Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: W. G. SHERMAN ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, December 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern May 13, 1895 p.5 Takes His Own Life Assessor Sherman Hangs Himself His Neck Dislocated and Death was Instantaneous-- Was Deranged It Is Thought By Reason of Unusual Business Cares. W. G. Sherman of 212 Doty street, one of the newly elected city assessors and a man 52 years of age, died by his own hand yesterday morning while suffering, there is every reason to believer from aberration of mind caused by undue worry and care over business affairs. Saturday evening he seemed in usual health and spirits, and the members of his family noted nothing strange in his manner or appearance. Upon arising yesterday morning he told his wife not to be in a hurry to get up, as it was cold and he would build a fire and get the breakfast started. This he proceeded to do, and then about 6 o'clock, went out to his barn, attached a half-inch halter rope, by standing on a small stepladder, to a large staple in a joice above, made a noose of the other end of the rope and placed it about his neck, and then kicked the ladder from under him. The inquisition which was held before Justice Sarau established the fact that the neck was dislocated and that death must have been almost instantaneous. The Body Cut Down The lifeless body was found by members of the family within a short time and the help of neighbors obtained. Robert Rumery cut the remains down and laid them out as well as he could near the scene of the suicide. Justice Sarau of the south side was informed and at once took the first steps for an inquisition. Albert Gunz, Andrew Heiss, A. H. Lane, A. Fugleberg, Phil Hintz and Robert Berwald were sworn as jurymen, vied the remains and took the evidence of witnesses. Dr. Steele was summoned and swore upon examination that the neck of the dead man was broken by the fall. Robert Rumery and Julius Pistohl testified as to the facts in connection with the position of the body, the presence of the step-ladder and other means employed by the desperate man to end his days. The grewsome noose, with hairs from the dead man's whiskers still clinging thereto, was passed from hand to hand by the jury. The verdict was that the deceased came to his death by hanging and by his own hand, being impelled by causes unknown to the jury. Reason Ascribed Therefor The relatives and close acquaintances of Mr. Sherman believe that he took his life because unduly harassed and distressed by the onerous work of the assessment upon which he entered a short time ago. He had worried a great deal and had suffered much from insomnia for several weeks. This, it is believed, had temporarily unsettled his mind and made him not altogether responsible for his actions. His colleagues in the work of assessment, Messrs. Davis and Steeps, say he had acted queerly and had not seemed to be his natural self for several days past. His affairs financially were in good shape and he had no great troubles so far as known. Though slight and frail in build he usually enjoyed a fair degree of health. Immediate members of his family who survive him are his wife and grown-up daughter. George H. Buckstaff was his brother-in-law and he had other distant relative in the city. He also had an own brother and other relatives in the distant east who, it is expected, will attempt to reach Oshkosh for the funeral services. Funeral services Last rites will be held from the Second Baptist church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. Mr. Clevenger will officiate. The bearers will be Shadrach Davis, John Buchanan, Robert Rumery, Evan G. Davis, A. Sprague and Mr. Skinner, Sr.