Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-04
lNFATUATION MAY
BE SUICIDE CAUSE
w. O. DRlSHAUS FOUND DEAD
IN HOME
Is Known to Have Been Attentive to
Married Woman Whose Hus-
band Caused Her to
Be Sent Away
Especial to The Herald

SAN PEDRO, Marcn 5-lnIaluation
with a woman, married to another man.
is believed to have caused w. O. Dris-
haus to take his own life by shooting
himself three times in the head.
The badly decomposed remains of
the man were found this afternoon at
the home, Tenth and Center streets,
by Or. W. A. Weldon, health officer.
Although all the evidences point to
suicide, circumstances surrounding
Drishaus' private life have started ru-
mors of foul play.
Complaint was made today by Mrs.
Peter Pierce that a peculiar odor came
from the Drishaus residence and the
health officer was sent to investigate.
When the house was entered Drishaus
was found lying on his back in bed
disrobed. On his pillow lay revorVer
with three empty chambers, the muz-
zle close behind the left ear where
there were two holes. There was also
a hole in tine top of the head and pos
sibly one in the right temple.
The remains were so badly decom-
posed that the health officers and 9TH
ers who viewed the remains could re-
main in the room but few minutes
on account of the terrible odor. The
features were swollen so badly that
an undertaken was called in before
the body could be identified.
So far as known Drishaus has not
been seen alive for more than week.
Sunday, February 20 he visited his
mother, Mrs. Nina Drishaus, and his
two children at sos High avenue, Red
lands. He had a few days before sold
his confectionery store here and it is
supposed that he went to Redlands to
get bill of sale which he had given
his mother to the property.
Women Purchase Business
He had in the meantime given pos
session of his business to the new pur-
chasers, Mitchell & Howard, two wo-
men from San Bernardino, who had
placed the purchase price in escrow un-
til a bill of sale was delivered.
Drishaus came here from Albion,
Nebraska, about six years ago with
his family and opened a grocery store
on Tenth street near which he built
the residence in which he was found
dead. Four years ago his wife died
and since then he has lived alone, his
two children making their home with
his mother at Redlands. He sold his
grocery about two years ago and
bought confectionery store down.
town.
here from Livingston, Mont, with his
family and purchased a racket store.
He had not been here long when there
was much talk about Drishaus being
infatuated with Kerns wife. The scan
dal became so public that friends of
both men endeavored to break up the
attachment which was apparently mu-
tual. Kern sent mis- wife east. Later
she returned to Los Angeles, through
.s....N AN4fg SC
said.
Then the story became public that
Kern had visited Drishaus at his
place of business and at the point of
a revolver tried to exact promise
that he would cease his attention to
Mrs. Kern. This, so the story goes,
Drishaus refused to do even under the
point of a revolver.
Kern Sends Family East
A few weeks ago Kern sold his place
of business and sent his wife and chill
dren east. They are now said to be
with his family at Livingston. Kern
followed a short time afterwards. He
told q friend before leaving that he
was going to a hospital for an opera
tion, that he had provided for his chill
dren as he possibly had but short
time to live and that he would not
heard from in Colorado.
Friends of Kern declare that he
could have had no Connection with the
death of Drishaus. the dead man hav-
ing been seen alive since Kern left.
Henry Zimmerman had letter from
Kern mailed from Colorado nearly
two weeks ago.
DIR. Weldon, Police Sergeant Gus
Smith and c. B. Bryant, the undertake
er who took charge of the remains
until the arrival of the coroner, are all
firm in the belief that Drishaus COM
mitted suicide and that there is little
possibility of a murder No letter was
found to indicate that suicide had been
planned. The dead mans watch, bank
book and money were on the table and
an alarm clock was on the chair just
as he might have left them ordinarily
when retiring.
on the table were about fifteen comic
valentines that had been opened and
piled up neatly. These were all ad-
dressed in the same hand writing and
mailed on the same date. Several who
saw the handwriting declare that it
is Drishaus own and that he must
have mailed the valentines to himself,
an indication of insanity.
The mother of the dead man will ar
rive from Redlands tomorrow. No fun
eral arrangements will be made until
after the coroner's inquest tomorrow
On account of the condition of the
body it will probably be necessary to
bury it at once as soon as the inquest
is over Drishaus was a member of the
local Elks lodge.
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