The Wrangell sentinel., 1927-03-24
THE THIELE TRAGEDY AS
 REPORTED BY SITKA PAPER
SilLa ProgresD

! with a 30-Remington rifle. He is survived by his wife. Mrs. Nellie Fhiele, and one son. Donald. aged 5, who were both in the room at the time the tragedy occurred.
 The eoroner,s inquest was held at 2:45 D. m.
 Mrs. Thiele said that she and Mr Thiele had been disagreeing on whether she should leave on the Rogers or whether he should leave or whether they should go together.
 Mr. Thiele had been to different people that morning trying to sell the laundry in order that they might go on the boat He returned to his home and sat down by the stove. Mrs. Thiele was seated at the table drinking coffee. Mr. THIELE We can't sell the laundry and get the money. what shall We do .
 Mrs. THIELE Its up to you. ,"
 Mr. THIELE Do you want to leave on the boat and let me run the laundry
 There was no response.
 He asked her to kiss him good bye and walked to tae corner back Of her Just as she turned ner head towards him she heard the gun cock. but before she could get to him the shot was fired. The bullet entered the left eye and took the top of his head off.
 Mrs. Thiele called for Mrs simp- son, the nearest neighbor, and with Donald ran out of the room and down the alley screaming. Sey- eral men in front of Anderson g Fountain inquired what was the matter.
 Fred shot himself and blew his whole head off. she said. We ha5 quarrel last night and he said he would kill himself but I did not be- lieve he would do it.
 One of the hearers immediately informed the marshal.
 MT Caswell. the U. s. Deputy Marshal, first went to the office of the laundry, thinking the shooting had taken place there. Here he met the carpenter, James ". Mattatall, who thought the shot was a gas eX- plosion in the coal stove. They went upstairs and found the body just inside the entrance of the kitchen door.
 MT J. A. Smith testified that he had talked with Mir Thiele at ten o'clock that morning.
 MT THIELE T have had trouble with my wife"
 MT. SMITH : Cant you patch up the trouble ?
 MT. THIELE No; I am tired of cooking I am going to leave on this boat"
 Thiele also stated that he wanted to turn the laundry over to Smith for $400 which would cover his eX- penses and still leave him enough to take passage south on the boat Thiele also stated that he had had | a chance to sell a few days before
 MT. Smith replied that he did not want to go into the laundry busi- ness.
 They met again at II o'clock. Mr. Thiele said he had seen the other | party but that he did not have the money. Mr. Smith offered to ad- vance the money if the party could get security.
 L. D. Bashore, a painter, also held conversation with Mr Thiele on the day of the tragedy. He eXpressd his desire of wanting to go back to his people in Wisconsin, and then to South America.
 Robert Bray, a messenger for the U. g. Cable Office, walked from Mills store to McGrath's store with Mr Thiele about 10 o'clock MT. THIELE Now Bob I'm in trouble again with my wife and this is the second time since I have been in Sitka."
 Mr. BRAY Don't bother about that"
 Mr. THIELE No, Bob, I'm go- ing to quit the ship this time"
 Mir Thiele was born in Oskosh, Wisconsin, in 1895. He joined the army early in life and had received three honorable discharges. He was a cable operator in the U. S. Signal Corps, being stationed at Wrangell before being transferred to Sitka about year ago. For the last six months he has been in charge of the laundry here.
 MT. Thiele was a member of Mer- lin Elmer Palmer Post No. 6, American Legion, at Wrangell.
 Sitka Post No 13, American Le- zion, had charge of the funeral services which took place at the National Cemetery at 10:30 Thurs day morning.
 Rev. W. S. Marble and Comrade Filler Hansen had charge of the ser vice at the grave.
 Alfrel Gordon blew taps and the band played Chopin's Funeral March for the professional.
 It has been said that Mrs. Thiele is a granddaughter of the late Chief Shakes of Wrangell, making her an Indian Princess. [This is an error. Mrs. Thiele's mother was not Thlinget, but a Haida.l
 An adjusted compensation cer- tificate for 5000 was left to Mrs. | Thiele by her husband. Two other