Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-07-21
HEYDLAUFF SUICIDES.
Tragic End Of the Sensational
County Order Forgery Case
at Ashland.

Ashland Wis. July III Special /
Just as court was about to take UP the
fourth day of the Heydlauff case, which
has attracted so much attention through
out the state, the attorneys and those pres
ent in the courtroom were notified that the
case had come to sudden ending-that
Robert c.. Heydlauff had shot himself.
The news fell like a bombshell on the
listeners. 1t was a great shock to all
and as they filed out of the courtroom
not word was spoken.
The fact which made the surprise
more complete was that today was to
have opened the testimony for the de-
Tense and the witnesses were to have
been some of the most prominent men in
Ashland, including Mayor Bardon, COun-
ty Treasurer Nelson and others.
Heydlauff shot himself at his home
with 32-caliber revolver and died al
most instantly. There can be no other
reason for the deed than that he wished
to rid himself of the troubles which were
closing around him as a result Of the ex-
animation into the recent forgeries.
he seemed to be in good spirits all of
the time and arose this morning after a
refreshing sleep to prepare himself for
the fourth day of his examination.
rious topics and did not seem to be the
least bit concerned about business mat
ters of any sort.
Shortly after breakfast he left his wife
and daughter in the dining room and
went upstairs, presumably to finish his
toilet before going. up to the courtroom.
A few minutes afterward a pistol shot
rang out and Mrs. Heydlauff rushed up
stairs, fearing the worst, only to find her
fOrebOdingS too true. CrOSSWiSe on the
bed with a revolver clutched in his right
hand lay the corpse of her husband. He
had placed the gun inside his mouth and
fired, the bullet coming out of the right
temple. Death being instantaneous.
Attorney Sleight, who happened to be
passing the door, heard the shot followed
by wOman's cry, and stopped to inves-
tigate. At that moment Mrs. Heydlauff
rushed down the steps and told him of
her husbands deed. Mr.. Sleight quick
ly notified several doctors, but the man
was already dead. Coroner Scott was
notified and jury empanelled which
viewed the body as it lay on the bed in
a pool of blood. The inquest was post
poned until , o'clock so that the grief
stricken wife might give testimony.
Mr.. Heydlauff was 40 years of age and
was surrounded with all the luxuries of
life. He was appointed chief state en-
crossing clerk during the last session of
the Legislature and made many friends
while there: He had long been promi-
nent III Ashland social and political ways
and was chairman of the Republican
county committee at the time of his
death
The first intimation of misdoings on
the part of Heydlauff was about three
months ago when he was arrested on Il
charge of presenting forged order to the
county treasurer for payment. HeydlaUH
entered a strong denial at the time and
he had no trouble in securing bondsmen.
On July he was again arrested on a
second charge, the complaint alleging the
passing of forged orders. His trial was
set for July o.
At first the trial progressed favOrably
for the defendant but during the past
two days the prosecutions introduced some
very damaging testimony. County
Clerk Yankee and County Treasurer Mel
son testified that Heydlauff had present
ed an order to be cashegf for 1881. but
that it had BEEN rejected on account of
being forgery. This was last May.
The order was returned To Heydlauff,
who claimed that it had been given to
him by a relative in Michigan. g. w.
Marshall testified that HeYdlauf had pre-
sented an order last February for $624
and that it was also found to- be for
gerry. Still another was, brought forth
for S491. O6. Il was claimed that Heyd-
lauff had presented the one for 1921 in
payment for Judge Nelson's taxes. Two
experts were placed on. the stand who
testified that the handwriting on the
forged orders was Identical with that of
Heydlauff's
The prosecution finished its case yester-
day and the defense asked to, have an
other day in which to- begin it's side of.
the question This was granted by the
judge and the hearing was, to- have been
continued today