The Mankato free press., 1920-12-03
PRINTER CALLED THIRTY
Sensational Finish ;Unique
Notes Left Behind
DIRECTS HIS FUNERAL
Would Have Pine Box With Rope
Handles; Shot Fired Into
His Body

Lying dead in a pool of his own
blood in the rear Of small brick
storehouse near the site Of the old
malt house on Rock street. William
]. Ech was found this morning at
$3.50 o'clock where he had committed
suicide by the aid of sawed of
shotgun, which lay near the body.
That the rash deed had been pre-
meditated for some time past is evt-
denced by letters the deceased left
for the pubic and the press Of this
city. One OF these letters dated Aug
ust 1s, 1920. states plainly that the
unfortunate man had fully determined
at that time to take his own life. ow-
ing to the fact that he had become
very despondent over family affairs
and things in general. He went into
the minutest details Of describing his
property and its disposal.
Letter to Police Chief.
In a letter to Chief OF Police Jacob
IHflgers the dead man told where his
last win and testament could be found
at the home OF his sister, Mrs. Ed
ward Enfield, 62S North Front street
He gave explicit instructions to have
ibis Ford car, which is now In the
Finley & Johnson garage, given to his
wife. Mrs. w. ]. Moh, LAB George
street, St Paul.
Bid Goodbye to World.
IN closing his letters to the press
goodbye to the world and his friends
IA general That he wishes the most
tsimpis funeral possible, In evidenced
by the fact that he requests that he
be buried IN q rough pine box viii
rope handled, and that his body be
takeu to the cemetery on q dray.
6ctbbled no doubt last night in the
dark just before he took his life.. was
b penciled note on the bottom OF one
OF the letters asking forgiveness OF
bis sister for the deed OF taking his
lewn. LIE.
Police Were Notified.
A. soon as the polios were notified
they hurried to the scene and found
Hhet fhe body was then cold and rig
6f mortus had already set In, fndicat-
tng that the body had lain there for
,eczmetiue. The body was lying dag
onally across the road In the muddy
alley with a large gaping wound on
the left side where the muzzle Of the
sawed OF shotgun had evidently been
placed when tl,e gun was fired. Tx
animation OF the frearm BY Chief OF
Police Hflgers after the arrival Of
Coroner Roy N. Andrews, disclosed
the fact that both barrsls Of the
twelve guaee gun were fired at once
and both charges OF hne shot must
have torn their way through the VI
tails In the region Of the heart
Death Was instantaneous.
That death was instantaneous. IN
evidenced BY the fact that there are
no signs OF struggle following the
firing OF the fatal shots Near his
feet was found "gunny'' sack, which
Nag evidently used by the suicide In
yhinh . carry the short sawed on
shot gun, with which the deed was
committed. 1t was found upon exam
natton that the stock Of the gun was
broken on Just back OF the hammers,
showing plainly that the butt end of
ne stock had been placed against the
etone wall with the muxzls OF the gun
ETrsssed tightly against the mans left
s1de while he worked both triggers
with his hands.
Clothes Near Body.
Just 70 one side OF where his dead
pody was found, his coat and vest
and overcoet were found piled on
some old iron pipes, and on top of
1ne pile was his car. It was in the
pocket OF his dress coat that the let.
tiers referred to were foand By the
,eoroner and the officers. It was 30
2aainly case Of suicide that Corner
10y N. Andrews decided that an in
Iqnest was not necessary and the
body was taken to the undertaking
rooms OF Landkamer Brothers to be
prepared for burial. -. =
Mrs. Edward Enfield, 62s North
Front street, the only surviving blood
rsiatye OF the deceased, stated to The
Tree Press this morning that her
Iprother. had been very desrondent for
that he would take his own life. De-
ceased was born in this city forty
seven years ago, and had ben en-
.ployed on the Pioneer Press and
Duluth Herald az an expert printer.
He Is also survived by his wife who
sreeidek IN al paul