Schultz, George 1888-1933

SCHULTZ, ROBBINS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/9/2009 at 19:57:09

LeMars Sentinel, September 8, 1933

TORCH SUICIDE IN CORNFIELD
George Schultz Takes Own Live Monday Forenoon

George Schultz, 45, long a Stanton township farmer, committed suicide Monday morning [Sept. 4, 1933] some time by going out into a corn field, saturating his clothing with gasoline, and setting himself afire.

Members of the family, becoming anxious because of his unexplained absence from home, looked for him and found his charred body in a corn field. He had been dead for several hours when discovered.

Mr. Schultz’s strange “torch suicide” was caused, it was believed by sickness and mental depression. He was physically handicapped, and had made threats of suicide to members of the family and to neighbors.

The body was removed to Luken’s funeral home at LeMars.

George Schultz was the son of Gottfried Schultz, a native of Alsace Lorraine, and Louise Koenig Schultz. He was born in Stanton township, Plymouth County, July 3, 1888. At the time of his death he was 45 years, 2 months, and 1 day old.

On September 17, 1913, he was married to Bessie Robbins. To this union six children were born. One son died in infancy. Three sons and two daughters, Lester, LeRoy, James, Goldie and Juanita, survive their father’s untimely death.

Besides his bereaved wife and children, Mr. Schultz is also survived by five brothers, Chris, Charles, Fred, William and Henry, all of Merrill, and two sisters, Mrs. Otto Werner of Watsonville, Calif., and Mrs. Paul Gaumritz, of Merrill.

Funeral services were held at the home where Mr. Schultz has lived for the past 20 years at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Services were held in the Stanton township Evangelical church at 2:30 with the Rev. Kaupp, the pastor, in charge. Burial was in the Stanton Evangelical cemetery under the direction of Luken’s.

The pallbearers were William Fischer, Albert Fischer, Lloyd Dobbert, Carl Lippke, Walter Wetrosky and Ben Brandstetter.
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ENDS LIFE WITH KEROSENE FIRE

According to a report to the Sioux City newspapers from LeMars, George Schultz, 45, eight miles south of LeMars, ended his life late Monday as a human torch. The charred body was found by relatives in a cornfield.

It was apparent Mr. Schultz poured kerosene on his clothing and then ignited them, according to the coroner. He said no inquest would be held.

Mr. Schultz left his farm home early Monday and when he failed to return home members of the family searched for him and made the gruesome discovery. Members of the family said the victim had been despondent because of ill health.

Surviving are the widow and five children.

~Source: The Hinton Progress, Sept. 7, 1933