Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-23
N[KA|E|HODOF SUICIDE.
George Pfantz, . Well Known
Farmer, Uses Dynamite to
End His Existence.
His Head and Body Badly Mutilated
and His House Partially Wreck
ed BY the Explosion.
Left q Statement Giving His Reas-
ons for the Deed-No
Inquest Is Held.

AuQu0St ~ a0lu.
George w. Pfantz, a farmer residing
In the western part of the county, near
the Story county line, and member of
one OF the best known and wealthiest
families OF that section, suicided Sun
day morning about 9 O'clock
The method employed by Pfantz to
take his life was horrifying. He secured
stick of dynamite, went to an up
stairs room, placed it in his mouth and
exploded the charge. The force of the
explosion mutilated the body and
wrecked q portion Of the house.
Pfantz's head was blown to pieces.
nothing but a small fragment of the
skull remaining attached to the trunk.
A deep cash was cut in his. breast, and
his left hand was torn to pieces. Pieces
of the head We're scattered all about the
room. and a portion of the scalp was
Embedded in the plastering in one of
the angles of the wall. From indica-
tions the body was thrown across the
room, as Pfantz had evidently seated
himself in chair before dscharging
the dynamite.
The terrific force of the explosion
wrecked the room. A hole was blown
through the ceiling, nearly all the plas-
tering was broken from the walls, the
window lights were forced out, the end
of commode was splintered, the door
was blown out and broken and half of
the plastering from the room below, on
the first floor, was knocked from the
walls.
Mrs. Pfantz and hired man,
Louis Thake, We're at home at
the time. AS soon as they
recovered from their CONSERVATION and
realized what had happened help was
sent for Neighbors of the family noti-
fled Coroner Lierle, and with DIR. Jay
Trotter, of Melbourne, who was in this
city. DIR. Lierle drove to the Pfantz
home, which is located about six miles
northwest of State Center. After an
investigation of the facts the coroner
concluded an inquest was not neces-
sary, as the act had undoubtedly been
premeditated for several days.
Mr.. Pfantz had been subject to severe
headaches. and of late had been com
|
left letter, which was somewhat ram
bling and indicated that the mans
mind was unbalanced The letter was
dated Oct. 81. but from appearances
had been carried in his pockets several
days, as the sheets of paper were worn
| The explosion may have caused this
dressed Dear wife and boys" and in il
-. 4. 4
sIleave them go soon, but 1t could not BIZ
helped and it was too late. He sale
'Iliquor was TO blame, and he urged his
boys to always leave liquor alone, as
that is what ruined him. He asked the
boys TO always be good. remain with
their mother while they could. and MOI
forget him. These requests We're re-
i peated several times in the letter
/ which also contained instructions ant
| suggestions as TO the disposal of his
property. He asked his wife to gel
Henry Nolta to sell off the stock, TOLD
5lher there was money in the bank ant
for her to secure that. etc. On sepa
lrate sheet was a note addressed to hi!
4 wife. in which he apoogized to her fol
something he had accused her of. sait
he knew has was wrong and was {
Icrazy man when he said it.
1t is presumed that Pfantz obtained
the stick of dynamite on Saturday
4 when he visited an adjoining farm be
4 longing to his father. and on which
4 workmen were doing some blasting
The surprising part of the contents o
the note is in refernce to the statemen
that liquor was the cause of the de
lceased's troubles as he was not hare
ldrirker and drank only when among
lcrowd of social companions. Since tn
tragedy the eldest son recalls that hi
father Sunday morning asked him If h
wanted his watch. and made some re
mark about his going away. When tn
the boy told his father he had watcl
Mr.. Pfantz remarked that he woul,
give 1t to his brother. Mrs. PfantZ say
there had been no trouble between tn
members of the family and she had III
suspicion that her husband contem
plated suicide, as he ate his breakfas
and appeared as usual on Sunda
morning.
The suicide is man who has en-
loved the acquaintance Of large nun
Der Of friends in the county, he havin
lived in the vicinity of State Cente
during his entire lifetime. He is tn
son of Henry Pfantz, ST., who lives j
the town of State Center, and who
considered one of the wealthiest an
lmost substantial farmers of the count,
Besides his parents, the deceased leave
a family consisting of wife and fou
small sons, the Oldest Of whom is abou
IA years of age. Two brothers also sur
vive the deceased. Henry Pfantz. Jr
and Glenn, both State Center resident!
and four sisters. OF these Miss Angi
Pfantz resides at home, Mrs. Henri
Nowlan lives three miles west of Stat
Center. Miss Mary is a teacher In tn
Chicago schools and another marie
sister lives near Rhodes. The decease
WAS man 38 years Of age.
The funeral was held this afternoo
lat / o'clock, interment following at tn
French Grove German Luthera
lchurch cemetery.
INTO AN OPEN SEWER.
valuable Team Driven Into n Dee
Ditch and ~ Rescued With Di1
Guilty.
A valuable team belonging to J. l