Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Schutz, Joseph 1878
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net November 6, 2016, 12:12 pm

Ionia Weekly Standard, 14 Nov 1878

A Fatal Accident

The Standard is compelled this week to chronicle another terrible occurrence
resulting from sheer carelessness in the use of firearms.  Joseph Schutz, an
intelligent and industrious young German of this city, was almost instantly
killed Sunday afternoon while out hunting by the accidental discharge of his
gun.  The particulars in this sad affair, as far as we have been able to glean
them, are about as follows:

It was approaching 4 o’clock p.m. when young Schutz, accompanied by his brother
Frank, and four other Germans, were returning to the city from a day’s hunt,
through the eastern part of Easton township.  They had reached the farm of John
Dobson, who resides on the state road about two miles north of the city, and
stopped a few moments in Dobson’s orchard to secure some apples.  The two
brothers, Frank and Joseph Schutz were standing under a tree near the road, and
Frank had succeeded in shaking off a few apples by grasping a limb with his
hands, but Joseph attempted to obtain a large cluster of the fruit by hitting
them with the butt of the shotgun he carried with him.  It was an act of
astounding carelessness, as the muzzle of the gun was pointed directly at his
breast.  A twig caught the hammer, and drew it partially back, letting it go
before the unfortunate man could push the gun aside.  Frank, who had been
picking up apples from the ground, looked up just as the gun exploded, and saw
his brother stagger and nearly fall.  He recovered his balance, however, and
exclaiming “Frank, I’m shot, I’m shot,” half jumped over the fence, reeled
across the road, and fell down.  Frank hurried to his aid, and tried to get him
on his feet, which he succeeded in accomplishing, but it was only a brief
effort, for the poor fellow sank to the ground, and in a moment fell into that
eternal sleep that knows no waking.  His vest and shirt were torn open, and it
was discovered that the shot had taken effect about two inches below the right
shoulder, making a diagonal course through his body, and producing a fearful
wound.  A passing farmer in a wagon kindly volunteered to bring the body into
the city, and the solemn party reached home about nightfall.

An inquest was promptly held by Coroner E.S. Johnson, but the jury returned a
verdict of accidental death.

The funeral occurred on Tuesday forenoon from St. Peter’s (Catholic) church of
which the deceased was a communicant.  Rev Father Bolte officiated and preached
a very excellent sermon in German.  The members of the A___lter union, a German
organization attended the funeral in a body, headed by the Ionia City Band,
which played a magnificent funeral march as the procession passed through Main
street on the way to the church’s cemetery just outside the eastern limits of
the city.

Young Schutz was deservedly popular with his associates, and bore the reputation
of being an industrious and competent workman.  He was a varnisher and cabinet
finisher by profession, and at the time of his death was engaged in the
furniture establishment of G.H. Allured.  What adds deeper poignancy to the
general sorrow over his untimely death is the fact the he was engaged to be
married to Miss Mary Duffy, a young Catholic lady of this city, and their
nuptials were to have been celebrated next Thursday.  The banns had already been
published by Father Bolte at the regular Sunday services of the church, but it
seems that a strange and inexorable Fate has cruelly intervened to render
powerless the Institutions and ordinance of man.

[Transcriber's Note:  There is a notation on the obituary card that he was
buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.]


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