Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-02-12
A SAD ENDING.
One of Wausau's Young Men Passes
Away in a Most Painful Manner.

Away in a Most Painful Manner.
We are forced this week to chronicle
a sad circumstance which ended in the
death of of one of our we'll known
young men, and the bereavement of
relatives and friends. For a number
of months past Frank Bedell has been
an unwell man, and his illness finally
caused an alteration of his mind. On
Thursday it was feared that he might
| do himself harm, for he threatened so
to do, and the members of the family
could do nothing with him. His broth
er, Earl, who resides at Chippewa Falls,
was sent for and on Thursday sheriff
Marquardt and officers Anderson and
DeVoe went down to the house on the
west bank of the river, attempted to
bring him over town, but their efforts
were futile He threatened to end his
life if they made a move toward him,
and they dared not therefore approach
him for fear that he would carry out the
threat. His brother arrived on Friday
afternoon and was admitted to the house
by Frank who at this time appeared quite
rational. Undersheriff Chellis also
drove down to the house and was al
lowed to enter. They sat and talked
for some time. when finally Chellis said
that he must leave, and extended his
hand to Bedell to bid him farewell and
when Frank grasped his hand Chellis
got lock on him, and Earl came to
his assistance For some few minutes
they had desperate struggle, but fin
ally succeeded in overpowering him,
and brought him over town and placed
him in the county jail. Later his moth
er visited him, and he talked with those
about the building in manner that
would apparently lead one to believe
that he was suffering no arrangement
of mind
He gave instructions as to what he
wanted for supper, and partook of the
same heartily. Before being placed in
confinement his clothes were searched
and everything taken from him with
the exception of few letters. Later,
while he was taking bath, his clothes
were searched again, but nothing found
by which he could do himself harm.
The brother and undersheriff sat up
with him until late hour, and at about
3 O'Clock, Sheriff Marquardt also visited
him, and he then appeared all right
In the cell were two double blankets
and he asked for two more, which were
given him. He was then left alone as
he appeared to be in condition to pass
restful night
At about 2:45 those about the Jail were
awakened from their slumbers by
means. The sheriff and turnkey
rushed out of bed and opened shutter
in the door between the cells and office,
and noted that the room was full of
smoke. They unlocked the door and
worked the combination, whereby the
cell doors are opened, and ran to the
cell where Bedell was confined. He
was standing at one end of the cell, his
clothing on fire, and he was pushed in
to the office where the burning clothing
was removed. Drs. Rosenberg and
Jones were summoned Immediately,
and later DR.. Eicher. An examina-
ton by the doctors proved that his life
could not be saved. He was placed un-
der the influence of opiates and was
bandaged up, and everything done to
relieve his sufferings. Before the ar
rival of the doctors he was rational and
stated that he had found a match stub
and had purposely set himself on fire.
He had hung one of the blankets up on
the grating of the cell to screen the
! light from the out side, he had then
wrapped the other blankets about him.
Whether he got into the hammock bed
or sat down in chair is not known.
When the officers rushed into the cell
the blankets, hammock, and two chairs
were all ablaze.
After the arrival of the doctors he
soon fell asleep and he never again
opened his eyes, and at shortly after 10
O'Clock the thread of life was severed.
Coroner Dickens empanelled the fol-
lowing jury: r. N. Larner, Z. j. Rifle
man, Manning Dickens, j. G. Smith,
Terry Laughlin, and w. w. Water
house. After viewing the remains an
adjournment was taken to Monday
morning on account of Sheriff Mar
quart being called to Oshkosh on official
duties. The jury at its meeting Mon
day delivered the following verdict:
THAT Frank Bedell came to his death
on February 8, 1901, by reason of burns
received from clothing ignited by him
self"
Frank Bedell was a young man 30
years Of age, and had lived in this city
nearly all his life He was carriage
painter by trade. Always good com
pany, aud being an industrious man OF
excellent habits, he had won the friend
ship and esteem of large circle OF
friends and these, as we'll as relatives, il
is a heavy burden of sorrow upon them
that the unfortunate young man should
have met such an ending. The funeral
took place yesterday afternoon at 2:3(
from the residence of his brother-in law,
.. e. Schilling, and was largely ate nd
ed. Rev. S. n. Wilson conducted the
! services.