Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-18
OCTOGENARIAN
HANGS HIMSELF;
FAMILY SILENT
RELATIVES SUPPRESS NEWS
OF AGED MANS SUICIDE
MARKS OF CORD ON NECK FOUND
BY UNDERTAKES
John zeIgIer, Elghty-six Years Old,
Ends Life While Despondent
and 5roodlng Over
Injury

Not until the body of John zeigler,
Sc years old. of $50 West Avenue
Twenty one, supposed to have died or
senility, was undressed at the parlors
of the Los Angeles Undertaking COM
pany, was IL discovered that the aged
man had died a violent death. An in
vestigation by the authorities who were
notified revealed the fact that Zelgler
had committed suicide by hanging him
self in an clubhouse in the rear of his
home and his relatives attempted to
keep the matter quiet because they
feared the children of the old man
would not be allowed to join any secret
organization IL the fact became known.
The body of Zeigler was taken to the
undertaking establishment yesterday
morning. A son of the dead man told
the undertakers that the father was Sc
years old and that his death probably
was due to old age.
When the body was undressed the
undertaker's assistants found several
suspicious marks and abrasions and
discolorations completely encrcling the
neck. They at once notified the coroner
of their discovery. The latter decided
1t was a matter for investigation, and
in turn informed the police. and then
ordered Autopsy Surgeon George w.
Campbell to make a post mortem exam
ination. AS a result of the examina-
ton made by the physician II was
found that the aged man had died of
strangulation.
Detectives Investigate
This information was given Detec-
tives Jones and Chapman, who were de-
tailed on the case, and they began In
vestigations
The officers went to the home of
George Zeigler. a son, with whom the
dead man made his home. The rela-
iuar al tho fair hilt
finally told the story of the aged mans
death.
According to Mrs. George Zeigler.
daughter n-law of the dead man, who
gave the details 10 the detectives. Zeig-
Ter had been in poor health for some
time. During the last few days he had
been morose and taciturn and seemed
to be brooding over religion, which he
frequently would discuss with his
friends.
He worked in the yard and passed his
time doing odd jobs about the house.
Three days ago. while cutting some
kindling, he struck his foot with an
ak and seemed downcast about the ac-
cident. This seemed to add to his
dependency, and although he COM
planned considerably about his injured
foot his children had no idea that the
man was contemplating suicide.
Friday evening he worked as usual In
Ine ydTu anu CoIlpldlieu iioiC oiNtciiy
about his sore foot. He ate his evening
meal, and while he maintained silence
more pronounced than before he did not
intimate that he was contemplating
self-destruction.
He retired early after bidding the
family good night. He seemed to nave
something to say before leaving them
for the night, but finally left the room.
Heard Him Walking About
r,.l
Later they heard Zeigler moving about
in the room. but thinking he was at
tending to his injured foot gave the
matter no attention A short time after
this they heard him open the door OF
his room and walk into the hail. AS lie
frequently had walked about the house
at night they thought nothing OF the
matter.
Yesterday morning when Mrs. Ben
Zeigler arose she went to the aged
mans room to see how he had passed
the night She was surprised to find
him absent and began search for
him. After finding he was not in the
house she made search OF the
premises and on opening the door to
an clubhouse found his body suspended
by a sash cord tied tightly around the
neck and hanging from the rafters. An
overturned box nearby showed that
Zeigler had fastened the rope to the
rafters, climbed on the box and after
making a moose about his neck kicked
away the box and had strangeled to
death.
Mrs. Zeigler at once notified her hus-
band. He hurried to the building and
cut down the body. Later the under
takers were notified and the body
turned over to them without any infor-
nation as to self destruction.
The Zeiglers were under the i'm
preston that the relatives of suicide
are barred from joining any secret So
ciety and they decided to remain silent
on that account