Jahnke, John c1869 - 1904

JAHNKE, MEYER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46

Source: Decorah Republican Oct. 6, 1904 Page 2

SUICIDE BY SHOOTING.
John Jahnke of Frankville Township Takes His Own Life in a Fit of Temper.
John Jahnke committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a thirty-two calibre revolver, Saturday evening, at the home of his father in Frnnkville township.
The cause which led up to the rash act is attributed to a law suit in the recent term of District Court in which Mr. Jahnke was defendant and his father-in-law Carl Meyer, was plaintiff. Meyer sued for rent of farm and set up some claims which were offset by counter claims entered by Jahnke. When these were disposed of Jahnke confessed judgment for about $75, as the amount justly due Meyer.
Jahnke was a man of quick temper and was easily thrown from mental equipoise, but when he calmed down after a burst of temper always expressed regret for his notions. This time, in the heat of passion, he threatened to kill his father-in-law when he saw him. Mrs. Jahnke reasoned with him and he then threatened to kill himself. She also talked him out of that idea arguing that it would be better to settle up the difficulty and if necessary go away and begin over again. This occurred Friday afternoon on their way home from Decorah. Jahnke seemed to have reached the conclusion that his wife was right and that night slept soundly and peacefully. Saturday afternoon he asked his wife to go with him down to his father's home a mile away. When they got there he wanted his father to take a mortgage on his stock so he could pay up the judgment against him. This the father would not do because he was threshing and didn’t want to stop to go to town to have the papers made out, and for the further reason that he did not consider it necessary. After staying about the threshing for a while Jahnke went into the house, talked with his mother and wife in the kitchen, went into an adjoining room and finally up stairs. His mother went into the adjoining room twice. The first time he was there but the next time he had disappeared, and when she called and asked if he was upstairs he replied “Yes” and almost simultaneously a revolver report was heard. On going up stairs they found him dead with a bullet hole in his forehead. The revolver was one that belonged to the dead man’s brother. It was evident he knew of its whereabouts.
Coroner Jewell was called and held an inquest, which brought out the above facts. The jurors consisted of Dan and Adolph Peck and Lester Craft, and Nel¬on Schoonmaker acted as clerk.
Jahnke was a man about thirty-five years of age and lived on the old Nels Duff farm. He was the man who had a piece of his nose bitten off by Spinner in a fight at a dance in Frankville township several years ago.