The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-03
c, E, SCHOLz
FOUND DEAD
IN FIREPLACE
Iiouor -Dulled Fisherman
Fell From Chair Into
Blaze.

Charles Z. Scholz, aged As years.
was found burned to death at 2:30
Yesterday afternoon in an old shack
On the point OF hrueger's island
IN Rock river, opposite lock NO. 81.
A Dlut bottle partly filled with Ii
ouOr was found nearby and led to
belief that ScholZ fell into the hre
while intoxicated.
ScholZ had evidently been sitting
on a broken down chair, pulled
close TO a fireplace of two pieces
Of tin in the cen,er OF the room.
His body was lying in the center
OF the fire. The Ilgnt arm was
nearly burned from the body, his
hack charred and head burned al
most beyond recognition.
He with his wife had lived on
the island during the summer
months in an old shack. They were
moving to 912 First avenue Tor the
winter. He left this residence
Tuesday afternoon and did not re-
turn that night Yesterday noon
Mrs. Scholz became worried about
him and started for The island.
She found him lying on the moor
in their home, but at that time, she
said, he was not burned.
In her testimony at the inquest,
conducted by Coroner John F. Ma
berry this morning at 8 o'clock in
the O'Malley undertaking parloTs,
she said that she ran for help. She
went to the rendering works and
notified c. W. Kruger. He sum-
moned the police and they went to
the shack
Had Been in Trouble.
Mrs. Scholz recalled instances of
when Scholz had been intoxicated
and had been in trouble with men
in that community. She named
men known as Gus" Belgian
Charley" and Red" She-had gone
to their places several times when
be was in their company and took
him home from drinking bouts.
She said that the man called Red
had left some time ago with his
father for st. Louis in rowboat.
When she first found her hus-
band before he had been burned,
she believed that he had been as
ssulted At that time she noticed
a very small fire in the room, but
did not stop to put it out.
Gus kirsch. pilice officer, said:
When l arrived ScholZ was in the
middle of the fire and it was still
smeIdering. 1t apparently had
been smoldering seven or eight
hours Every evidence was that he
/ had been drinking and the whisky
bottle was close TO the body. He
no doubt was sitting in the chair
and fell into the fire and burned
to death. The Goals were in wide
circle as if scattered by the fall.
The shack was made of old boards
and the windows were covered
With tar paper.
Resident Without Permission.
According to G. w. Kruger, us
thirteenth avenue, owner of the
Island, ScholZ and his wife were
living on the island without per-
mission. He had been told that a
nan was staying there. but had
never molested him. The shanty
had been erected by Scholz. Mr..
hFueger was first notified by Mrs.
Scholz that she had found a dead
nan on the island and the police
we're notified. Mr.. Kruger accom-
panied the police TO the island.
The verdict given by the jurors
a the inquest was. Charles +.
Scholz came to his death by being
accidentally burned while alone i'll
lie shack on the island"
Resident Eight Years.
he was born in Chicago AS years
ago and had resided in Rock Is
and eight years. He had been en-
pNyed in various shops. but in the
ast year he had spent his time
aSnlng. He was united in marriage
u 1872 in Moline and shortly after
Natd came to Rock Island to live.
1 surviving are the widow, a sis
Sr, Mrs. Hattie Jacobson of St.
..Laafies, Ill, a half brother, Ar
.aur Dunabrin of Chicago, and
aree half sisters, Mrs. Agnes Pow
n OF chicago, Mrs. Selma Herman
sH Olga Dunabrin of Chicago.
9! Sae mother, Mrs. Mary Hofer in
o. CnarleS. also survives.