Paul Fuss 1838-1906

FUSS, MEYERS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/11/2011 at 20:57:12

Took His Own Life
Paul Fuss Found Hanging in Coal Shed Monday Afternoon
Cause for Suicide Is Unknown
His Wife Died Suddenly About a Year Ago and He has Since Been Despondent and in Poor Health
Paul fuss, a well known resident of Estherville, committed suicide Monday [September 17, 1906] afternoon by hanging himself in the coal shed at the rear of his home at 412 North Third street, near the Rock Island round house.

He was discovered at about 2:30 o’clock by Mrs. Emil Hoffman, one of the neighbors. Mrs. Hoffman had come over the Fuss house to gather some tomatoes which had been given her by Mr. Fuss. She had been over during the afternoon and Mr. Fuss had told her to be sure to come after dinner and this is taken as an indication that he had the suicide in contemplation at that time and wanted her to come over that his body might be discovered. The door of the shed was usually closed but the suicide had gone therein and left it open so the interior could be plainly seen from the garden and when Mrs. Hoffman came over she saw the body hanging from the rafters by a small rope.

The rope had been twice looped and one strand was caught just under the dead man’s chin and the other under his nose. His neck was not broken and the ropes were not down far enough to touch his windpipe and it is likely that death was due to stoppage of the juglar vein. One foot was touching the chair upon which he had stood when adjusting the rope and the other nearly reached the ground.

Mrs. Hoffman ran back home and notified her husband of her discovery and the latter telephoned to the officers and Sheriff Pullen, Marshall Haynes and Coroner Wilson were soon on the scene. The coroner did not think an inquest necessary and the body was removed to the Barber undertaking establishment.

Paul Fuss was born in Germany August 5, 1838. He was married to Miss Kate Meyers in Dubuque in 1877 and later lived at Williams. The family came to Estherville about fourteen years ago. Mrs. Fuss died quite suddenly June 7, 1905, at the home on East Lincoln street where she conducted a lunch counter. Mr. Fuss was by occupation a shoemaker and cobbler. Since his wife’s death he has been despondent and in poor health and to these facts are attributed his suicide. He is survived by eight sons, Paul, Fred, Joseph, Louis, William, Charles, Frank and Edward.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. William Morrison at the First Baptist church at 2 o’clock this afternoon and the remains interred in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, September 19, 1906)