Smyrna times., 1932-07-27
SUDLER GORMAN
ENDS HIS LIFE
Former MiddletOwn Boy Fires
Bullet in Head as Result
of Domestic Troubles
DISCOVERED BY HIS WIFE

His act said to have been prompt
ed by domestic difficulties, Private
Sudler German, 26-year-old State
policeman, formerly of Middletown,
killed himself at his home one-haIf
mile north of No. 2 police station
on the dupont Boulevard shortly
before l a. M, Friday German
used his SO calibre service revolver,
firing through his right temple, the
bullet passing through his head
and lodging itself in the bedroom
wall. German was alone in the
darkened room. His wife, Mrs.
Pauline German; and Miss Mary
Mullin, of near Massey, and Miss
Florence Ackerson, of Wilmington,
who live at the house, were in the
living room. Hearing a shot, Mrs.
German ran to the bedroom, turn.
ed on the light, and saw her hus-
band sprawled on the floor, his ser
vice revolver partly covered by his
body. She Immediately called the
State police station, and within
two minutes Private Davidson was
at the scene of the tragedy, ac-
cording to Superintendent Reyn-
olds. He notified DR.. Lewis Book
er, of New Castle, but the trooper
died at LAO a. M, a few minutes
before the doctor arrived Coro-
ner George A. Pedrick was sum
moned, and he turned the body
over to Albert ]. McCrery, deputy
coroner, who arranged for its ship
ment to Middletown, Germans
former home, where burial will be
made. Private Davidson conduct
ed an investigation, and then re-
ported to c. C. Reynolds, superin-
tendent of State police, who declar-
ed that all evidence pointed toward
suicide. When found by Private
Davidson, German was on the bed
room floor, his right arm beneath
him. Near his hand, and partly
covered by the body, was his ser
vice revolver, one shell exploded.
The revolver was taken for finger
prints, but it was found to be de-
void of any prints. This, it was
stated, was due to the fact that
just before the shot was fired, Cor
man had washed his hands, and it
is believed they were still damp
According to Superintendent Rey-
nolds, the shooting was a result of
domestic difficulties, which had ex-
listed for some time Tribute to
German was paid by other men,
bers of the State Police Friday. |
Reynolds said that
he had always gone about his work
in a quiet and efficient manner, and +
there had been no complaints
against him since he entered the
service in May 1929. Flags at all
the State Police stations were put
at half mast Germans brother,
of Sudlersville, Md, was
on his way to Wilmington at the
time of the shooting, and stopping
at his brothers home, learned of it. .
He arrived shortly after the shoot
ing occurred, and remained at the I
bedside until German died. Cor +
man was born near Cecilton. Nd, T
out was brought up as a boy in
He joined the State
police May 27, 1929, and had al
ways been attached to Station No.
q He is survived by his wife, and
.wo children, Marion Z, and Thel-
ma, 5, his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
John German, of near Cecilton,
Md, and one brother, William, of
Sudlersville, Md. Members of State
Police Station No. 2, and members
rom other State Police stations,
rs well as officers of the State Po-
ice, attended the funeral in uni.
'orm. Captain Henry c. Ray as
sisted Private Davidson in the in
of Germans death.