Gergen, Mathias 1877-1901

GERGEN, GOERGEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 5/5/2023 at 16:13:27

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Monday, May 6, 1901 — Page 4

VICTIM OF MELANCHOLIA.
Mathias Gergen, a Young Farmer, Shoots Himself While Suffering from Temporary Aberration of Mind.

Mathias Gergen, a young farmer residing in Marion township about seven miles from LeMars, shot himself on Saturday morning inflicting a wound from the effects of which he died within an hour and a half.

The tragedy occurred between seven and eight o’clock and immediately afterwards one of the Gergen boys drove into town and took Dr. Reeves out to the farm in order if possible to save the life of his brother. The unfortunate man was beyond reach of medical skill and died without ever speaking a word.

The cause for the rash action remains a mystery. The young man suffered about two weeks ago from an attack of appendicitis and Dr. Reeves attended him at that time. He had fully recovered and was at work again on the farm, which he and his brothers worked jointly.

On Saturday morning he got up and dressed and did some chores. He then returned to the house, went upstairs to his bedroom and shot himself. Later groans attracted the attention of one of his brothers, who went to the room and found his brother on the bed with his life blood flowing out of him. He called his other brothers and sent for a doctor.

The young man, when found, was lying on his back on the bed, his feet on the floor. From indications he must have stood up, leaned over the muzzle of the shot gun stretching his right hand at arm’s length, touching off the trigger, as the charge of shot entered below the heart and came out of his back at a point two inches lower and then lodged in the ceiling where it broke the lathes in the ceiling. The wound made a hole as big as a dollar and tore away a portion of one lung.

Mathias Gergen was twenty-four years of age on Saturday [May 4.] He appeared rugged and strong. He had no love affair and his financial affairs were in good shape.

His brothers, Nic, Frank, Peter, John and Mike all live on the place and with the deceased worked a large farm. The brothers can ascribe no cause for Mathias’ act, further than that for the past two weeks he appeared to be moping and suffering from a violent fit of blues.

Coroner Cole and Sheriff Herron went out to the Gergen place on Saturday afternoon. A jury empanelled consisting of J. T. Mohan, Scott Clark, and Thos. Gallagher. After hearing the evidence of the inmates of the house, they returned a verdict to the effect that Mathias Gergen came to his death by his own hand and that the deed was committed while he was suffering from mental aberration.

The family have had a large share of grief the past two years. Nic Gergen, the eldest brother, lost his wife and two little children and Mrs. Gergen, the mother of the boys dropped dead suddenly about a year and a half ago.

The funeral of Math Gergen will be held tomorrow at St. Joseph’s church.