Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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SOL MARTIN

Cincinnati


Sol. Martin, the old time Central Ave. pawnbroker, committed suicide Saturday by shooting himself in the head, in his place of business. He had been despondent and it is thought he took his life in a moment of mental abberation. He leaves a widow and eight children.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 14th December 1898

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WILLIAM WETZEL (HETZEL)

Tomah, Wisconsin


Jeweler William Wetzel Shot by His Dissolute Son-In-Law

Tomah, Wis., June 21.—William Wetzel, jeweler, was shot and probably fatally wounded yesterday morning by A. F. Lynch, his son-in-law. Mr. Wetzel was at work at his bench, when Lynch put in an appearance. He picked up his little girl, a grandchild of the wounded man, and talked with his wife, from whom he had been divorced, both of whom were in the store with Mr. Wetzel. Lynch then drew a 38-caliber revolver and shot Mr. Wetzel in the mouth, the ball entering on the left side. The injured man was at once taken to the hospital and the bullet extracted from the back of his neck.

Lynch has been drinking hard, and his wife procured a divorce from him recently. He is supposed to have charged the cause of his domestic troubles to his father-in-law. Lynch was taken to Sparta and placed in jail to await the result of Mr. Wetzel's injuries.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th June 1898


New Trial of A. F. Lynch, Charged with Murder

Mauston, Wis., Nov. 21.—The most important case on the calendar for trial in the Juneau county term of the Circuit Court is that of the State of Wisconsin vs. A. F. Lynch, a jeweler of Tomah, who was charged with the murder of William Hetzel, aged 70 years, father of his divorced wife, whom he shot and killed in Tomah, July, 1898. Hetzel was charged by Lynch to be the author of the latter’s domestic troubles and the defense set up will be a plea of insanity. When the case first came to trial in Mauston, in April, 1899, on a change of venue the issue of insanity was tried first and resulted in a disagreement of the jury.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th November 1899

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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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J.S. BURSON

Harrisonville, Missouri


J. S. Burson, a jeweler of Harrisonville, Mo., mysterionsly disappeared two weeks ago and no trace has been found of him. It is feared he has been foully dealt with.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 20th February 1895

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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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ELMER FOSTER

Chicago


It Was Insanity Led Elmer Foster to Suicide

Chicago, Ill., Dec. 29.—In speaking of the recent sad suicide of Manager Elmer Foster, of E. V. Roddin & Co., which was attributed at the time to overwork and exhaustion, Mr. Roddin says the cause was not as stated, but that the young man’s death was brought about by a predisposition to insanity which he inherited from his father, who committed suicide shortly after his son’s birth. “ I learn that if he had experienced adversity he would have committed the deed long ago,” said Mr. Roddin.

J. W. Atwell, for years with E. V. Roddin & Co., succeeds to the position of manager made vacant by Mr. Foster’s death.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 2nd January 1895

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EDWARD M. LAPIERRE

Niles, Michigan


Edward M. Lapierre Puts a Bullet in His Head

Detroit, Mich., Nov. 30.—Edward M. Lapierre, the leading jeweler of Niles, Mich., put a bullet through his head last night, killing himself instantly. He committed the deed in rather a sensational manner. He went to the village cemetery and sat down upon a tombstone. It is alleged that he was temporarily insane at the time.

Lapierre was 40 years of age and had been a jeweler in Niles for many years, succeeding his father who was a pioneer in the business. For the past three years he has frequently shown signs of mental failure, particularly after the brutal murder of an aunt a couple of years ago. He also brooded over other troubles. Some time ago Lapierre began to drink and three months ago took the Keeley cure. Yesterday he began drinking again. He was a prominent mason and well respected. He leaves a widow and two children.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 4th December 1895

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GEORGE WINFIELD KELLY

Attleboro, Massachusetts


Prominent Attleboro Colorer Hurled to Death While Trying to Fix Machinery in His Factory

Attleboro, Mass., Aug. 21.—George Winfield Kelly, a well known and popular young business man, was caught in a shafting on the roof of his coloring and electroplating establishment, on County St., last Tuesday afternoon, and instantly killed.

A belt that kept slipping from a pulley on the main shaft was the cause of the accident. Mr. Kelly determined to remedy the matter, and, calling the engineer, Jas. L. Sylvester, he went upon the roof to make the repairs. In some manner his linen duster and heavy overcoat became wrapped around the rapidly revolving shaft and he was hurled to the roof with great force and instantly killed. Sylvester hastened to shut off the power, but it was too late.

Deceased was born in Providence, July 16, 1880, and when a young boy his parents moved to Attleboro Falls, where he passed the greater part of his life. By trade he was a colorer, and five years ago, with his brother, James, opened a coloring and electroplating establishment in the W. D. Wilmarth & Co. building, on County St. About two years ago James retired from the business, and since that time the deceased has been sole owner. Under his supervision the business had rapidly grown until it is now in a flourishing condition.

Mr. Kelly was married and is survived by a widow and son, George W, Kelly, Jr, The funeral was held, Thursday morning, with services at St. Mary’s Church, North Attleboro, and interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery. The church was filled with mourners and the floral gifts were very numerous and beautiful.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 25th August 1909


George W. Kelly, of the firm of Kelly Bros., Atleboro, Mass,. electroplaters and colorers, was instantly killed on August 15th, in his own factory by the catching of his clothing in a revolving shaft.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - September 1909

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LEONARD C. BRIGGS

Saginaw, Michigan


Leonard C. Briggs Declared to be Violently Insane

Detroit, Mich., June 29.—Dispatches to Detroit papers stated yesterday that Leonard C. Briggs, watchmaker and jeweler, Saginaw, Mich., was confined in the county jail violently insane. About a year ago, Mr. Briggs, who is 69 years of age, injured his head on an iron staircase and of late has complained of pains. Recently his reason left him.

Yesterday afternoon the unfortunate man was discovered hanging by the neck from the iron bars 7 feet above. He was nearly strangled to death. Later in the day he made another unsuccessful attempt.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review- 4th July 1894

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EDWARD ENANDER

New York


Edward Enander, a watchmaker by trade, committed suicide Friday night at the house of his sister, Mrs. Edstrom, 231 E. 33d St. Enander came to this country from Sweden last March. He had been unable to obtain employment and became despondent.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review- 21st December 1892

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MEYER BEILAND

Newark, New Jersey


Meyer Beiland, a peddler of jewelry and trinkets, obtained a verdict of $10,000 against the Newark Passenger Railway Co. last week for the loss of a leg by being knocked down and run over by one of the company’s cars while on his way to Orange.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review- 21st December 1892

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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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CHANCEY PAGE

Valparaiso, Indiana


Valparaiso, 16th. - Last night a man named Chancey Page, a jeweler, killed his wife and her mother and almost killed a hired girl. He then set fire to the house. The bodies of the two murdered persons were consumed in the flames, but the girl managed to escape. There is intense excitement in the vicinity.

Source: Ottawa Citizen - 18th January 1867

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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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JOHN LIND

Saint Paul, Minnesota


A rather curious attempted suicide was a recent one at St. Paul, Minn, when a jeweler’s clerk, one John Lind, took a dose of the muriatic acid always on hand in jewelry stores for use in soldering. He swallowed three drams, but immediate nausea saved him. The man is still in a precarious condition and will be in danger for a month, this being the time of action of the acid.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - March 1890

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PERRY KEENER

Palatka, Florida


Arrested for Attempted Murder After Shooting Man in a Row

Jacksonville, Fla., July 18.—Perry Keener, jeweler and optician, Palatka, Fla., shot and painfully injured W. A. Moore, a hotel proprietor, in an altercation between the two men in that town, July 11. The fracas was brought to an abrupt termination by Keener shooting Moore with a revolver. Keener was arrested on charge of carrying concealed weapons, taken before Justice Rowton and fined $15 and costs. Later he was again arrested on the charge of assault, with intent to murder, and placed under a bond of $1,000 to appear for a preliminary hearing.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 24th July 1901

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AussieSilverStandard
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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

Post by AussieSilverStandard »

Hey everyone, not a gruesome tale of intrigue involving those employed in the silver trade....
....rather a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this unexpectedly compelling thread.
I'm not sure what it says about the kind of person I am but I have enjoyed reading the first few articles so much that I'm saving the rest of the thread to be read a couple of stories at a time.
From the few I've already read, nobody could make stories up. They're just so head-scratchingly bizarre, both in terms of the stories themselves as well as the "period specific" content of the articles which report them, with their inclusion of &/or exclusion of various details about the underlying stories which speaks volumes of the time in which they were written. The whole package leaves me feeling oddly satisfied!?!
So Thank You Very Much Folks.

P.S. The "Hardy Bros." story was a particularly good one for me. Being an Australian involved in numerous aspects of the Silver Trade, it was a story one would expect me to know so I'm ever so glad I do now!
dognose
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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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Hi AussieSilverStandard,

Welcome to the Forum.

It's good to hear that you are enjoying your time here.

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dognose
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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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J.B. BARNES

Castle Rock, Washington


Jeweler J. B. Barnes in a Duel

Castle Rock, Wash., Feb. 9.—Last Wednesday evening people were startled by the report of eight shots being fired in rapid succession. Upon investigation it was found that the shooting was done by J. B. Barnes and Harry Lovell, each with a 38-calibre revolver firing at the other at close range. Barnes fired five shots and Lovell three.

Lovell had been rooming at the Barnes home and Mr. Barnes thought he had reasons to believe that improper relations existed between Lovell and Mrs. Barnes.

After the shooting Lovell was found in a lot. He had been shot in the left leg, the tibia being broken. His coat showed that four bullets had passed through it in various places, but there were no wounds of importance to his person except the one in the leg. Mrs. Barnes fell in the wagon track in the alley from a wound in the hip. Barnes escaped uninjured. The wounded were carried to their homes and medical aid was summoned.

J. B. Barnes is a jeweler of this place and is well and favorably known. Harry Lovell is comparatively a stranger here.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 20th February 1901

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dognose
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Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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WILLIAM MALLET

Rochester, New York


William Mallet, whose home is in Rochester, attempted suicide, Saturday, by cutting his throat, at 345 W. 27th St., where he had been stopping with his brother. Mallet had stopped here on his way to Ansonia, Conn., where he is interested in several clock patents, and had become mentally deranged. He was taken to the New York Hospital, where it is said his condition is critical.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 27th February 1901

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ENGELSKIRCHER

Highland Falls, New York


Arthur Engelskircher, aged 13 years, shot and fatally wounded his cousin, Joseph Engelskircher, the same age, in the jewelry store of his father, at Highland Falls, N. Y., Friday.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 6th March 1901

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EDMUND GREEN

Pottsville, Pennsylvania


Edmund Green, 51 years old, of Pottsville, Pa., blew out his brains March 18. He was a jeweler and became despondent because he had been out of work since last October. Green was one of the best wing shots in the lower part of the county.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 27th March 1901

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dognose
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HARMANN GERLOFF

Detroit


Harmann Gerloff, a jeweler of this city, died by suffocation last Monday morning after inhaling the fumes of potassium cyanide with which he was cleansing jewelry. Death was hastened by a weak heart. Mr. Gerloff is survived by a widow.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 4th March 1903

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PETER A. FISCHER

Worcester, Massachusetts


Peter A. Fischer Attempts to Commit Suicide

Worcester, Mass., Aug. 23.—Peter A. Fischer attempted suicide by cutting his throat last evening at his home, 43 Thomas St. The attempt was almost successful, as only prompt medical assistance saved his life. Fischer had been an inmate of the lunatic hospital, Bloomingdale, several months and was discharged as cured only four weeks ago.

He was out during the afternoon and returned home for supper. During the evening he chatted with his wife and prepared to retire about 9 o'clock. He had entirely disrobed and had put on his night shirt. The family were in the next room and were startled by a fall and outcry. They rushed into the room to find Fischer bleeding profusely from a wound in the throat inflicted by a razor. The police were notified and Medical Examiner Keefe was promptly summoned. His family stated that he had acted rather queerly during the evening, and it is very probable that he did the deed during a temporary fit of insanity. He now lies in a precarious condition.

Fischer is about 55 years of age. He has resided in this city about four years.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 30th August 1893

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