The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-01
JOHN III. KoCK, FORMERLY A SHOE
MERCHANT, MEETS A TRAGIC
END.
SAID TO HAVE BEEN SUICIDE.
RAN ALONG SIDE OF MOVING
FREIGHF AND PLUNGED
UNDERNEATH
LAID HIS NECK ACROSS THE RAIL.
Boys Who Witnessed the Tragedy
Tell How They Think 1t
Happened.

John HI. Koch. formerly g. boot and
shoe merchant Of this city, put tragic
end to his life shortly before noon yes
terday by deliberately throwing himself
beneath the wheels of Eaoving freight
train in the Omaha yards at the foot of
John street. Death was instantaneous,
the wheels Of three cars passing over
the neck Of the desperate man and
completely severing the head from the
body. The deed of self destruction was
witnessed by three young boys who,
when they realized that a human be-
ing was being killed before their eyes,
shouted to the brakeman on top Of the
cars that a man had been run over
and the train was at once brought to
standstill The crew hurried to about
the middle Of the train and were met
by horrifying sight. Under the box
of one of the cars lay the decapitated
body of a we'll dressed man. A few
feet from the trunk was the dismem-
bered head while a portion Of one hand
had also been cut from the wrist. The
train was held and Coroner Whitcomb
Immediately summoned to the scene.
In the pocket& the dead mans coat
was found a N6eher wallet containing
several business cards bearing the
name of J. III. Koch, dealer in boots
and shoes. 274 East Seventh street,
and a check endorsed by the same
name. Inquiry on the part Of the cor
oner located brother-in-law of the
dead man named w. E. Buschmann
dsx,rr nd .+,,
man was 40 years old and leaves a
wife and four children, the oldest of
whom is II years.
In speaking to a reporter for the
G o b e Of the death Of his brother-in-
law Mr.. Buschmann stated that he was
thoroughly convinced that it was a
case Of suicide and while so desperate
course on the part Of his relative
had not been expected, he had been
suffering from mental trouble for the
last year which undoubtedly led to his
taking his own life.
Until little over year ago." said
Mr.. Buschmann, my brother-in-law
was engaged In prosperous shoe
business at the corner of Seventh and
Rosabel streets. Some fourteen months
since, however, he was forced to make
an assignment and go out Of business.
This misfortune preyed upon his mind
night and day and finally resulted in
insomonia. Two months ago his wife
persuaded him to consult a physician
and he has been under the care of a
doctor ever since, though we were as
sured that his malady was not of a.
dangerous nature and consequently we
never anticipated any such sudden or
desperate action.
Yesterday morning Mr. Koch came
to my house about 10 o'clock and we
had a most pleasant talk, when he left
to go to his own home at 859 Francis
street. He went home, directly but did
not remain any length of time, telling
his wife and children that he was going
down town. Nothing in his demeanor
indicated that he contemplated taking
his life when he left home and as he
went down the street he playfully wav-
ed his hand to his oldest daughter,
and to her inquiry of when he would
return, said in a little while This is
the last that his family heard of him
alive. Mr.. Koch was very strong
minded. determined man and in my
opinion decided to kill himself on the
spur of the moment and as suddenly
carried out his purpose The only
cause I can assign for the act is that
he became utterly discouraged over his
failure and subsequent inability to pro-
cure employment, and in a moment of
desperation determined to end his
troubles by suicide"
The story told by Mr.. Buschmann is
substantiated by the boys who wit
messed the affair. Arthur Weilde, liv-
ing at 1896 Hastinge avenue, George
Maloy, living at 655 Plum street and
Kuno Rink, residing at 1874 Hastings
avenue, had been down town on an err
rand and had reached the corner of
John and Third streets on their way
home, when they stopped to watch a
freight train pulling out from beside
the Omaha freight house. AS the train
started to move Weilde says he and his
companions saw man who had been
standing near the corner Of the freight
house run along side Of the cars as
though intending to jump aboard
The man was Koch and he apparently
wanted to reach point near
err the head Of the train as he passed
several cars of the slowly moving train
and ran toward the engine. At about
the middle of the train he suddenly
plunged under the car trucks head
first, and according to one of the wit
nesses, deliberately lay his head across
the rails. A brakeman on the rear car
of the train had also seen Koch run
ming along beside the train, but on ac-
count of his position did not see him
when he jumped between the cars.
When the boys called to him what had
occurred he signalled the train to
standstill, and hurrying to the forward
cars found the mangled body of the
suicide laying across the track
The engineer. of the train informed
Coroner Whitcomb that he had noticed
Koch standing near the freight house
for some little time before his train
pulled out and also saw him start to-
ward the cars, he thought, only with
the intention of securing a ride.
Mrs. Koch, who was informed Of her
husbands death by her brother, Mr.
Buschmann, was overcome with grief
and as she is a delicate woman 1t is
feared the shock may result seriously.
The funeral will take place from the
undertaking rooms of Thaung aud
jacobson, 1923 East Seventh street, to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock