August Joe Richert

Ends His life in Eau Pleine With Shotgun

August Richert, 49, is Found Dead This Morning in His Room at Home

August Richert, age 49, ended his life shortly after 6 o'clock this morning at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Richert, in the town of Eau Pleine, by shooting himself in the left chest, just above the heart, with buckshot from a single barreled 12 gauge shotgun. It was reported that he had been despondent for some time.

Stick Discharges Weapon
Richert arose and dressed this morning, built a fire in the kitchen stove and shortly afterward went back to his room. His parents, who heard the shot, found him lying on the floor. He had discharged the gun by pushing the trigger with a long stick of wood, apparently while standing and leaning forward against the muzzle after resting the butt of the weapon on the floor. He fell forward on top of the gun and was found in that position, face downward.

Authorities Summoned
Dr. G. W. Reis of Junction City was notified and after arriving at the farm and discovering what had happened, notified Portage county authorities. District Attorney Walter B. Murat, Coroner Victor S. Prais and Sheriff Joe Heitzinger went to the farm where they learned the details of the tragedy and pronounced the death a suicide.

In Navy During War
Richert was born in German-Poland on August 12, 1885, and came to this country with his parents when four years old. He served in the navy during the World war and saw service in foreign waters. He was employed for a time as a piano maker in Chicago.

Surviving Relatives
He was unmarried and is survived by his parents, six sisters and one brother, as follows: Mrs. Anna Mallek, Mrs. Hattie Larson, Mrs. Helen Nobles and Mrs. Josephine Kraft of Chicago, Mrs. Rose Wisnewski in Poland, Mrs. Agnes Kosloski in Eau Pleine and John Richert, whose whereabouts are unknown but who is thought to be in California.

Funeral arrangements had not been completed this morning.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 21 2024, 18:27:17 UTC