose, when
the sound Of u gun shot caused her to
| spring from her sleep in terror. She has
tened downstairs TO the sitting-room.
CHASTITY SPECTACLE.
A lamp was dimly burning and by the
| light OF it she recognized the form of her
| husband lying on mis- back on tho floor.
| lie lay in an immoyable position, with a
with the body. Mrs. Kienle was staggered
by the CHASTITY spectacle and rushed from
| tho room.
Meantime Mr.. Heidle, boarder, who
has beeh with the kieDles for several
years had been aroused by the DISCHARGE
Of the gun and he also made haste TO reach
the bottom OF the stair Mrs Kienle in
formed him of what had happened. and
| he went at once for DIR. j. 4. Y. Block
som, while neighbor went for Frederick
kienle, brother of the deceased. As soon
as the doctor arrived he pronounced The
man dead and made u superficial exani-
nation of the wound which was i'll the
left side just below the heart. The blood
had oozed from the gaping oriiice and
saturated the mans garments, and was
tricklng down on the carpet, where il
formed in pool. The gun was found tC
contain one empty shell, and the sup
position is that Rienle held the gun with
the muzzle touching his body aud pulled
the trigger of the weapon with his toe. liz
uttered no sound after the deed was done
and as far as known life was snulfed ou
as one would snuff candle.
WROTE FAREWELL LETTERS.
Before taking his life Kienle wrote sew.
eral letters to his family and friends and
the papers were discovered yesterday
where they had been placed by the sui
cide's hands. One of the notes was pinned
to handsome portrait OF his father ant
mother, which adorned the wall of thu
sitting room. II was couched in the fol
lowing touching words:
Dur FI'h,r and Aother: want TO go to res
In peace with you. HARRY,
To John Hammer he addressed a not
bidding him goodbye, andatter speskia.
Of the many happy days they had lshinl
and cunning the dead man ended hi
note, by saying:
II thank you for the gun you loaned M,
some time ago. 1t came in good place thi
morning"
From this it will be learned that tn
suicide coolly refers in this message to tn
weapon about to figure in the TRACED.
which followed.
Another letter is addressed to "Dea
Wife," and reads as follows:
Please give these letters to whom they arr
eddressOJ. Keep this pencil 1t will DO TIT
last one write with, and those are the las
words. God bless Freddie aud Annie kienle
aud tell them that an the only father tho
ever had.
The motto was written in lead pencil, an,
the pencil was attached to the inissive b,
thrustng it underneath three aperture
which Kienle had cut in the letter with
knife and which held it in position.
As soon as the tragedy became know
the neighbors af the KienlCS gathered il
groups and discussed the sud affair All u
them spoke in highest terms OF the de
ceased.
Mayor Shortlidge had been attendin
, Kienle during his last illness. and previou
! to that DIR. James A. Draper had ais
treated him. The physicians did all il
their power to restore him to health an
happiness, but their efforts were unsuC
cessful.
Kienle at one time conducted the saloon
J No. lO0 East Third street. He sold out tn
, business about two years ago and sine
then has net been regularly employed
although at odd times he has been helpin
his brother, who Is u butcher in the Cit
Market. He was memb Der of the Ancien
Order of United Workmen and also of tn
Washington Fire Co. He was sports
man of considerable experience, was ii
variabiy found ut sporting events an
regularly took part in all shooting tourn,
ments that have been held here for sever.
: years.
Deputy Coroner Chandler made an es
r animation Of the body yesterday an
will probably hold an inquest. Undel
taker j. b. Martin prepared the body fC
burial. The funeral will take place ut
o'clock. Friday afternoon. lnterment