The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-09
Drops on Stair While on
Way to His Room at
Grand View Hotel.
HAD WORKED ALL DAY
Death Comes without Prelim-
inaries to Bachelor Recluse
Thursday Evening.

Christian Bruins, 65, wealthy
bachelor recluse who has made his
home for the past year at the Grand
View hotel, died suddenly Thursday
evening at 7:45 p. m. while on his
way from the second floor lavatory to
his room on the third floor.
He was found by fellow ledger,
seated on the stairs near the midway
landing, gasping for breath, A ply
sician, DIR. Christofferson, was sum-
moned at once, but when he arrived,
Mr.. Bruins was already past assist
ance.
Death came as the result of heart
failure, according to the informal
opinion given by the physician.
Had Worked All Day.
Chris Bruins, as he was best known,
had been working all day Thursday at
the Simmons shop where he was en-
ployed. He appeared to be in his
usual health and humor. At 6 o'clock
he came home from work and sat
down to supper in the dining room.
Two men came to see him while he
was thus engaged, but the proprietor,
Frank Matelski, bade them wait until
Mr.. Bruins had finished his meal.
The two men, who were unknown
to the men about the hotel, had no OPP
portunity to discuss their errand with
Mr.. Bruins, however, for when he saw
them, he waved them peremptorily
away. 1885,
'Nothing doing" he said, II don't
want to talk business tonight. Don't
bother me-"
The two men went away. Mr.. Bruins
went upstairs to his room, number ~,
on the third floor. Francis Bailey, an
other lodger at the hotel, came up
with him as far as the second floor,
and noticed nothing amiss. Bruins
secured his razor and other equipment,
went down to the wash room on the
second floor where he shaved and
washed. He then started back up the
stairs to the third floor where his
room was.
Found Gasping On Stairs.
George Hills, another ledger, heard
a sound on the stairs and came out.
He found Chris seated on the stairs
just above the landing between the
second and third floors. He was
gasping for breath. Hills ran down
the stairs and called Matelski. When
the two came up, they found the man
had rolled over upon the landing and
lay in a heap. They tried to give
aid, but in vain. When DR.. Christ
offerson arrived at the summons Of
the others, he pronounced the victim
dead.
-
the police to send the ambulance, but
the call was cancelled the next mo-
ment by the physician who told the
desk sergeant, Frank Schneeberger,
that the man was dead.
The sergeant sought to inform Judge
Slater, but was unable to locate him.
After some ten minutes when 1t was
found that the judge could not be
reached at once, the sergeant at the
suggestion of the district attorney
notified a justice of the peace, calling
upon Nicholas Wade to act as coroner.
Mr.. Wade, as acting coroner, notified
Mischler's to remove the body to
their undertaking establishment.
Had Talked of Death.
George Hills, the man who found
Mr.. Bruins dying on the stairs, had
talked with him a moment before in
the wash room. Singularly enough, the
subject touched upon in their casual
contact in the wash room was that
of death.
Mr.. Bruins, Hills said later, remark
ed that many men were being killed
recently as the result of drink, and
they discussed the subject of liquor
moment or two.
Mr.. Bruins himself was abstemious