Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-20
.BRATTLEB0RO LOCAL NEWS.
BULLET HOLE IN HEAD
Albert Schroeder, so, a German,
Committed Suicide.

DOuy TOunu NJ tbs 1OOm on ElllOI
Street Several Hours After Shot
Was Fired-Had $1675 in Banks
Theory as to the Cause.
With a bullet hole in his right tenn
pie and his rigid right hand still
clasping the little bulldog revolver
which had fired the fatal shot the life
less body of Albert Schroeder. about
so, was found Saturday afternoon in
the room which he rented of Henry
F. Brown in the Simonds house on
Elliot street. On stand in the room
was a note in German addressed to
Antoine Geiger, a personal friend. in
which he asked Geiger to give him
suitable burial, see that all his bills
were paid, and then to send his
money to two unmarried sisters liv-
ing in Bartenstein. East Prussia, Ger
many. The note also directed that
Geiger retain Schroeder's watch and
chain as gifts from a friend.
Schroeder was a German, single
who came to this country 10 or Is
years ago. He was employed several
years in Vernon, by J. o. Frost, w. c.
Cushing and Mr.. Stebbins. He also
worked four seasons on l.. d. Thayer's
farm, and for a time on e. B. Bar
rows's coal teams. He had been at
F. z. Dickinson's farm more than a
year, finishing work there Dec. 10.
He then took the room at Mr.. Browns,
one which he had occupied previous
to going to Mr.. Dickinson's. He had
tea and coffee pots in his room, and
probably had eaten most of his meals
there since coming back to the vii
lage.
No one heard the shot fired.
Schroeders room extended partly over
two rooms on the lower floor, one
occupied by l. d. Morris and the
other by John Howe. Mr.. Morris
heard Schroeder come into his room
about 10 o'clock Friday night. He
heard him moving about twice during
the night and about o'clock Satur-
day morning, and Mr.. Howe also
heard Schroeder's footsteps at the
latter hour. 1t is probable that
Schroeder shot himself between and
o'clock.
During the forenoon Mrs. Brown
raped on the door and receiving no
response opened the door, intending
to make up the bed. She stepped
back when she saw Schroeder lying
on the bed, covered by the clothes.
During the afternoon she went to the
room again, and on opening the door
saw that Schroeder was lying in the
same position as in the morning.
She was alarmed and at once called
Henry Niles, who, on entering the
room. saw at once that the man was
dead. A physician said that death had
| taken place several hours before the
body was found. Selectman Vinton
| was summoned. He directed that the
| body be taken to Bond & Sons under
| taking rooms.
The revolver which Schroeder used
was of a diminutive bull dog pattern.
| 22-calibre short. 1t contained one
empty cartridge and one loaded. He
evidently put two cartridges into the
| revolver, but the single shot proved
fatal He was undressed when found
but covered by the bed clothes. and
] the revolver was grasped tightly in
| his hand.
Schroeder was an industrious man.
and frugal to the point of penurious-
ness. Men for whom he worked
| commend his faithfulness, but say
that at times he manifested strange
streaks of stubbornness when asked
to do work in manner at variance
| with his own opinion. He left Mr..
Dickinsons farm during the absence
| of Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson in New
| York. taking offense at the request of
the farm superintendent to change
his method in feeding a calf
At extended intervals Schroeder
would indulge in liquor but he was
usually too saving with his money to
spend it foolishly. Last week Tues
day, when he called at the livery
stable for a team with which to go to
Mr.. Dickinson's farm, he was so badly
under the influence of liquor that he
could not be trusted with a team and
driver accompanied him. He had
been seen at different times within a
few days in a partially intoxicated
| condition. When he paid for his
livery team he presented a $40 bill,
and later in the week drew $40 from
the bank. His clothing contained
only SO Saturday, showing that he had
been spending money more freely
than was his custom.
People who know Schroeder have a
theory that after spending money for
liquor he would brood over his eX-
travagance, and that he became so
Respondent on this occasion at the
thought of the loss of the money he
had squandered within a few days
that he decided to end his existence
A story has been circulated to the
effect that unrequited love was the
cause of Schroeder's dependency, but
this appears to- be without founda-
ton.
Schroeders funeral was held at
Bond & Sons undertaking rooms
Monday, Rev. r. X. Marvin, the Uni
versalist pastor, officiating. The
burial was in Morningside cemetery