OBIT: Chauncey TRESSLER, 1941, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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CHAUNCEY TRESSLER

Tressler Laid to Rest Monday In Union Cemetery
World War Veteran Mentally Ill, Hanged Himself in Borough Lockup

  Chauncey Tressler, 49, who committed suicide early last Friday morning by 
hanging himself with a rope fastened to a cell in the Meyersdale borough lockup, 
was laid to rest in Union Cemetery on Monday afternoon with military honors.
  Mr. Tressler leaves his widow, Mrs. Verna (Burley) Tressler and six children 
as follows: Mrs. Ralph Yoder, Meyersdale; Chauncey, Jr., Conrad, Betty, Sadie 
and Doris, all at home.
  Chauncey Tressler, son of Conrad and Sarah (Shumaker) Tressler, was born at 
Glade City, near Meyersdale, on February 23, 1892.  He was employed for a number 
of years as a trackman on both the B. & O. and Western Maryland railroads.
  Since serving an enlistment in the U.S. Army during World War No. 1, Mr. 
Tressler has never enjoyed good health, but numerous attempts to establish a 
pension claim for him proved unsuccessful.  Therefore, he and his family have 
been dependent upon relief since his inability to earn a livelihood at manual 
labor.
  Worry over his physical condition and the fact that he was unable to provide 
for his family is said to have brought about a mental condition that resulted in 
the tragedy mentioned in last week's issue of The Republican.
  For several days prior to the suicide the family did not feel secure with Mr. 
Tressler in the house.  It is said he threatened to kill his wife and children 
on several occasions.  Mrs. Tressler appealed to the officials of the law to 
have her husband admitted to the County Home and Hospital for treatment.  He was 
placed in the borough lockup about 8:30 Thursday evening and it was intended to 
take him to Somerset on Friday morning.
  At 1:30 a.m. Friday, when two friends visited the lockup, he was lying on the 
cot in his cell, peaceful and apparently contented, while a brother-in-law, Carl 
Burley, in another cell, was violent from the effects of a prolonged drinking 
spree.
  It was about 3:40 Friday morning when Officer John Bittner accompanied by 
Austin McVicker, an early riser, went to the lockup and found Mr. Tressler 
hanging by a rope from the top of his cell.  His body was still warm and they 
cut him down with the hopes of being able to restore life by artifical 
respiration, but this proved unsuccessful.
  Coroner F. E. Sass, of Boswell, when notified, stated that an inquest would 
not be required, so his dead body was removed to the R. Reich & Son morgue to 
prepare for burial.
  Funeral services for Chauncey Tressler were conducted at the family home on 
North Street Monday afternoon by Rev. Howard K. Hilner, pastor of the Lutheran 
Church.  Burial was made in Union Cemetery.  Post 112 American Legion furnished 
the pallbearers, a firing squad and a bugler to execute military rites over a 
departed comrade.

Meyersdale Republican, July 3, 1941