TRIED TO CUT HIS THROAT - William Eberle 1900

EBERLE, GORDON, SLATTERY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/29/2016 at 19:38:26

The Dubuque Herald, August 10, 1900

TRIED TO CUT HIS THROAT
~

William Eberle Foiled in Attempt
To Kill His Wife, Tries
Suicide
~

THROAT BADLY GASHED BUT WILL LIVE
~
Eberle Lived in East Dubuque
His Wife Left Him Because
of His Cruelty and He
Followed Her
~
William Eberle tried the suicide route last night. He succeeded in badly slashing his throat, but did not sever the jugular vein. Dr. Slattery’s prompt attention staunched the flow of blood and Eberle is now at Mercy Hospital with a very good chance of recovery.

Eberle had murder in his heart. He was after his wife with the avowed intention of killing her. She foiled him and he vented his homicidal mania on himself.
Eberle is an East Dubuquer and is the son of the late Indian Kate. She was a full blooded Indian and a survivor of the Blackhawk War. The story is that she was a babe and was hidden in the brush by her Indian mother when the Indians retreated. White settlers found her and reared her. She was a respected woman and was much thought of. Her death occurred only a few years ago. She having been a full blooded, her son is a halfblooded Indian.

Several years ago Eberle married a woman named Gordon from Dubuque and they lived in East Dubuque. He was a laborer and worked on the section across the river. Several months ago his wife left him because of his cruelty to her. She brought her three children to Dubuque and is living in the big rock house near Marshall’s factory on Washington and Tenth Streets. She has been supporting herself and children by washing. Eberle has been after her to return to him, but she refuses. Yesterday afternoon he came over from East Dubuque and went up to her home. This was about 5 o’clock, she saw him coming and got the door closed. He tried to gain entrance by the windows, but the shutters barred him. He stood outside the door threating to kill her. He flourished a knife and the neighbors hesitated to tackle him. He finally went into the hall and his failure to return excited alarm. A neighbor ventured in and found him lying in a pool of blood. The police station had previously been notified of the trouble and the patrol wagon pulled up just after Eberle was found in the hall. He was loaded into the wagon and taken to the office of Dr. Slattery, who sewed up the wounds in his neck. The knife with which Eberle did the deed was a new one and probably been purchased for the purpose, or rather for use on his wife. It was a cheap knife, though, and was not sharp. Eberle’s wounds evidenced that he was determined. The saw edge of the knife had made several hagged wounds in his neck. Fortunately for him he did not cut the jugular vein. He did sever other blood vessels and bleed copiously. He was unconscious from the loss of blood when found, but regained his senses after his wounds were dressed. He was nota bit penitent and stated that he would make a better job of it next time.

The St. Charles’ excursionists were returning to the train at the time and Eberle’s act furnished them an incident not on the bills.