The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1933-01-12
Mr.. Gabriel
Shoots Self
Thurs. Eve.
Left Note for Wife Telling
Her Where Body Could
Be Found
a SMITH & WESTON
Had Suffered With Severe
Headaches-Despondent
Over Finance

Within a sixty day period three
men, middle aged, or over, resid-
ing in the Sank Centre community,
have ended their lives by suicide.
The first two hung themselves. The
latter shot himself through the
right eye.
Sank Centre citizens were alarm
ed shortly after 600 o'clock Thurs
day evening when it was announc-
ed that John F. Gabriel had suicid-
ed in the basement of the Sank
Centre wood works plant at North
Main and Second street, by shoot
ing himself through the right eye.
The weapon Mr.. Gabriel used
was an old "A Smith & Weston re-
volver owned by his father before
him. The firing piece had laid
around the deceased's tool chest for
many years and the family are of
the opinion that it had not been
fired for at least Is years before
Mr.. Gabriel used it to end his life.
The deceased had been bothered
with severe headaches for several
months. He was respondent over
financial matters. These condi-
tions very likely caused a momen-
tarily mental unbalancing.
Early in the afternoon Mrs. Cab
riel was invited to go to the coun-
try with some lady friends for the
afternoon. She talked the matter
over with her husband and he urg-
ed her to go.
The family resided in the Lux
building at the rear Of the wood
working plant, on Second street.
When Mrs. Gabriel returned home
about 900 o'clock the fire in the
kitchen range was burning; there
was plenty of wood and nice pile
Of kindling. On the kitchen table
was note addressed to Mrs Cab
riel which said, in effect:
"You will find my body in the
basement of the wood working
plant"
Mortified Mrs. Gabriel hurried
across the street to the White
Eagle Filling Station and informed
the Minnette Bros. of the tragedy.
They Immediately notified Chief of
Police Ed Steege, who in turn noti-
fed Deputy Coroner DR.. A. F. Moy-
nihan, of this city,
The body was still warm when
found. The wound indicated that
Mr. Gabriel had died instantly. The
cheek below the right eye and the
side of his nose were quite badly
burned from the powder indicating
that the gun had been held close
when it was fired. 1t was so clear
ly a case of suicide that an in
quest was not necessary.
The remains were taken to Maine,
Ottertail county, late Friday after
noon. They were laid at rest in
the st. James Catholic cemetery at
1000 "a. NJ, Saturday morning.
Mr.. Gabriel was born at West
Newton, Nicollet county, Sept. 8,
1870. He grew to young manhood in
his home community. Nov. 20,
1890, he was united in marriage at
New Ulm, Brown county, to Miss
Mary Brosch. The family resided
in New Ulm for 26 years. For a
number of years Mr.. Gabriel was a
member of Co. A., End Regt., MINI.
National Guards. The family resid-
ed for a short period shortly before
1900, at Fairfax, Renville county.
Seventeen years ago they moved to
Ottertail county, living there until
they moved to this city five years
ago when Mr.. Gabriel purchased
the wood working plant.
The deceased was an Industrious
and highly respected citizen.
Six children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Gabriel. All are living. They
are: Oscar Gabriel, Wanda, Red
wood county; Robert Gabriel, Star
Lake, Ottertail county; Harry Ca
briel, Alexandria; Herbert Gabriel,
Duluth; Mrs. Steve Brietenbauch,
Ottertail county; Mrs. Herbert D.
Powell, Oakland, Cal. There are
nine grandchildren.