Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-13
MAKES DEATH SURE
AdoIph C.. Knocke Takes Poison
and Then Uses a Re-
VolVer.
SHOOTS HIMSELF THREE TIMES
Mrs. Andrew Dickstron Dies of
Strychnine Poison.
ing.

Three bullets from 81 calibre re-
volver and the greater part of an
ounce of carbolic acid were the means
used by Adolph q. Knocke in des-
perate and successful attempt to end
his life early this morning. Either of
two of the bullets or the acid W ould
have accomplished the end.
Mr.. Knocke had been living with
his family at 1926 Seventh avenue.
He rose before the remainder of the
family this morning and about z
O'Clock some OF those in the house,
who were still in bed, heard three
shots they supposed had been fired in
the neigh borhood. About 7:15, the
10-year-old daughter, Leona, going
into the cellar, was horriHed to see
her father lying on the floor covered
with blood. Neighbors were notified
and Mail Carrier John SteDgel and
Gus Eastberg were the first to make
an examination of the remains which
were still warm.
Clothing Burned.
The body was lying on the face.
There were bullet holes in the right
temple and in the left breast, the shot
which inflicted the latter setting fire
to the clothing and burning away a
portion OF the shirt. The revolver,
which was a short barTelled affair, was
under the body. Beside it was an emp
ty ounce bottle that had contained
car bolic acid. with tescup from which
it had evidently been taken. The
mouth was burned by the acid. 1t
was plain the poison had been taken
first and the revolver then used. Which
of the shots was fired first is impossi
BILE to guess. The ball that entered
the breast probably struck the heart
and the one that was fired into the
temple probably entered the brain.
The one in the forehead flattened out
on the frontal bone till it resembled
25-cent piece and was extracted.
Coroner Called.
DIR. H. II. Chase was summoned,
but there was nothing to be done.
Coroner Eckhart was also called and
impanneled a jury composed of DR..
Chase, foreman; Samuel I. Nelson,
Charles Moody, Gust A. Eastberg,
j. +. Larkin and James Darnell. DIR.
Chase, Mr.. Eastberg, Mrs. Louis Sea-
berg, Mrs Isabel Rose and James
Nc Bride were examined and the YER
dict returned was that deceased came
to his death "by pistol shot from
his own hand, and that deceased was
insane at the time"
Mr.. Knocke was foreman at the
Rock Island Buggy factory. He was
Al years of age, in fair health and in
good circumstances financially. So
far as is known his domestic relations
H.
family of a wife and three children.
the eldest of the latter being 10 and
the youngest l year Of age. He had
beautiful home, we'll furnished and
desirably located. Contrary to some
reports, he was p -riectly secure in
his position. About a year ago he
became affl cted with erysipelas which
mad troubled him somewhat since. He.
however, has been able TO work most
of the time and filled his position as
usual yesterday. 10 the past he had
con iided to his friends that he was
subject to.long spells of spondency,
although he admitted that there was
no cause for it that he knew of.
Lately lie had said to mem bers
of the family that he thought he
was becoming insane. Last night he
met old acquaintances on the street
without recognizing them. although
the family sa y nothing strange about
his actions. That the deed was pre-
meditated, however, is shown by the
fact that about week ago he made
will. leaving all Property to his wife.
Last night he sat "a p late writing, al
though no reference was penned. so
far as has been found, to the act he
contemplated.
Deceased was a native of Daven
port, where his mother. Mrs. Caroline
Knocke, is now living at 11123 West
Sixth street. A brother, Louis G
Knocke. lives in Davenport also. He
was carriage trimmer by trade, and
in his capacity as foreman at the
Rock Island Buggy factory was well
thought of by his employers as well
as those under him
A Woman Suicides.
Mrs. Andrew Deck stron, living two
miles southeast of Moline, died at
2:30 this afternoon as the result Of
strychnine poisoning, supposed to,
have been placed in the food taken at
dinner. Whether it was done by ac-
y I