The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-25


Saturday morning about $3.50 o'clock ir
sitting position on a bench at the
Water Works park. On the grass. a,
the feet of the dead man lay a 3S-cal-
ibre revolver with one chamber empty
side, evidently intended to be fired into
the heart but striking several inches
body was found indicated that death
was instantaneous after the firing of
the revolver.
Edward Sexauer died by his own
hand, evidently during a temporary fit
OF dependency over financial matters.
The shooting was Witnessed by
only one person, so far as can be learn
ed This party was Frank Woodwork,
of 337 East Third street, who lives only
a square from Sexauer's home. Wood
worth was at work at the time on the
grading of Linden avenue. He ran to
the place where he saw Sexauer on the
bench, and when he saw that the man
was dead, he called at the water works
pumping station and summoned the
coroner and the ambulance. The coro-
ner arrived soon afterward, viewed the
remains and ordered them removed to
Shilling's morgue.
AS the news Of the suicide spread,
many people assembled in the park
and excitedly discussed the shooting,
The distance from the pumping station
was several hundred feet, so that the
men working in the building did not
hear the report of the revolver, and
were not aware Of the occurrence un-
til Woodwork rushed toward them and
informed them.
; :. IN A SECLUDED SPOT.
The place selected by sexauer for the
scene of his death was about 100 feet |
south of Linden avenue. A weeping |
willow overhangs a bench at the side
Of the creek which passes through the
park. The place is one of apparent
seclusion. 1t is some distance from
other benches in the park, and the
bench as occupied faced eastward.
Sexauer evidently sat down upon the
h xxftL h a.,
right hand sent the bullet into his left
side. His head reclined on the back of
the bench, when the body was found.
His hands had dropped to his side upon
the bench seat, and the revolver lay
upon the grass between the mans feet.
The blood covered clothes showed Just
where the bullet entered the body.
The mouth and the eyes were open.
and in the position in which the head
lay, they looked skyward. The front
of the vest was open and there was
tear in the white shirt and clothing,
showing that the revolver had prob
ably been held close to the body when
the shot was fired.
When the ambulance arrived the body
was placed upon a stretcher and covered
with rubber cloth, The small effects
In the pockets were removed. They
consisted principally Of papers and
memorandum books and few pennies.
These were placed In a handkerchief
and tied, and carried along with the
body. The remains were then removed
to Sh!lling's morgue.
PLANNED TO DIE THUS.
There is no doubt but Sexauer had
contemplated making an end to himself,
all day Friday. Workmen on Linden
avenue stated that all day Friday
sexauer walked through the park, along
the C. T. G. ". railway, and up and down
the narrow path along the race. He
held no conversation with any one un-
til Saturday morning, only short time
before the committing of the deed.
Then he approached Woodwork, who
was shoveling some ground.
This is going to make pretty
muddy road this winter" said Sexauer
TO the man.
YES" replied Woodwork. 1T will"
This is practically all the conversa-
tion known to have been heard from
sexauer's lips. 1t occurred while Sex
auer was passing along Linden avenue.
walking from the railway track to the
park. It was not over twenty minutes
sfterward that Woodwork heard the
shot flred. and. looking IA the direction
from whence it cau,s. sAw oexauer's
hsed ~ heekwas1 onte ~ back 81