Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1913-06-19
Butcher / axes His
Own Life at Henry


Last Saturday at 1890 o'clock our
neighboring little city OF Henry was
shocked to learn that one oil Its citi.
zens had committed suicide.
The man who committed the rash
act was Carl Won Hansen, employed
as a butcher in ]. L. Pratter's meat
market in that town.
! Mr.. Won Hansen had been resi-
dent Of Henry for about a year, com
ing there from Brookings, where he
held similar position for several
years. He was aged about fifty years
and was a first class man in his line
of work.
Ernest Schoonoyer, who conducts a
confectionery store in Henry, was Al
Watertown visitor and speaking to
the Saturday News man regarding the
matter said:
Yes sir, 4 knew the man who COM
mitted suicide at Henry last Satur-
day very we'll. He seemed TO be a
very nice man. He was quiet and
gentlemanly and was not man who
used intoxicating liquors to excess. IL
was a great surprise to the citizens
of Henry when they learned that he
had taken his own life. will tell
you all know about tho case. II Is
said that Mr.. Won Hansen went to 8
friend early Saturday morning and
asked to borrow a 22-calibre rife, re
marking that he wanted to use II
for the purpose Of shooting gopherS
When the rifle was handed to him he
asked the man who owned the gun u
he thought it would shoot strong
enough to kill a beef. The owner OF
the gun said it, probably would Il
1.-THE animal was shot In the proper
place. Won Hansen then returned to
the meat market and attended To his
regular routine work Of waiting Oh
customers, etc. file seemed appars
entity as happy as ever Before noon,
However, he went To his room and
lchangd his clothes completely even Vi.
| his underwear, washed and shaved
and made every preparation as Il 70
start on a Journey, then he apparent,
]ly deliberately pointed the gun to his
/ temple and pulled the trigger. When
found by his employer he was just
4 breathing his last. There was nc
4 letter left to give the slightest clue
why he sought to destroy himself. Ht
.Ihad never breatiled his intentions X
any person in Henry and every one
i Thought that he would be the last MAJ
ION earth to contemplate such an act
4 There always seemed to be a mystery
surrounding his life, however,, bu'
Il what it was no one in Henry seemed
i able to solve. A young man says h
Iscame into the meat market a coup, coup;
of weeks ago and on going to tht
i back room found Mr.. Won HanseI
sitting on a box reading letter anS
4 weeping. He said nothing of th'
4 contents OF the letter and was seen Il
1 destroy the letter.
j THE strange part Of the whole at
d fair is that he always posed as ,
j single man In Henry and never meI,
i toned anything about having any rel
i atives any place. After the suicid,
la telegram was sent to Brookings ask
ling for information regarding tll,
II whereabouts Of his relatives and hi
i former employed telegraphed back th'
4 name and address OF his wife who re
i sided IN Chicago. His wife and sey
eral grown sons came to Henry t,
i attend the funeral. His wife AM
Ichildren said they were at a loss Il
Il know why he had committed suicid,
as he was in communication with hi
4 wife and family every little while ant
4 that their relations were friendly. I'll
Il was a member OF the Modern Wood
men lodge of Chicago and carried ;
policy with his wife named as ths
4 beneficiary. Mrs. Won Hansen says
4 that she lived with her husband fol
Imany years and that thirteen child
1 ren have been bornt to them.
lL. N schulner's cigar factory III this
4 city.
At is only in the past few years thal
.Ihe has taken very much interest Ii
Ishootfng but he has developed into !
wonderful wing shot for the smal
5amount Of practice that he has had
IIe Z not apasrnodic shooter max