Frank Martelle

MARTELLE, HOWE

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 12/6/2024 at 14:40:42

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, June 10, 1909
Page 1

Frank Martelle, who has been putting in tile for Geo. Deihl down south of town, committed suicide last evening, about seven o'clock by shooting himself in the mouth with a rifle. Trouble with his wife is thought to have been the occasion of the deed. He was in Wapello on Tuesday and got some liquor, which was the inciting cause as far as we can learn. He came from Oakville about March 20 of this year and with his brother-in-law, C. C. Howe, took a contract to put in some tile for Mr. Deihl. They had just completed that job and were working by the day. His brothers, R. K. Martelle, had also been working with them but had gone away for a few days, expecting to return. Another brother, lives in Oakville. His home, previously to his coming to Oakville, was at McGregor, Iowa. He was an industrious man, about thirty-five or forty years of age, and had a wife and three children, according to Mr. Deihl's best knowledge, from whom we get this information. Chas. Wagner, coroner, of Grandview, went to the scene of the suicide this morning.