The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-25
From The Daily Item of December 49,.
A TRAGIC DEATH.

Mr. Herman Schwerin, the wel-known
senior member of the firm Of Schwerin & Co.,
shot himself through the head this moruln Z
at $50 O'Clock and died almost instantly
from the wound. The news of the terrible
tragedy spread like wid-6re over tne town,
and the toce Of awe that every mans voice
had when he spoke of the sad end of Mr..
Schwerip was an indication of the surprise
and grief thst all felt.
The circumstances of the sad affair Will
never be known, as Mr.. Schwerin was alone
in his room when the pistol vas discharged
and the bullet sent crashing through bis
brain and hurried him into eternity. Mr..
Schwerin was in the act of dressing, aud had
been talking to Mrs. Schwerin before she lett
the room few minutes previous to thed l5-
charge of the pistol When the report of the
pistol rang through the house, Mrs. Schwerin
and others FASTENED to the room. They
found Mr.. Schwerin lying on his back upon
the aoor, wound in the right side of his
head, slightly above his ear, and on the
opposite side there was smaller
wound-where The ball made its exit,
after passing directly through his brain.
he was unconscious and breathing heavily
and irregularly. DR.. Mood was summoned,
but could Go nothing, the wounded man was
beyond mortal aid The ball, which was
from 3s.calibre, Smith l. Wesson revolver.
was found on the ground where, it fell after
passing through Mr. Schwerin's head, break
ing pane of glass in the window near
where he was standing, and striking against
the window shutter. From the position OF
Mr.. Schwerin when assistance reached him, it
is supposed that be was standing 10 front OF
a burea1 when the pistol was discharged.
Il, IS not known whether the pistol was
discharged accidentally or Intentionally.
There was no reason why be should have
taken his life, and those who knew him best,
personally aad 10 business way, can frame
no hypothesis 10 account for the theory that
Mr.. Schweriu took his own life. he was
not involved in business to an extent to
drive him to self destruction and had his
business affairs been in such serious condl-
ton. be would have had no trouble in OBJ
tanning eall the ssistance be would have
needed His books have been examined and
the theory of business complications proven
false. IF the shot was fred Intentionally,
and it is now believed by great many that
it was not, there is but one reasonable theory
to accounat for the act, and that is that
Mr.. Schwerin was seized with paryoxism of
neuralgia, with which he suffered intensely,
and in the agony shot bimself. But be it as
it may. Sumter has lost good citizen and
macy man to-day counts himself the poorer
in that he knows that be has lost true
friend q friend who was strong in his likes
and 6islikes but always sincere, outspoken
aDi manly.
Coroaer Commander empauelIed a jury
imu .d,ate!y after Mr. Schwerin's death, and
navi1g heard the testimony Of Dr.. Mood and
the circumstances surrounding the death. the
Jury rendered the following verdict
.sThat the said H. Schwerin came to his
death from pistol shot wound IN the head,
whether said wouad was inflicted by acci-
dent OF otherwise is not known to the jury,
in the absence of any testimony whatever.
the deceased being alone at the tine of his
death"
Mr. Schweriu was a native of Sumter and
passed nearly all of his life in this city.
He was in the forty third year Of his age, and
was as popular and Influential acitizeo sSum-
ter possessed. He Was member of the City
Council, having been elected to fill the unex-
pired term OF Alderman Delgar, deceased. Mr.
Schwerin leaves wise-a daughter of the
late Jackson Moses-and 6Ve children His
Oldest child, Herman Schwerin, Jr., died a
few years ago, when about sixteen years old,
from, the effects of fall from the piazza at
the Graded School, and his death was bitter
grief to Mr.. Schwerin who had never re-
covered from that affection.
The funeral services will be held at the res
idence tomorrow at 10 o'clock. Mr. Schwe-
rim was a member of the Masonic Lodge,
Knights of Py,hias, Knights of Honor,
Legion of Honor and, perhaps, Of other
orders.
At this time it is net possible to do full
Justice to Mr. Schwerin's worth as man and
citizen, but the pail Of gloom that hangs
over the city to-day is token of the esteem
in which be was held by his associates. He
was big-hearted, impulsive, generous man
Just such man to have hosts of friends
aud Mr.. Schwern had bis by the hundred.
Long will be be missed, and long will his
sad tragic, inexp.icable end be deplored by
those who knew him and were privileged to
cal! him friend.