Proel, Martin died 1883

PROEL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 2/11/2013 at 18:23:57

Postville Review, Sat., 28 July 1883. (condensed).

A German named Martin Proel committed suicide Saturday afternooon by gun shot. He had been working around town for several weeks and was boarding at the Wm. Thoma place. He had been noticed as being somewhat shattered mentally, especially in the last three or four days.

He became boistrous friday afternoon and more so that evening, firing several shots from a revolver from a window. Mr. Thoma, who was away working on his farm, was sent for, but Mr. Proel would not leave or allow anyone entry to his room.

Saturday afternoon Marshal Marston was called upon to remove Mr. Proel. The Marshal and Mr. Thoma finally succeeded in getting Mr. Proel to open his door and talking, incoherently, and with a revolver in his hand, with Mr. Thoma. But as soon as Mr. Proel saw the Marshal, and before he could be prevented from doing so, Mr. Proel raised the gun and fired a 38 caliber bullet crashing through his own brain, of course killing him instantly.

Mr. Proel was found to have $15. on his person and was never known to have been drunk while here. His is a clear case of insanity. He has no relatives locally but is thought to have a brother in the Elkader area. He was buried Sunday morning in the Postville cemetery.

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Submitter is not related.

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