The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-28
BY HIS OWN HAND
OTTO ZIMMERMAN ENDS BIS LIFE
WITH a REVOLVER.
No Canse Is Given But the Supposition Is
That He Was Financially Embarrassed
He Left no Letter to His Friends Ex-
planning His Self Destruction-He Was
Anxiousiy Awaiting a Letter That Was
Tardy in Coming and Evidently Grew
Despondent-He Was Heavily Insured
and Belonged to Many Societies.

Tardy In Coming and Evidently Grew
Despondent-He Was Heavily Insured
and Belonged to Many Societies.
At Has Sunday, Otto Zimmerman
put bullet Through his head in the
bed room Of his residence at Sl5 South
Water street He died instantly.
Mr.. Zimmerman slept until 8 O'Clock
At which time he arose and dressed. He
seemed TO be cheerful and happy as ne
always was through life He remain
ed at the home all the mornig. Mr..
Zimmerman and her sister Bertha were
getting dinner. At the time mentioned
Mr.. Zimmerman went out in the kitch-
en- and said Hello, Bertha, how are
you?" That was a habit he had. He
would greet a person 100 times an hour
If he met one that many times He
spoke in a cheerful tone and said
Where is Clara?'' meaning his wife
''She is in the arbor picking some
grapes for dinner" was the reply.
Mr.. Zimmerman then went to the
screen door Of the kitchen, looked at
his wife about a minute and then went
10 his bedroom, shutting the door be-
hind him
In amo men,t or so Bertha heard a
noise as il something heavy had fallen
with a crash and she ran to the bed
room door and opened il just in time
10 see Mr.. Zimmerman strike the floor.
She at once called Mrs. Zimmerman and
she, ascertaining what had happened,
ran screaming for Mrs. Cline, a neigh
Dor, who. at the time, was at church.
When she got back Mrs. Emil Werner
had come over inquirfnfy who had been
burned, the suppoSiifon in her mind be-
ing that a gasoline stove had exploded
another moment Hubert Child and
Officer Sutton had come in, they having
heard the screams OF Mrs. Zimmerman
also
The body Of Mr.. Zimmerman had fal-
len by the bed side. His head was UP
against the bed and il leaned on his
breast.
The coroner was notified and he en-
paneRed a jury, but the evidences OF
suicide were so plain that no inquest
was held.
The body was removed by Undertaken
Gill and dressed and was again taken
10 the house last evening. The funeral
will be held today
There Were all kinds of reports in
circulation. Some said that Otto had
been negctfa ting for a business en-
gagement with some eastern parties
and that the deal was of great import
ance 70 him 1t was said also that he
had been looking anxiousiy and nerv-
ously for about a week for a letter,
that he got at the poStoffice Sunday
morning and that 1t was unfayorabie
70 his plans
The fact of the matter is he didn't get
rhe letter Sunday, nor was he at the
pestoffice that morning. There is.
doubtless some truth in the report that
he expected an important letter and
that those from whom he expected Il
were too tardy in writing.
Quite a good deal has been said also
with reference to his financial condition.
There may or may not be some truth
in the report that he was financially
embarrassed. 1t IS possible that he
was. Some said that a certain mort
gage on his property was coming due
but that was merely guesswork. There
is one thing certain and that is that
his sueeide was not the result Of any
domestice infejcity. His home life was
extremely pleasant and ne and Mrs
zimmerman were very devoted to each
other
Mr.. Zimmerman's life was heavily In
eured and the widow will receive prob
ably s25.0 He belonged 10 five or six
mutual benefit socities and had insur-
ance in some OF the old line compan mics.
The death of Mr.. Zimmerman caused
general regret all over the city He was
one Of the clevereSt and best natured
citizens Of Wichita. He was big heart
ed and almost too generous. He was
everybody's friend and If he had an
enemy nobody knew it. His home life
was pleasant He had no children but
Mra Zimmerman's sister lived with
them. Mr.. zimmerman was born in |
Germany and was about IL years OF
age.
The funeral VIII take place today.