The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-05

! Of the suicide. were present when the
| deed was committed. On Wednesday
afternoon some boys, including
| young son of Mr.. Dreis, engaged in a
snoWballing contest near Ninth and
St Peter streets. The result of the
play, as told in the G o e yesterday,
was a runaway, or several of them.
The persons who had been damaged
by the runawayS called at the store of
Mr.. Dreis yesterday noon and explain
ed that, as his son was one of the lads
which had caused the trouble, he
ought to pay for some Of the damage.
Mr.. Dreis, who has been lately much
worried over business and financial
matters, took the lad to task for his
foolishness and pointed out how he
had been called on to pay damages for
the snowballing fun. Other members
of the family thought the lad was not
wholly to blame in the matter. Leaving
his eldest son George Dreis, who was
discussing the matter with him in the
front part of the store, Mr.. Dreis walk
| ed back to the private office, took Il
revolver from a case hanging on the
! wall, placed a cartridge in the weapon
and putting the revolver to the right
| side of his head pulled the trigger. He
| fell to the floor and died instantly.
/ Mr. White gave the following version
| Of the affair: He had visited the store
to see If any mail had been left there
| for him and found Mr.. Dreis and his
| eldest son having a discussion in the
| front part of the store. He stood d
few feet away and shortly after he
entered Mr.. Dreis walked toward the
office in the rear Of the drug store. He
was excited at the time and his son
| George asked White to go back and
pacify his father. White started back
to have talk with Dreis and just as
he reached the entrance to the Office
saw him place the revolver to his head
and an instant later, before he could
stay his hand, there was a report and
Dreis fell on the floor. Dr. Baker was
Immediately summoned but death was
instantaneous and all that could be
done was to notify Coroner Nelson.
The sound of the shot alarmed the
members Of the family occupying
rooms Immediately over the store, and
Mrs Dreis and the children hurried
! to the store only to be shocked by
| the sight of the lifeless body. The
/ scene that followed was a sorroWful
| one, Mrs. Dreis and the children being
almost Frustrated by the shock. The
remains, after being viewed by the
| coroner, were taken to WillWerSchied'S
| undertaking rooms.
Mr.. Dreis was a most genial man,
! and the last person one would expect
| to take his own life. He has. lately
been much worried over financial mat
| tiers, and to more than one customer
VINO called yesterday, said he did not
wonder people killed themselves. The
| block bearing his name at Ninth and
st. Peter streets, part of which he oc-
cupied with his store and living apart
ments, was mortgaged for $4,000
Lately, business had fallen off consid-
erably, and, by the closing of the Ger
| mania bank, he anticipated that he
would be pressed for a $1,000 note,
which was held by that institution.
! This his friends claim, caused him
much anxiety and led up to the deed
Mr.. Dreis was born at Trier, Ger
| many, in 1912. He came to St Paul
| in 1855 and has resided here since that
time. He learned the drug business
i'll the store Of Day & jerks at Third
and Cedar streets, and afterward
| formed a partnership with George J
Mitsch, under the firm name of Mitsch
| & Dreis. The firm continued in bust
ness for thirteen years and was then
| dissolved, Mr.. Dreis going into busi-
| ness for himself In 1883 he put up
the block at Ninth and st. Peter streets
! and has been actively engaged in the
! drug business at that location He is
said to have been the oldest druggist
! in the state. He leaves a wife and
seven children, three daughters and
| four sons. His eldest child, Mrs. +. w.
| Hauenstein, of New Ulm, is at present
visiting her parents; George, the eldest
son, is employed in the Merchants Ma.
ti0nal bank as bookkeeper. His broth
er. Martin Dreis, is employed in the
! government printing office at Wash
ington, and his two sisters are Mrs.
Albert Scheffer and Mrs. P. J. Geisen
In early days Mr.. Dreis was a mem
Der Of the volunteer fire department
and took great interest in the organic
alton. He served a term as member Of
the school board, and in 1892 ran for
| city treasurer, as an Independent can
t didate, receiving 5000 votes He was a
member Of Schiller Grove Druids. Uni
versity Lodge A. O. u. w, Junior
Pioneers, and st. Peters Benevolent
society. The arrangements for the fu-
neral have not been completed, but
will undoubtedly take place from the
Assumption Catholic church, Of which
he was member.