Quick, George Allen "Al" 1870-1911

QUICK, BAKER, GRIFFIN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/16/2022 at 19:38:17

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
June 27, 1911

WAS WEARY OF LIFE
AL QUICK FOUND DEAD WITH BULLET IN HIS HEAD.
BOYS BATHING FIND HIS BODY
Act Was Apparently Premeditated as He Purchased a Revolver With Last Coin at Noon of the Day on Which He Killed Himself.

“Al” Quick, who has made his home in LeMars for many years, committed suicide by shooting himself some time on Friday evening. His dead body was found on Saturday morning shortly before noon by Howard Remer, Otto Mikkelson, Albert and Walter Haas, whose parents all live west of town, near the Floyd river. The body was found at a point about two hundred yards north of the iron bridge.

The boys after making the horrifying discovery ran quickly back to the road and told a farmer who was passing. He gave the boys a ride up town, where the police and Coroner Beely were notified and quickly hastened to the spot.

Two of the four boys told how the evening before while down swimming they had seen what they supposed was a man sleeping on the bank of the river. Next morning when the four were together and saw the man still in the same position, they went closer and discovered the man was dead. Death had been caused by a bullet wound from a 32 caliber revolver, which was still clasped in the dead man’s hand. The man had placed the gun back of the right ear, the bullet lodging in his brain. He was stretched on his back on the bank of the river. In his pockets were some letters and a pint bottle of whiskey, which had not been touched. A piece of heavy wrapping paper lay near his side and in it was written the name of Al Quick. There was no money. After viewing the body, the Coroner decided it was a plain case of suicide and no inquest was held.

No motive is ascribed by anyone who was acquainted with the dead man. He was seen on Friday afternoon by several associates and told them he was going to Brunsville to work at a cement block factory. He was apparently in his usual health and spirits.

About noon on Friday he purchased a revolver at the Hansen Hardware store, telling Mr. Hanson it was for a man at Brunsville, who wanted to shoot rats. He said he did not want a very expensive gun and bought a 32 caliber and a box of shells, the bill being six dollars. He told the people in the store he had only five dollars with him and would pay the other dollar when he came in from Brunsville.

Mr. Fred Remer, who lives just across the river, recalled hearing a single shot along in the evening from the direction of the spot where they body was found, but paid no attention as so many boys and men go along the river shooting any time of the day or evening.

Quick had worked around and in LeMars for the past fifteen or eighteen years. He was a mason and cement worker and was considered a good man at his trade.

George Allen Quick was born at Georgetown, Wis. When little, his parents died and he made his home until a young man with his brother, J. M. Quick, of Mountford, Wis. He leaves several brothers and sisters. Two of his sisters lived in Wisconsin, one at Cuba City and one at LaCrosse, one brother in Colorado, one in South Dakota and one in Wisconsin.

His brothers, J. M. Quick, of Mountford, Wis.; Jos. Quick, of Gayville, South Dakota, and sisters Mrs. Baker of Hawarden, and Mrs. Griffin, of Ireton, came here to take charge of the remains, and the funeral was held from Wiltgen’s undertaking parlors yesterday morning, Rev. J. C. Hoover, pastor of the Baptist church, officiating.

It was learned from one of the sisters that Al sustained an injury to his head several years ago when he fell from a hayloft. The physician who attended him at the time found his skull was not fractured but thought a blood clot had formed. Since the time he suffered that injury, he had been subject to fits of an epileptic nature at intervals, especially when he had been drinking which he did at times, and this may have had something to do with the manner of his death. He was born January 14, 1870.

He is well spoke of by his associates and those with whom he worked.