The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-04-11
COroner's Inquest Reveals the Sad
Details of the Death of Col.
Charles PaImatier.
FIRED A BULLET INTO HIS BRAIN.
The Well Known Soldier. While Labor1ng
Under Melancholy, Takes His own Life
Short Story of His Life and Service.

It is with deep regret that we chron-
ic1e the dread details of the tragic
death of Col Charles Pa1matier, which
was briefly noted in the News OF FIT
day evening. 1t was at hrst reported
that Col. Pa1matier had died from an
acute attack of Bright's disease, out
later Developments go to show that
he died by his own hand, having shot
himself with a 38-calibre revolver IN
the right temple.
The suicide was one of the most
carefully executed ones ever committed
IN Southern Wisconsin. Col. Palma
tier had been an invalid for several
wears, and for the past week he had
been confined to his room with Bright
disease. He was left alone for a
moment. and when his daughter re-
turned to the room she found him with
a smoking pistol in his hand, having
fired a bullet from the weapon into his
right temple.
The wife of the colonel had been
with him during the early hours or the
afternoon but she was called to anoth-
er part of the house, and little while
before three O'Clock Mr.. Palmat1er
asked that his daughter, Mrs. Gertrude
Robinson, be sent to the room. Mrs.
Robinson went to the room and assist
ed her father in taking some medicine,
and he chatted with her in pleasant
vein for several minutes. Shortly
after three O'Clock Col. Palmat1er lett
he
and at the same time he asked his
daughter to retire from the room Tor a
moment, She had hardly closed theI
door when she heard the shot. Par
aivzed with fear she hurriedly returned
to the room and found her father lying
on the floor. The pistol was still IN
his hand but in the last throes he
hurled it'between his legs. The shouts
of Mrs. Robinson soon drew the other
members of the family to the room.
The dyingsman rolled over and gasped
several times before he expired, and
the other members of the family
reached the bedside before the final
summons came. The real cause OF the
death was not given out at once, but
when a reporter called at the house
few minutes later a report was sent
out that Col. Pa1matier had died very
suddenly from Bright's disease. Later
the body was turned over to the under
taker, and he at once asked that the
remains be turned over to Coroner
Frank Lansdowne. The body had not
been touched when the coroner and
his Jury arrived, the only change to be
seen was the Efact Gthat a woman's
handkerchief had been pushed against
the Gaping wound in the side of the
dead mans temple.
Mrs. Pa1matier was the only witness
examined at the inquest, and the jury
after hearing her testimony returned
verdict "that the deceased had come to
his death from wound in the right
temple, inflicted by himself with pis-
toll, while 1aboring under deep melan-
cho1y and mental strain.
Col. Palmatier was so universally
known in Kenosha that the report of
his tragic death caused a great sensa-
ton. People hurried to the home to
extend coincidence and sympathy to.
the mem bersYof the family who were
comp1ete1yO overcome by the terrible
nervous shock caused by the deed.
No one seems to be able to assign
any causeIfor the rash deed. While
In feeble health Col. Palmatier had
been in; good spirits during the DAY
and had shown no reasons for a
suspicion that the was suffering from
melancholy. He had never made any
L, = ,1xr foo 1I
his diseased condition with fortitude
and patience.
The death of Col. Pa1matier IN so
tragic aTmanner has caused sorrow IN
all parts of the state. Known to all as
a broad minded, whole sou1ed man, the
sad death came as a great surprise to
his many friends.
1t wou1dsbe impossible to tell all OF
the e%.history of Col. Pa1matier, of
his life as a soldier on the field of bat
tie and as a citizen and politician, but
# can be said of him that he always
had the best interests of his home and
countrysin mind, and always rendered
loyal service to both.
Col. Charles Pa1matier was born IN
the little village of Catski11, Green
county, New York, Dec. 10Th, 1884.
He was given splendid education in
the schoo1s2of his native city and when
he was a young man he decided to
come to the west to make a start in
life. He was but 10 years of age when
he came to Wisconsin and settled at
Lake Geneva, in Walworth county.
His natural aptitude for business was
early developed and he started IN bust
ness as a lumber dealer at Lake
Geneva. This business under his
management proved to be remunera-
tive one, and before the war broke out
he had established reputation as one
of the leading lumber dealers in south
ern Wisconsin. While at Lake Geneva
he took an active part in the politics of
southern Wisconsin. He was elected