G.A. HAMMERICH ENDS HIS LIFE; CAUSE UNKNOWN

HAMMERICH, SCHROEDER, HORST, GILES, PETERS, SWANSON, LAWSON

Posted By: Mary Lou Miller (email)
Date: 1/22/2005 at 17:23:35

JACKSON SENTINEL CLIPPINGS

DATE: UNKNOWN

NAME OF ARTICLE:

G.A. HAMMERICH ENDS HIS LIFE; CAUSE UNKNOWN

TURNS ON GAS JETS AND DIES IN THE KITCHEN OF HIS HOME

Apparently without cause, Gustav A. HAMMERICH, 34 years old, unmarried, turned on all of the gas jets in the kitchen of his home, 2140 Seventeenth street, Rock Island, yesterday morning and died as a result. He made his home with his mother, Mrs. Ida HAMMERICH and his sister, Mrs. Anna SCHROEDER and was never known to allow anything to worry him. His friends, as well as his sister, say that they have never known him to be downhearted or to be worrying over anything and are at a loss to account for his rash act.

He was a bricklayer and was employed by the HENRY HORST CO., ont he work in Longview Park. Carl W. HORST, foreman on the work said that he had worked for him for more than two years and never known him to fail to report for work until Monday morning. He said that he had always seemed to be in the highest of spirits.

HE WAS ALONE

He was left in the house alone at about 6:30 o'clock yesterday morning when his sister left the house to go to work. His mother is visiting in the country. When Mrs. SCHROEDER came home from work she said that as soon as she stepped onto the walk leading to the front door she smelled the gas, but thought that the pipe, which she had known to be defective, in the cellar, was leaking. She went to the cellar way and found that the gas was not coming from there.

She then went into the house and found that all of the doors leading into the kitchen were locked, which was very unusual. She carried the key to the outside kitchen door, which she unlocked but was unable to open it as the body was lying in the front of the door. Through the window she could see the body lying face down.

NEIGHBORS CALL POLICE

Rushing across the street to the nearest neighbor, C.W. GILES, 2139 Seventeenth street, she told what had happened and he, with his brother ran to the house. They turned off the gas jets, all of which had been turned on and notified the police.

Mr. GILES said that it was apparent that HAMMOND [should have been HAMMERICH] had tried to get out after turning on the gas, for the door knob was pulled off. There was a flatiron lying on the floor, that Mrs. SCHROEDER had used to keep the door open. Mr. HAMMERICH was cut on the forehead and on the cheek as though he had struck the iron in his fall.

When the police arrived with the pulmotor they saw he had been dead for atleast eight hours.

Mr. GILES was the last to see him alive, besides his sister. He saw him last about 3 o'clock Monday afternoon. Mr. HORST said that he saw him last at noon on Saturday, when he was paid for last week's work. When he failed to report for work Monday, Mr. HORST went to the house for him but could get no response. He went again Tuesday morning, but again was unable to get any response.

BORN IN ROCK ISLAND

Mr. HAMMERICH was born in Rock Island, January 5, 1887, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian HAMMERICH and had resided here all of his life. Beside his mother he leaves four sisters, Mrs. Anna SCHROEDER, at home, Mrs. Will PETERS, Wilton, Iowa; Mrs. Earl SWANSON, Orion and Mrs. Ike LAWSON of Perry, Iowa.

He was a member of Ucal lodge, I.O.O.F., of Rock Island and a member of camp No. 29, M.W.A.