The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-29
WIN. PREE1ORU|S
ENDS HIS LIFE
AT old HOME
Shoots Himself at Hotel in Evans
ville.-.Ill Health Princi-
pal Cause

| Writing letters 10 relatives, DlQQlns
them goodbye, William Preetorius
aged GA years, former resident Of
| Cairo, lumberman and real estate
dealer of Pine Bluff, Ark, commit.
| ted suicide at O'Clock Thursday
| morning in his room at the Acme
hotel, says the Evansville Ind,
Courier. He was found by Joe Zim-
norman, clerk of the hotel, with q
bullet hole in his temple, a few min.
utes after the shot was fired into his
brain His 44-calibre revolver was
still clutched in his lifeless hand.
A note was foand ON the table ex-
planning that Preetorius was despon-
dent over i'll health, The note read
Il can't live much longer. Life
might as we'll be ended as to suffer
as have the last two years. Wire
all my brothers and sisters"
From all that can be learned Pree-
torius came to Evansville in the early
part of this month for the purpose
of forgetting his worries. He for
merly lived in Evansville and in the
past few weeks has spent much OF
his time mingling with his old ac-
quaintances.
May Have Lost Money.
Investigation by Coroner Macer
may reveal that the real estate man
was worried a great deal over losing
some money in the Chicago grain
markets. A search was made of his
clothing yesterday and only is cents
was found on his person.
A letter addressed to a son, Carl
Preetorius of Chicago, which is sup
posed to have thrown more light on
the cause of self-destruetion, will
not be opened until after burial, The
letters found by the coroner We're
stamped and the official mailed them
in accordance witch the written in
struetions of the man, The son left
Chicago last night for Evansville and
for that reason will not receive the
letter until his return.
To those who have come in con-
tact with Preetorius lately he seemed
to be a man enjoying life. At the
hotel where he stopped he appeared
as iovial man without cares in the
world. He retired to his room as
usual Tuesday night. Before going
up he ordered some stationery sent
to his room and purchased some
stamps. This was the last seen o.
him alive,
He spent the night in his room
writing the letters, with the key t.
his room on the outside. The bed
was not mussed. indicating Pre-.
torius spent the entire night carry
ing out his plans to die.
Lived Here Forty Years.
Preetorius lived in Evansville for
nearly forty years being for a time
in the tanner business and late,
operating a grocery in Evansville
and Mt Vernon, Ind, under the
name of Klein and Wassam. Hi
wife an Evansville woman, died sew
eral years ago here Preetorius wen
south and lived at Memphis, Tenn
and Little Rock, Ark For mort
than year he has made his head
quarters at Pine Bluff, with brancl
offices in his lumber and real estat,
business at Cairo, ILL.,, and Mem
phis.
Surviving are the son, who IS
music teacher at Chicago, four sis
ters and one brother The sister
are Mrs. Charles Wack, of Evans
Vile; Mrs. Marie Miller, of St Louis
Mo; Mrs. Charles Wassam, @
Washington, D. c., and Mrs. Habei
cum of Washington. Philip Pret
torius, the brother, is hotel Pre-
prietor at Jopa, III,
Preetorius suffered paralyti
stroke two years ago and never fun
regained his former good health, H
was partially crippled as result {
the paralytic stroke.
: The body was taken to Schaeter
[ undertaking rooms. A sister ar
brother, besides the son, will con
from out of the city to attend Il
t funeral. The services will be co.
Quoted from Schaefers chapel FL
: day morning at / o'clock, wi
A burial in Oak Hill cemetery II
!. Leasing lodge of Masons will ha
J. charge of the services. The bo,
e will be buried beside that of h
d wife.
r. VIII deliver sweet milk befo
Z noon any place in the city. Swt
j. cream in any quantity. Marsh nj