New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1921-04-20
WIN. II. GUGISBERG
COMMITS SUICIDE
PROMINENT GIBBON BANKER,
BUSINESS MAN, ENDS
LIFE, MONDAY.
FINANCIAL. TROUBLES CAUSED
DESPONDENCY, BELIEF.
WAS KNOWN HERE.

New Uln relatives received the dis
tressing news, yesterday morning, that
William H. Gugisberg, prominent
banker and business man of Gibbon
and junior member of the Saffert
Gugisberg Cement Construction Co.
of New Ulm, had committed suicide
the previous day, by shooting himself
through the heart with 12-gauge
shotgun. His father-in-law, Otto
Pless, and A. M. Oswald left for
Gibbon yesterday noon.
Left Home in Morning.
Mr.. Gugisberg drove away from his
home in Gibbon, Monday morning
about 10 o'clock, telling his wife that
he would be back in time for dinner.
He drove out to the Gugisberg farm at
Clear Lake, some five miles from Glib
bon, to a spot known as Sandy Point.
Wife Became Alarmed.
Although her husband seemed to be
in his usual good humor when he left
home, Mrs. Gugisberg became alarmed
when he had not returned at supper
time, and requested that a search be
made for him, fearing that some &C
cident had befallen him. Several
parties secured the country in cars,
but failed to locate the missing man, as
he had not told his wife that he in
tended visiting the home farm.
Boy Gives First Clue. &c.,.
Five Gibbon youths, who had been
fishing at Clear Lake during the day,
drove by the Gugisberg car within
about rod and half on their way
home at about o'clock in the after
noon. They observed Mr.. Gugisberg
in a reclining position in the rear seat
of his auto, and, believing him to be
asleep, did not disturb him, but con-
tinued their trip home. 1t was not
until 8 o'clock Monday night that one
of these boys casually mentioned that
he had his companions had seen Mr..
Gugisberg, apparently asleep, in his
car, near Clear Lake.
Body Found in Auto.
Hurrying out to the lake, a party
of men soon located the car and found
Mr.. Gugisberg's lifeless body reclin-
ing in the rear seat. A charge from
an automatic 12-guage shotgun, which
was lying near the corpse, had pene-
trated the body in the region of the
heart, and, from all appearances, had
caused instant death.
Leaves Note to Wife.
A note was also found near the dead
man, which was addressed to his wife.
We were unable to learn, however,
what the note contained, but it was
rumored around Gibbon that he had
referred to his financial troubles and
had given this stringency as the cause
for his rash deed.
No Inquest Necessary.
Coroner Olson and County Attorney
Mackenzie of Gayolrd were notified
and arrived at Gibbon shortly before
l o'clock yesterday morning. The
coroner pronounced it clear case of
suicide and for that reason no inquest
was considered nece sary. The re-
mains were taken to an undertaking
establishment to be prepared for
burial
About IS Years Old.
Mr.. Gugisberg was between 35 and
40 years of age. He was married at
Gibbon number of years ago to Miss
Minnie Pless, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Otto Pless, residing on South Franklin
street here. They have three sons,
Arthur, Harold and Robert.
Had Many Interests.
Since the death of his father, the late
Henry Gugisberg, quite number of
years ago, deceased was cashier of the
First State Bank of Gibbon from which
position he retired about a year ago