Siefke, Johann C. 1861-1890

SIEFKE, SIEVERS

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 4/10/2012 at 19:40:48

A Suicide at Remsen.
Yesterday afternoon Dr. McMahan was telephoned to come immediately to Remsen to hold an inquest on a body. He went to Remsen and found the body to be that of Johannes Siefke [Siefke] a half brother of Henry Sievers. He had committed the act by going into the loft of the barn and attaching a rope to the rafter or a cross piece above and then making a slip noose in the other end and putting it around his neck, when he got upon a box, possibly eighteen inches high, gave a leap and came down with such force as to break his neck with all neatness and dispatch of a professional hangman.
The cause assigned for the act is that of despondency. He has been in the country about two years and was an industrious and well to do young man, but recently had been sick and lost considerable time. He brooded over his troubles and wanted, on this morning to go to work but Sievers had told him that he was not able and to stay with him until he was better. At noon Mr. Seivers asked him to feed the horses and he did so. A younger brother was sent out at dinner time to the stable and found the horse loose, and on search his body was found as stated in the loft of the barn.
The cornoner’s verdict it that of suicide. – Le Mars Sentinel, Feb. 14, 1890, page 3.