Peter H. Lind 1867-1923

LIND, MEUMANN, NIELSEN, LARSON, CLAUSSEN, MADSEN

Posted By: Lynnea Dickinson (email)
Date: 7/9/2019 at 15:10:40

The Daily Times; Davenport, Iowa; Monday, October 22, 1923

P. H. Lind, Street Car Man, Fearing Loss of His Mind, Ends Life With a Bullet

Peter H. Lind, 56 years old, well known car operator on the Third street and Northwest Davenport lines of the Tri-City Railway Co., committed suicide by shooting himself in the head Sunday afternoon about 2 o'clock in the garage of his home, 2102 Division street. A .32 calibre revolver was used. He lived for about 40 minutes after committing the act. It is thought that his mind had become deranged from worry over temporary losses of memory which, according to members of the family, he had suffered recently. He feared the loss of his mind, they said. There will be no inquest.

Mr Lind attained some prominence recently by reason of the fact that he was three times the victim of car bandits. He was a valued and trusted employe of the traction company, officials say.

After eating his dinner, Mr Lind left the house and went to the garage, according to the story told by his wife, and shortly after, while engaged in clearing away the dishes, she heard a noise which she supposed was caused by the slamming of the garage door. This noise may have been caused by the firing of the revolver, it is thought. Upon going to the garage, she found him lying on the floor with blood pouring from the wound on the top and back part of his head. Dr. A. B. Kuhl was called, and arrived while Lind lingered in an unconscious condition. He died from loss of blood, according to Dr. J. D. Cantwell, coroner. Mr Lind had apparently been in a normal state of mind at noon, Mrs Lind said. The Lind family moved into their new home on Division street but six weeks ago. Mr Lind became associated with the Tri-City Railway Co. of Iowa on April 15, 1912, and continued with the company up until the time of his death. Prior to 1912, he had put in 11 months' service with the traction concern. He was an operator on practically all lines of the city, more recently operating Northwest Davenport and Third street cars.

He was born in Sunderburg [sic - Sønderborg], Denmark, Feb. 28, 1867, and received his education there. Shortly after coming to Davenport, in 1884, he entered the employ of the Morton L. Marks Co., wholesale grocers, and after several years with that company, entered the grocery business for himself.

His survivors will receive a check for $1,500 from the Travelers Insurance Co., through the group policy issued on all employes of the traction company several months ago.

On Oct. 14, 1891, he married Miss Dora Meumann who survives, together with one daughter, Mrs Elsie Nielsen of Davenport; two grandchildren, one brother, Thomas Lind of Pueblo, Colo., and three sisters, Mrs A. Larson of Friedrichs, S. D., Mrs P. N. Claussen of Davenport and Mrs H. Madsen in Germany.

The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the home, with interment in Fairmount cemetery.