Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-23
HE wAsA POPULAR MAN IN OMAHA
AND KNOWN In LIN DIN.
DEATH CAUSED BY GAS
THE DEADLY FUMES ESCAPED FROM
A SMALL STOVE.
AN ACCIDENTAL DENISE
Body Was Found Lying In the Dead
Mans ONCE and His Death Had
Come sunday Afternoou-He
Was Formerly Legislator.
lFrom lincoln stnrN

Berlin, who was one of the best
known and most popular men about
town, was found dead in his Office at
9 O'Clock this morning Oath was
due to Illuminating gas, which es-
capped from the open cock of small
gas stove in an adjoining apartment.
Life evidently had been extinct
since about 2 O'Clock Sunday after
noon. The discovery Of the tragedy
was made by DR.. H. II. Foster, an
intimate friend who has an adjoin-
lug office, and Robert w. Patrick, a
cousin, who had called on a business
GRAND.
Berlin was seated ln his arm chair
at his desk, where he had written
two letters. His pen was held firmly
In his hand and his chin rested on
his breast. The attitude was one OF
ease, as though he had fallen asleep.
The body was cold and stiff and the
physicians say death had come at
least from eight to ten hours pre-
vious.
There is 20 evidence to show that
the cause OF Mr.. Berlin's death was
Dther than accidental. His fnan-
tial affairs were in good condition,
while his PERSONAL and family con-
nections we're all of happy charac-
ter. All the windows were closed,
save the door from the small room
containing a gas stove. Not the
,ighttst sign could be found that he
Was tired OF life. lie had planted to
cave for Colorado yesterday after
noon to transact some business con-
9ected with the sale Of gold mine,
which eastern parties had agreed to
purchase for sum approXimating
s., 900.
In front Of him on his desk was a
letter written to his sister, Aida
which closed'
"My head is hurting, so will close
ind hurry to Happy Hollow. Away S
the same-Dick.
He had struggled to address the
envelope but succeeded in making
only an illegible scrawl.
The letter is written in a light,
cheerful vein and begins by saying
that the writer bad had breakfast, a
'haye, lead the morning papers and
would write as he had just tune be.
ore going to "IIappy HollDw," the
home of Mr.. Patrick in Dundee, fer
timer. There he said he would co.
10y the dinners as he had a headache,
due, he surmised, to sleeping too
long.
The last seen OF Berlin alive was
Just before noon Sunday, when he
stepped into the the Office Of DR..
Foster to telephone MI. Patrick that
he would be out for dinner. So far
Is known he b ID no visitors after
teturnrng to the office. lie had re-
moved his hat, coat and vest, but
otherwise was fully dressed. II
there bad been water IN the vessel
bn the gas stove it must have evap-
Drted tefore the flame was blown
but, as none was left this morning.
Dick Berlin was about 30 years
Did. For years he had been engaged
10 the real estate business and was
president of the Berlin company,
which dealt in securities and tinan-
tial obligations. During the last
twenty-five years he has been a fam
liar and weil-known parsonage in
local politics, and at various times
held several elective and appointive
offices. He was the son Of the late
iona than Berlin, successful farmer
near Irvington, and came to Omaha
with his family when he was 8 wears
old, having been horn in PittSburg.