The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-10-27
SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY AT
A WILLIAMSBURG FUNERAL
l'ell Against Sons Coffin, as He Died,
Almost Knocking II From
Its Supports.
WOMEN FELL PAINTING TO FLOOR
Funeral Postponed and Aged Widow
and 5ereaved Mother hsay
Die of Grief.

New York, Oct 2S.-Standing over
The coffin of his son, Otto, VINO COM
mitted suicide last Friday, with his lett
arm around the waist of his feeble
wife. in the presence of half hundred
mourners gathered at the funeral, Her
man Schultz blew his brains out at his
home, No. 232 Wyckoff street, Will
iamsburg, this afternoon.
As he fell he struck against the cof-
fin and almost knocked it from the
supports upon which IL rested.
Mrs. Schultz and two of her daugh-
ters fell fainting to the floor. Men and
women made mad rush for the doors
and windows, tearing the clothes from
each other in their haste to get away
from the awful scene The minister
and the undertaken alone kept their
presence of mind and prevented what
might have been serious panic.
Mr.. Schultz's suicide made necessary
the postponement of the funeral of the
son, and the pretty little Wyckoff street
house now holds two corpscs: the aged
widow and mother is utterly prostrat-
ed, and there is the possibility that she
may follow her son and husband out Of
life.
Otto Schultz was 10 years old and
his fathers favorite. He was found
dead in his room Friday evening as
phyxiated A love affair had made him
despondent.
The death of the boy was a profound
shock to Mr.. Schultz. but he put on a
brave front and comforted his wife as
best he could. He took part in making
the arrangements for the funeral, and
sent word to several OF his friends to
be sure and attend the ceremonies at
the house today.
The parlor of Jthe house was-paGked
with mourners and the air was ifeavy
with the odor Of flowers. The minister
had just concluded little talk about
the dead boy, and nearly every one in
the room was sobbing.
George Peth, the undertaken, noise
lessly made his way to the head of the
coffin and made the perfunotory re-
quest for the family and friends of the
deceased to take last look at the fea-
lures of the one they had loved Mr..
Schultz and his wife were the first to
approach the coffin.
The poor old mother was scarcely
able to walk, and her husband support
ed her. She threw her arms across the
coffin, and time and again kissed the
face of the dead boy. Her husband
and one OF her sons gently removed
her. She turned to Mr.. Schultz and
said:
Papa, aren't you going to kiss Otto
good-bye?"
''Yes." replied the old man firmly, 81
am going to kiss Otto bood-bye: but |
will see him soon and give him kiss
of welcome"
He stopped over and touched the
cold forehead with his lips. Then he
placed his left arm about the waist OF
his wife as if to lead her from the
room.
The old couple took couple of steps
away from the coffin. when Mr.. Schultz
stopped, With rapid movement he
pulled pistol from his right hip pock-
ct, placed the muzzle to his temple and
pulled the trigger
The report in the close and crowded
little room was terrific. A cloud of
powder smoke fioated over the coffin
and the odor killed the odor of the
flowers. For little space of time
those who had gathered to pay the last
honors to one dead and had seen anoth-
er life unexpectedly taken were
stunned. Then came the panic
A small crowd outside the house
heard the shot and policeman was
summoned. He pushed his way through
the clamoring mourners, but the old
man was dead on the floor beside the
coffin containing the body of his boy.
and near him lay his wife. insensible.