The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-28
SHOT IN HEAD.
George Gerlach Ends His Life
on Sunday.
Was DespOndent Over a Love
Affair.
SOUGHTPUBLICPLAC
Stood i'm Corridor of the Rock
Island Depot.
Had Been Employed as a Machin-
iSt in Topeka.

With roar like a cannon in the
closed Rock Island depot a shot re-
sounded in the main corridor at $40
o'clock Sunday morning as a Kansas
City train pulled away. So loud was the
shot that panic seemed inevitable.
People rushed out of the depot terrified.
Others rushing to the corridor found the
body of a young man stretched prone
upon the floor at the foot of the stair
case leading to the offices. George
Gerlach, respondent over reverses in
love affair had ended his life by
bullet in his brain. Near his right arm
lay the gun he had used. Only one
shot was fired and blood and brain
were oozing from the hole in his tenn
pie. The man was still breathing
heavily when he was reached.
DIR. H. H. Keith was called and the
man taken to the Keith hospital He
never regained consciousness but lived
until o'clock last night when he was
Shellabarger & Son. Gelach's people
at Alma were notified Immediately and
z. W. Thoes of Alma, and Alex. Barnes
of Dover. both brothers-in-law of the
deceased, came to the city and had the
body prepared for burial and took it to
Alma at 11:40 today for interment.
George Gerlach conducted a ranch
near Alma for several years since the
few months ago he left the farm in
charge of his mother and came to work
in the Smith automobile factory. nav
ing a room at III Madison street.
Thursday he quit for the holidays and
borrowed a gun from one of his CO.
laborers, saying that he was going
home and would like to have gun
with him.
r. W. Thoes. a brother-in-law, says,
George was a cheerful enough fellow
and l had never seen him show any
remorse He was out home for Thanks
giving and was in the best of spirits l
can not explain his despondency thoush
it may have been a love affair
Young Gerlach had kept regular
company with Mabel Anderson
whose home is at Halifax, about nine
miles from Alma. They nave peen
friendly for more than two years and
il was reported that Gerlach and Miss
Anderson were engaged to be mar
ried.
Miss Anderson went to Kansas City
to work in the Armour plant at about
the same time Mr.. Carlach came here
1t is supposed he left to prepare for
city life as we'll as she Some cores
pondence has been found from her,
hut so far as known he has not been IN
the habit of going to Kansas City.
However, two sisters of Mr. Thoes,
Mrs. T Morris and Miss Huldah Thoes
who live at 1919 Fillmore street, went
home to Alma to spend Christmas
While waiting for their train at the
Rock Island station Friday morning
thev saw Gerlach there. and asked
him if he intended going homer He
replied that he was going on the same
train. but he did not. and is thought
TO have gone to Kansas City instead.
George Gerlach had been seen at the
station a number of times since Thurs
day. Probably he spent at least part of
his time in Kansas City. The relatives
of the young man do not know of any
trouble between him and his sweet
heart or any outside disturbance. His
discoura cement must have. been of re-
cent occurrence, supposedly dating
from his visit to Kansas City Friday
1t was just as the train left for that
city without him that young George
Gerlach ended his life.
He had written a letter to his mother
that he would be at home for New
Year dinner as New Year day is his
birthday He would have been % years
old He had also written that he would
he there Christmas day.
Two brothers of Gerlach are at home
with his mother on their farm about six
miles from Alma. He leaves also three
married sisters, Mrs. F. w. Thoes al
Alma, Mrs. Alex Barnes near Dover