The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-06-02
MYSTERY Is SOLVED.
MAN WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE
WAS WILLIAM BRINKMEYER.
HAS CLAIM TO ROYAL BIRTH.
Said to Have Bean German Count Exi1ed
From Political Purposes-Had
Money and Gold Watch
Which is Missing.

The mystery which surrounded the
identity of the old German found dead
in St. Georges cemetery last Tuesday
morning is no longer mystery, for his
friends and former employers from Mil
Waukee came today and positively
identified him as Wilhelm Brinkmeyer,
who resided at 1877 Warren Avenue in
Milwaukee.
The boey was identified shortly after.
noon today by James Quinn and the
Identification is complete. The re-
mains have been ordered prepared for
burial in way that is suitable to the
rank and station of the old man.
The men who identified the remains
today tell strange story and if it can
be credited a very interesting story
may yet be evolved from the dead body
of the old German who lies stiff and
cold in Hansen's morgue.
According to the statement of Mr..
Quinn Wilhelm Brinkmeyer has a bis
tory, of which few who should see him
in his present state, would believe
But truth is stranger than fiction and
the Milwaukee man says that the sup
posed suicide could point with pride to
an ancestry through which runs the
most royal of Teutonic blood.
Years ago he was a Count in Ger
many and was possessed of a great deal
of money. Political revolutions arose
and Brinkmeyer had the misfortune to
be on the wrong side and he was forced
not only to part with a portion of his
money, but to leave bis native home
behind and seek a residence in new
world. After several years of roaming
about the country he came to Milwau
kee and began to live by himself.
Later he yearned for something to do
and was given a position of doing odd
jobs about the houses Of several we'll
known families in Milwaukee, among
which were Charles Schley and Edward
Barber He has been constantly about
Mr.. Schley's residence for over twenty
years and during this time his gentle
character and cheerful disposition has
made him as if he were one of the
family. The family has long known
the story of his past life and has not
sought to look farther into it than the
old mans story. They say he has had
money at all times and spent it freely.
He left Milwaukee last Saturday to
come to Kenosha on an important
business matter and Mr.. Quinn said
that at that time he had on his person
quite sum of money and a fine gold
watch. Mr.. Barber, the Milwaukee
man, speaking to Sentinel reporter,
said of Brinkmeyer: He lived alone at
| 176 Warren avenue and seemed to be
a man of UNUSUAL attachments for one
of his station. He was about 70 years
of age and was an interesting chaTac-
ter in many ways, enjoying the entire
confidence of the persons for whom he
worked. Some years ago the man was
robbed of several hundred dollars on
Wisconsin street, being found insensi
BILE in an alley the next morning.
Such are the statements given out
by the Milwaukee people who knew
the supposed suicide, and further in
vestigation will be necessary to prove
the truth or falsity of their statements.
One thing is certain, the mans name is
! not Schulz, but Brinkmeyer, and the
evidence given at the coroner's inquest
does not in any way meet the details
given by his former friends. The fur
Their investigation of the case will be
watched with great interest.
Since these later developments have
been discovered, it may be necessary
to hold post norton examination of
! the remains.