SCHNEDEN, Gustav H. 1876-1922

SCHNEDEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/13/2022 at 20:35:33

Gus Schneden Commits Suicide Early Tuesday

Farmer Living Near Morrison Ends Life By Taking Strychnine Early Tuesday Morning; Dies At Once

Acted in Demented Manner Monday And Was Brought Here and Released On Bond After Causing Trouble

Gus Schneden, a farmer living near Morrison committed suicide early Tuesday morning by taking strychnine at his farm home, and died almost immediately. Medical attention proved of no avail as he was dead before any chance of relief could be gotten. Mr. Schneden started trouble at his home Monday night and was brought to Grundy Center and released on bond about midnight that evening, when he seemed to be again in his right mind. The inquest showed that he had not been exactly right mentally for some time past and it is thought this influenced him to commit the act.

The trouble at the Schneden farm started Monday afternoon when his wife brought food to the field for him and his hired man, according to Mr. Schneden, who seemed to take offense at something connected with it. Later after the two men had put away their teams and started to do the chores Schneden came from the house carrying a shot gun. He met the hired man with a basket of corn on his shoulder and told him to put that down as "his time had come." The man remonstrated and tried to calm Schneden.

At this time Mrs. Schneden came from the barn and the demented man turned upon her with the gun and was about to shoot when the thirteen year old boy jumped in front of his mother and shouted to his father that he would have to kill him, too. Schneden was balked at this act of heroism and did not shoot but turned the gun on himself. He fired it close to his head but missed, and fell from the effects of being stunned by the closeness with which he held the barrel to his ear. Immediately the hired man jumped for the gun and took it away.

Sheriff Bockes' office was notified and Wm. Benz left for the scene of the trouble that --unreadable-- bringing Schneden to the court house, where he was released on bond of . He furnished cash for this and was released. He went to his home, and according to parties from that neighborhood, there seemed to be little or no more trouble that evening. The family went to bed but Schneden arose at an earlier hour than usual in the morning.

He came to Grundy Center about six o'clock, where the report of the trouble had not yet been learned, and purchased strychnine to kill gophers, which is a natural thing to do about this time of year. Returning home he took the poison and was found in the yard dying. Medical aid was summoned at once but the dose was too strong and he died soon after taking it. Deputy Benz went again to the scene and it was brought out at the inquest that Schneden had not been in his right mind for some weeks past, and it is thought this is the reason he was led to commit the acts.

The deceased man was about 46 years old at the time of his death and had a wife and two boys, about eight and thirteen years of age. The funeral services will be held this afternoon at the Presbyterian church in Morrison and he will be buried there. The Woodmen are taking active part in the last rites, as he was a member of that organization.

--Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 June 1922, pg 1