The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-08-31

PARTICULARS OF THE
MEiTZLER SUICIDE

George w. Meitzler. founder and
head of the Union Central bank at
May, committed suicide last Wednes-
day morning in the basement Bf hih
own home, using a 80 pistol which
was aimed above his right temple. No
one was with him at the time. |
Death must have been instantaneous, |
for the body was found beside the !
chopping block where he had evident |
ly sat down and where he was in the |
habit of chopping the family kindline.
Three women made the discovery.
Miss Fannie Matley, bookkeeper at
the bank, appeared for her daily du-
ties as usual Wednesday morning to
find the bank closed. She had left
her own key at home. knowing the
usual morning routine of Mr.. Meitz-
Ter the bookkeeper called up the
George Grubb home to know if any
thing had been seen Of him, the ane
wer being returned, "yes, Mr.. Meitz
ler has been here after milk as usual
and went back home" Then Miss
Matley visited the Meitzler home
where she obtained no answer to her
knocks at the door.
7 Meanwhile two officers OF tho
states financial department appeared
at the bank. which was still closed
and Mr.. Neither nowhere to be seen.
Miss Matley at once determined to go
back to her home and get her owr
key. After opening the bank and ad
hitting the officials the young woman
then again went to the Meitzler home
this time accompanied by Mrs. Grubb
and Mrs. Gene Smith, and entered
therein. Mr. Meitzler's hat and coat
, were found and there was no appar-
l ent disorder as room after room was
, visited until down in the basement the
! ladies made the discovery of the sui
eide.
e The alarm quickly spread through
lout the village and community, being
! ltelephoned to Salmon by a message
e to Arthur Green. which gave no de
S tails of the suicides taking off. how
e ever. The May physician. D. Gill
v man. finding life extinct, placed the
!. lbody on table and there it remained
Il until the arrival of Coroner Doeblel
|. later in the day. Mr.. Doebler, who
drove to May with Ralph Thrasher
returned with the body to Salmon
early in the evening, bringing the flrs'
= authentic details of the occurrence
He was convinced at once that an in
quest was not required.
He found that Mr.. Meitzler had at
tended a dance in the village ths
IL ho- nod
mained till late hour still he hat
been at the bank the morning OF hi:
death, as revealed by correspondents
he had answered there in his usua
methodical way even just before TAX
ing his own life. The coroner ascer
tanned also that at the dance the Oanl
er had greatly enjoyed himself AM
had told one of his dancing partner
that he preferred to remain witt
,easant company rather than to 6
home to his lonesome residence in tn
absence of Mrs. Meitzler, who wa
away from home visiting friends l
Salmon. The banker was met at tn
Grubb home by Mrs. Grubb and spok
cordially as kas always his habl
when appearing for his milk suppl
every morning. Mrs. Grubb notice
| nothing out OF the way about him e.
| cept that he did not as always befol
wear his glasses. She also observe
that he omitted one OF his customal
| chores for the Grubb family. Whit
| was to start up for them their Dell
power plant, Mrs. Grubb expecuI
him 10 return later for that purpo
as there was nobody else. they re
who could attend to such things qui
as efficiently as their friend al
kindly neighbor
| The Meitzlers made Salmon the
home for many years. Here
Meitzler was long engaged in busine
thoroughly identified with the co
.munity in manifold ways as lod
member public official and trust
friend. The most important pub
office he hedl was that OF couI
treasurer. which he voluntarily ga
,h. up to found the May bank. Since
removal of the Meitzlers to May II
< maintained their old-time friendsh
in Salmon and both made freQu'
visits here. Mrs. Meitzler had