Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-05-04


residence of Hans Gold on Maple
Avenue, just north of the c. M. &
St. p. Ry. crossing, were awakened
from slumber early Sunday morning
by the wailing and moaning of
George Thayer, who had been al
most crazed with anguish and hor-
ror at the awful sight he beheld in
the home of his daughter, when he
found both herself and her husband
dead in an upstairs room, victims
of murder and suicide. Neighbors
soon assembled at the place, and in
due time the facts were developed
about as follows:
MIR. and Mrs. Gold lived as above
stated, peaceably and happily, it ap-
peared, except when Mr.. Gold had
been drinking, and it is reported
that on several such occasions he
had abused and threatened his wife.
Mrs. Colds father, George Thayer,
had been living with them off and
on and was there for dinner at noon,
going away soon afterward. At the
time he did not notice anything un-
usual. He was away during the af-
ternoon with his team, and about
five o'clock returned to put up his
team. He says that he looked in
the back door but saw no one. The
dishes were still on the table, and
he supposed that his daughter had
gone up town, as was her usual
custom Saturday afternoon, to do
some trading. He did not go into
the house, but went up town, where
he got a lunch, and then went over
on the west side, to his house, into
which he was preparing to move,
working around there during the
evening, and remaining there over
night.
Sunday morning between five and
six o'clock ne came over to the
Gold home, fed and harnessed his
team, and was putting some of his
things into the wagon, which he in
tended to take over to the west
side. He wanted a pair of boots
which he had left at the head of the
stairs in the house. and supposing
Mr. and Mrs. Gold were asleep in
the bedroom down stairs, he quietly
went up to the top of the stairs,
reached down and picked up the
boots, and he was Mortified to see
his daughter lying dead on the
floor. The thought quickly ran
through his mind that Gold had
killed her and then escaped, but
glancing further across the floor he
saw Colds body lying in a pool of
blood.
Almost crazed in his anguish, he
went down onto the street and call
ed the neighbors. who quickly re-
sponded, and further investigation
showed the facts to be as above
stated. so far as it was possible to
determine. Coroner Swezey was
notified and soon arrived. empanel-
ling cOrOner's jury consisting of
L. L. Couse. F. j. Ambli and r. H.
Tracy. The testimony before the
jury developed the fact that they
were both uptown Saturday after
noon until about six o'clock and
that in all probability the shooting
was done along about seven O'Clock
in the evening. Gold was on the
verge of delirium tremens. a ner-
vous wreck from the excessive
use of liquor and cigarettes, and
was doubtless intoxicated when the
deed was done. Mrs. Gold was
found lying on her back. with
her head against the side wall. She
had been shot just below the heart.
The gun used was repeating shot
gun, one empty she'll on the floor
and another in the gun. 1t appeared
that the gun was pressed against
her body for the wound was small,
and she bled but little. 1t also
seemed that Gold in shooting him
self hung the gun over a nail on
the side of the chimney, placed its
muzzle against his heart and pulled
the trigger against the nail It is