The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-15
Friends Declare that Mental Derange-
menf, Resulting from Illness,
Was the Cause.
WAS PROMINENT IN POLITICS
DEAD MAN HAD A HOST OF FRIENDS
IN CITY AND STATE.
His Tragic Death Almost Sole Topic
of Conyersation-FuneraI
row at kokomo.

tdEy Oh Sldlc, anu PROMINENT III DuSiicSo
and political circles in the city and State,
during a fit of dependency, caused by bus
mess reverses or insanity, due to a recent
severe illness, threw himself under a NOV
ing freight train at New Jersey street and
the Big Four Railroad yesterday morning.
His body was frightfuliy mangled and death
was instantaneous.
Witnesses To the tragedy say that he
was first seen about the railroad tracks
near the viaduct at about 9 o'clock in the
morning. and was particularly noticed on
account OF the lock of extreme anguish on
his face Several times he walked back
and forth among the moving trains, 1T Is
said, and when a Big Four engine, push
ing a cut OF cars. backed hurridly through
the viaduct he gathered all his energy and
with a leap threw himself bodily under the
wheels. His body was ground TO pieces,
and when the train was stopped and his
mangled form lifted TO the side or the track
his features were scarcely recognizable.
The body was taken TO the city morgue
in the Dispensary ambulance, attended by
Drs. Cunningham and Jefries, where he
was later identified, m his remains were
turned over TO Adams & Kreiger, funeral
directors.
BODY HORRIBLY MANGLED.
Deputy Coroner Gels stated last night
that he examined the body shortly after it
was removed to the morgus. finding that
practically every bone was broken, both
feet were crushed and all the bones In the
neck were broken.
There is no truth in the statement that
Mr.. Gonser cut his throat with a razor be-
fore making his fatal plunge under the
train" said DR.. Gels. cit is true that his
was done by the nange OF the car wheel or
the rough edge Of the railroad track"
A wife and six-year-old daughter survive
Mr.. Gonser, and IL is said that he left his
home, No. 1917 North Delaware street, in an
exceedingly cheerful mood yesterday morn
ing after kissing Mrs. Gonser and his child
goodbye. Mrs. Gonser Is the daughter of
NJ. w. Choate, Of Kokomo, a prominent and
wealthy manufactures SO far as can be
learned Mr.. Gonser had no close relatives
himself. His father was killed in the civil
war. ii is said. and. his mother dying short
family in Cass county. As a young man
there he taught school for several years and
then moved to Logansport, where he was
engaged in business and entered politics.
He was regarded as a successful young
politician, and when w. ID. Owen, of Lo-
sa anoSs Mas Sir G eIeGsea SSef s cb1syy Of state he
Gonser also served a part of Union 3.
Hunts first term as secretary Of state, re-
signing TO become the financial agent OF the
UberO Plantation Company, a corporation
of which Mr.. Owen was the head. He went
TO Mexico with his family TO assume his
duties and remained there until he had a
severe attack OF tropical fever and was told
bv his physicians that he must leave that
Climate. He then resigned his position with
The Ubero people and returned to this city
last winter. Since his return he has en-
gagged in the promotion of a company to
develop oil and asphalt property in Wyom-
ing and had recently been writing insurance
fer the Equitable Assurance Company,
working at Marion, where on Wednesday
he is reported 10 have first threatened SUI
eide. He came to his home in this city
Thursday in response to a telegram from
N. ]. Dilday. an inspector Of the company
~ rapraSantad
A MEMBER OF LODGES.
No one in the crowd attracted to the
morgue when the body was taken there
knew that Mr.. Gonser's home was in this
city, and. as a card showing his membership
in the Logansport lodge of Elks was found
on his person. Joseph z. Bell, exalted ruler
of the indianapolis lodge, sent a telegram
too Judge George Gamble, exalted ruler OF
the Logansport lodge. notifying him of the
sad affair. An answer was received in a
short time conveying the that
Mr.. Gonser's home was at 1917 North Della
ware street, this city, and that his wife
also a member of the Logansport lodges OF
knights of Pythias and the Masons, and on
the first train that reached INDIANAPOLIS
after Mr.. Bells telegram was received in
IoganspOrt came a committee representing
the three lodges. In the party were Judge
George Gamble, exalted ruler of the Elks:
Senator j. q. Powell. c. o. Heffay. r. Den
BIO and w. c. Ketcham. M. w. Coate of
kokomo, Mr.. Gonser's authoritarian, ar
rived on the same train, and Immediately
took charge OF the arrangements for the
funeral.
The remains will be taken to Kokomo at
noon to-day. and the funeral will be held
tomorrow afternoon at 2:O o'clock at MIR.
Coates residence in that city. The various
lodges with which Mr.. Gonser was identified
VIII have charge Of the services.
The tragic death OF Mr.. Gonser was al
most the sole topic OF conversation yester-
day and last night at the Statehouse. no.
tells and clubs. Mr.. GOnser had a wide cir
Gle OF friends and acquaintance. and il
was difficult for them to believe that ne had
taken his " lie and in such a manner.
His friends were surprised yesterday when
they read I'm the local newspapers that
while at Marion. the day before, Mr.. Gonser
had threatened TO commit suicide, and they
did not think hat he would attempt 70
carry out such a threat even If he had
made IL.
Mr.. Gonser's closest friends and NJ
Coate. his father-in-law, refuse to believe
that he suicide because of inan-
eial troubles. They attribute his act to
mental arrangement due TO the severe H.
ness of tropical fever which he suffered
while in Mexico. Mr.. Coate said last even
ing:
MIND WAS AFFECTED
IT am satisfied that George was NOT
driven to suicide by money troubles. He
had not been getting on as he had bonad
since his return from Mexico. and he was
blue over that at times, but his situation
was not such as to drive him TO take his
own life or to worry him greatly. 7 am
sure he would have told me of troubIes
OF that kind II he had had any. and The las.
letter | had from him. but a fey DAYS aco
was cheerful and did not cOntiin the slisSt'
est intimatiOn that he was in troubIe
can only attribute his deed To ment.i
arrangement. resulting from his illness g.
Mexico. lie was very near to deafh uhna
I'm Mexico, and IL he had not left the conne
try when he did he would have been dsaa
months ago. Mr.. Owen, with whom ~
was associated there. took him to Roston
where he was given some sort of electrtcai
treatment that resulted In Improvement
but ne was not cured"
IL was reported yesterday that Mr. Con
ser's losses In the Senate Asphalt and or
Company. which he was instrumenfst a.
organizing last spring. had been the cauIa
OF his self-destruction. Senator 20
Powell. Of Logansport. who is interested =.
the company. and who has been a ciosn
friend OF Mr. Gonser for years. refutes tbs,
story.
George did not lose a dollar IN the CO,
ate Asphalt Company because he ala M,
have any 10 lose. He did not make an ~ ~
vestment. He worked for the comnanv ~
a salary. lie was greatly disapnoin,oS
when the asphalt property In Wvomins.
which the company had secured did ne
prove TO be what had been representeS
but he was not Involved I'm the sliehtes,
manner and there was nothing abont the
affair TO drive him TO suicide. The Serat.