The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-04
JUDGE WHO TRIED DR.. KOCH
KILLS HIMSELF AT NEW JLM|
Suicide by Hanging Was the Death Sought Today by
Judge B. F. Weber.
Worry Over Financial Mat
tiers and Wife's Illness L
Prompted His Act.
He Was a Pioneer Of New
Ulm and Was Prom -"
. ...- ~. -E>ar.
..s inent.
Special to The Journal.

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Special to The Journal. .-
New Ulm, Mimi. Dec. 4-Judge b.
F. Weber is dead by his own hand.
When the news was flashed about New
| Ulm today it could scarcely be believed.
That the leading iurist in all this sec:
ton, honored by the people universally,
anced man, mentally and physically,
should take his own life, was almost
unbelievable. When the truth was
brought home, the sorrow become in
tense and general. Judge Weber was
one Of the early pioneers, and his figure
was a familiar one to every. man, Wo-
man and child in New Ulm. 800
Intimate friends Of Judge Weber
have known for some time that he was
mental and physical powers fail from
day to day. Last night he left his home
at s CLOCK and remained away until
midnight. This was contrary to all the
customs Of his lifetime. No one saw
him then and no one knows where he
went.
Search Begun.
This morning he arose at clock,
custom which he had followed for
years and started for a walk before
breakfast. When he did not return at
the usual time, his wife. who is an in
valid, had her nurse telephone to. Mi
the close friend and business counselor
Of Judge Weber for lifetime.
Mr.. Mullin at once recalled that
Judge Weber has remarked to him
only few days ago that he couldn It
stand the strain, referring to the pro-
tracted illness of his wife and to mag
mary troubles concerning money mat
tiers.
His Hanging Body Found.
Mr.. Mullin jumped to the conclusion
at once that It might be q case for
the police and notified Chief Klause
that the judge was missing.
The first thought Of the chief was to
search the barn on Judge Weber s
premises Nothing below was wrong but
the chief, no sooner climbed to the hay
judge hanging from rafter. 81 r
:. Judge Weber had taken strap
from, a bride, tied a moose. in one end,
which he put over his head and. fast
ened the other end to a rafter. above
him. 5
u To do this he had taken a position
on box which he kicked out from
under him when all was in readiness.
He was completely dressed even to his
.overcoat, and his hands were in his
pockets and pressed tightly to his side.
about 6 o'clock; his body was found
shortly after 9 o CLOCK
Long Contemplated.
The chief found two ropes in the
hayloft, each freshly cut and with a
moose, indicating almost beyond
doubt that Judge Weber had long
planned the step and had perhaps even
attempted suicide before.
His Motive.
The motive for the suicide appears
clear to those who have been on init
mate personal relations with the judge
It has been matter Of comment among
them that he had been breaking down
for several months. The fact that his
wife is a confirmed invalid and
could never expect to be restored to
health weighed heavily upon him. AS
his powers failed he became unneces-
sarily worried over his financial affairs
and had expressed fear to his close
friends that he would not be able to
support himself and his wife
Acquaintance tried to cheer him up
and to convince him that his property
was in good shape and ample for all
his necessities.
Koch Trial Strain Too Much. .
Judge Weber presided at the first
trial Of DR.. George R. Koch, charged
with the murder of L. A. Gebhardt.
and the strain of that long inquiry no
doubt fastened the end that came to-
day.
Judge Weber was born at shap-
leigh, Me-, and in his youth learned
the trade Of carpenter while he was
acquiring an education that would en-
ing the trade he had learned, he spent
several years in Massachusetts, com
ing from that state to Blue Earth coun-
ty, Minnesota, in 1868. He taught sew
eral terms Of school there and then
began the study of law under the di-
rection Of II. s. Wilson at Garden CITY
and Madelia. "I,.
1: A Judge for twenty-five Years.
After being admitted to practice bv
the legislature he located in New Ulm.
and, being a Yankee among Germans
and the only attorney here, he had a
monopoly of the profession for manv
years. He practiced law here ten years.
during which he he Id the office of coun-
~ atCoIney. Tor eight years., or until
1882, when he was nominated to the
office Of district Judge. He had been
Judge of the ninth judicial district for
almost a quarter Of century, retiring
by his own volition a few months ago.
Lived a Long Life.
Judge Weber was 70 wears of ace
on Oct. 9, and at that time appeared to
be well-preserved and vigorous man.
He was a fine example when in his
prime of the rugged New Englander.
With a keen sense of right and wrong
and heart attuned to the finest strings
OF Justice, he performed his duties as a
Judge fearlessly, looking only to an
approving conscience for justification.
Besides his wife, one son survives
him, Frank Weber, an attorney at
franklin, MINI.
1t was the lot Of Judge Weber to
preside over several trials in addition
to DR.. Koch g in which prisoners were
charged with murder lin the first de.
gree. He presided at the trial of Will
liam Tanke and wife for the murder Of
John Wellner in Nicollet county. This
was one of the most celebrated cases
known in southern Minnesota.
:. Pittsburg Dec. al. Lee DiIworth 52 wears
old. and a bachelor, member OF one Of the
most wealthy families OF Pittsburg has COM
mitted suicide by shooting. No cause can he
assigned for the deed. and all avenues Of In
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