Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Mesteller, Joseph November 5, 1909
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Suzy Ward Fleming wardflemin@aol.com February 28, 2015, 10:59 am

Norfolk Landmark November 6, 1909
Dairyman Ends Life With Gun

Joe Mesteller Pulled Trigger with Lace Tied To Shoe
Kissed Wife and Children Good-bye Before He Fired Fatal Shot-Cause of Rash Act 
Not Known-Was Prosperous

Tying the trigger of the shot gun to the lace of his shoe and putting the 
muzzle at his head, Joe Mesteller, a dairyman of Williams Street, East 
Brambleton, Norfolk County, committed suicide by discharging the weapon 
yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock, killing himself instantly.
Before going to his room to kill himself, Mesteller kissed his wife and two 
children good-bye. Entering his bedroom Mesteller picked up the shot gun and 
after cocking the weapon, attached his shoe lace to the trigger and with the 
muzzle in his mouth, jerked the spring by moving his foot. The contents of the 
gun lodged in the man’s brain, almost blowing the top of his head off.
Hearing the report of the gun Mrs. Mesteller rushed into the room to find her 
husband lying on the floor with the weapon by his side, dead. The grief-
stricken women ran screaming from the house and called to neighbors for help.
Investigation by residents in the vicinity of Williams Street disclosed the 
tragedy. Justice Carmine was notified and after an investigation by the county 
officers, an inquest was held yesterday afternoon. The verdict of the jury is 
that Mesteller committed suicide. 
No reason for the man’s rash act could be learned. Mesteller had written a 
letter to his sister, who resides on Bowden Ferry Road, but it was in Hungarian 
language and no one could decipher it. It is expected that the dead man’s 
sister will not disclose the contents of the letter.
Mesteller apparently was a prosperous dairyman, whose business afforded him 
ample money to provide for his family. No one appears to know if the man was in 
financial straits and there seems to be nothing to indicate he was.


Additional Comments:
Elmwood

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