WEISS, Fred: Died 1916

WEISS, PLOSS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 10/10/2016 at 04:21:08

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Fri. 15 Sept. 1916

MAN'S BODY FOUND IN WELL
Disappearance of Fred Weiss Finally Cleared Up

FACTS INDICATE SUICIDE
Was Last Seen July 1 Near His Home North of Troy - Body Found Sunday Afternoon

The mysterious disappearance of Fred Weiss, a German farmer, from his home four miles north of Troy on July 1 last, was cleared up Sunday afternoon, Sept. 10, when his badly decomposed body was found in a well on the George Swain farm two miles north of Troy.

When last seen Weiss was leaving his home, carrying a gun, and said he was going to visit his sister, Mrs. Henry Ploss, who lives near Selma. His failure to appear at his sister's home, or to return to his own home, aroused fears for his safety, and a thorough search for him has several times been made, but without finding the slightest clue. However his friends and neighbors have kept up the search, and Sunday afternoon his dead and badly decomposed body was found in an old well on Swaim farm by Edgar Thompson.

Considerable mystery attaches to the manner of his death, although it is generally believed to be a case of suicide. The coroner's inquest resulted to a verdict of coming to his death by shooting, there being a bullet hole in his head, and his own gun was found in the well. When found a large rock was fastened to his waist by means of a rope. What baffles the investigators is the fact the hole in the well platform was covered with old rails and leaves, and they cannot understand how a man, with a heavy stone attached to his waist, could descend into the well and brace himself while he replaced the covering before he shot himself. However, Weiss had had been mentally unbalanced for several months, the result of a sickness, and a demented man will sometimes do seemingly impossible things.

There were twelve feet of water in the well. The body was in such condition that immediate burial was necessary.

Weis was a unmarried man, aged 45 years and had lived with his mother until his disappearance. A few days ago some boys found his hat and that led to a renewal of the search for his body.

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Fri. 15 Sept. 1916

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 231, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Iowa