RICHARD OBERLAUTER
Brunswick, Georgia
Men Held in Oberlauter Murder Case Released; Mystery Still Unsolved
Brunswick, Ga., November 4-—(Special.)——The coroner’s jury investigating the murder of Richard Oberlauter, the aged watchmaker and jeweler killed here early Sunday morning, this afternoon brought in a verdict that he came to his death from a blow delivered by some unknown party. Following this verdict George Skipper, John Davenport, Ben Franklin and T. H. McLain, held in connection with the crime, were liberated. There was no evidence offered before the jury on which to hold these men. The police are still at work on the case.
Source: Atlanta Constitution - 5th November 1915
Trev.
Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
RALPH GORST
Liverpool
Suicide.—Ralph Gorst, 24 years of age, a dealer in jewellery, of 57, Mile Street, Liverpool, committed suicide by taking (it is thought) cyanide of potassium, while temporarily insane.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1889
Trev.
Liverpool
Suicide.—Ralph Gorst, 24 years of age, a dealer in jewellery, of 57, Mile Street, Liverpool, committed suicide by taking (it is thought) cyanide of potassium, while temporarily insane.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st August 1889
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
GEORGE D. PARSONS
Washington, D.C.
AGED JEWELER A SUICIDE
George D. Parsons, 85 Years Old, Cuts His Throat at Son’s Home in Washington, D. C.
Washington, D. C.. Jan. 26.—Self-inflicted wounds resulted fatally early yesterday for George D. Parsons, an old retired jeweler, who was found later that day with his throat cut. Coroner Nevitt gave a certificate of suicide.
Mr. Parsons was discovered by a maid in the employ of his son, George D. Parsons Jr., in the bath room of his son's home, 2037 Park Road. He was lying in the bath tub but was not dead, although the gashes in his throat had severed the windpipe. The wounded man taken to a hospital, where he died at one o'clock this morning.
The police say Mr. Parsons left a note inclosing all his cash and a list of small sums owing to him which, he said, would be sufficient to defray funeral expenses. Deceased was 85 years old.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 2nd February 1916
See also: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32464&p=193726&hil ... ns#p193726
Trev.
Washington, D.C.
AGED JEWELER A SUICIDE
George D. Parsons, 85 Years Old, Cuts His Throat at Son’s Home in Washington, D. C.
Washington, D. C.. Jan. 26.—Self-inflicted wounds resulted fatally early yesterday for George D. Parsons, an old retired jeweler, who was found later that day with his throat cut. Coroner Nevitt gave a certificate of suicide.
Mr. Parsons was discovered by a maid in the employ of his son, George D. Parsons Jr., in the bath room of his son's home, 2037 Park Road. He was lying in the bath tub but was not dead, although the gashes in his throat had severed the windpipe. The wounded man taken to a hospital, where he died at one o'clock this morning.
The police say Mr. Parsons left a note inclosing all his cash and a list of small sums owing to him which, he said, would be sufficient to defray funeral expenses. Deceased was 85 years old.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 2nd February 1916
See also: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32464&p=193726&hil ... ns#p193726
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
HERBERT A. CARR
Waltham, Massachusetts
Gerald Carr, a 14-year-old Waltham boy, who was killed by an express train in that city Sept. 7, was a son of Herbert A. Carr, head of the finishing department at the Waltham Watch Co.’s factory.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th September 1915
Trev.
Waltham, Massachusetts
Gerald Carr, a 14-year-old Waltham boy, who was killed by an express train in that city Sept. 7, was a son of Herbert A. Carr, head of the finishing department at the Waltham Watch Co.’s factory.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th September 1915
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
LOUIS BITZER
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Louis Bitzer, formerly a jeweler at Greenfield, Mass., who is a life convict in the State’s Prison, is a petitioner for pardon or modification of his sentence, to make him eligible for parole. Bitzer in 1901 killed a woman clerk in his employ and his five-year-old son, and wounded his wife and daughter.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th September 1915
See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32464&p=169413&hil ... er#p169413
Trev.
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Louis Bitzer, formerly a jeweler at Greenfield, Mass., who is a life convict in the State’s Prison, is a petitioner for pardon or modification of his sentence, to make him eligible for parole. Bitzer in 1901 killed a woman clerk in his employ and his five-year-old son, and wounded his wife and daughter.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th September 1915
See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32464&p=169413&hil ... er#p169413
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
ERNEST LEYTZE
Chicago
Ernest Leytze, 58 years old, said to be a jeweler, committed suicide in his home at 5844 Harper Ave., recently, by hanging himself with a rope from a bedpost. The body was found by a daughter. Mr. Leytze had been in ill health for about five years and the police attributed the suicide to that cause.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th September 1915
Trev.
Chicago
Ernest Leytze, 58 years old, said to be a jeweler, committed suicide in his home at 5844 Harper Ave., recently, by hanging himself with a rope from a bedpost. The body was found by a daughter. Mr. Leytze had been in ill health for about five years and the police attributed the suicide to that cause.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th September 1915
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
J.D. UNDERWOOD
Newark, New Jersey
J. D. Underwood Takes Poison by Mistake
St. Louis, Mo., May 31.—J. D. Underwood, traveler for Champenois & Co., Newark, N. J., drank cyanide of potassium through mistake yesterday at 4 o'clock P. M., thinking it was ice water. Mr. Underwood died in 10 minutes. The body was embalmed and will be sent east to-day.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 1st June 1898
Trev.
Newark, New Jersey
J. D. Underwood Takes Poison by Mistake
St. Louis, Mo., May 31.—J. D. Underwood, traveler for Champenois & Co., Newark, N. J., drank cyanide of potassium through mistake yesterday at 4 o'clock P. M., thinking it was ice water. Mr. Underwood died in 10 minutes. The body was embalmed and will be sent east to-day.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 1st June 1898
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
JOHN WARD
Sheffield
Machinery Accidents at Sheffield - October 1871
John Ward, at Mr. Land's, silver and electro-plate manufacturer, being torn to pieces by fly-wheels of engines.
Source: Beeton's Englishwoman's Almanac - 1873
Trev.
Sheffield
Machinery Accidents at Sheffield - October 1871
John Ward, at Mr. Land's, silver and electro-plate manufacturer, being torn to pieces by fly-wheels of engines.
Source: Beeton's Englishwoman's Almanac - 1873
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
H.M. RYMAN
Calvert, Texas
Two Stores Burned Out and One Jeweler Injured
Calvert, Tex., Jan. 1. A destructive fire, Dec. 28, burned out two jewelry stores. H. M. Ryman lost $5,000 worth of stock and fixtures. He was not insured. The building he occupied was entirely destroyed. While attempting to rescue goods, during the fire, J. Oskar was struck by the falling roof and killed. Mr. Ryman was severely burned.
G. K. Smith’s stock was partly destroyed. His loss is estimated at $1,000; covered by insurance.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th January 1902
Trev.
Calvert, Texas
Two Stores Burned Out and One Jeweler Injured
Calvert, Tex., Jan. 1. A destructive fire, Dec. 28, burned out two jewelry stores. H. M. Ryman lost $5,000 worth of stock and fixtures. He was not insured. The building he occupied was entirely destroyed. While attempting to rescue goods, during the fire, J. Oskar was struck by the falling roof and killed. Mr. Ryman was severely burned.
G. K. Smith’s stock was partly destroyed. His loss is estimated at $1,000; covered by insurance.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th January 1902
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
HENRY HARBURG
London
The painful suicide of the well-known Henry Harburg, of 6, Holborn Circus, and Redcliffe Gardens, W., has also to be recorded. In a state of unsound mind, without any apparent cause, he shot himself through the head, leaving a note upon his table addressed to his son : — " Dear Edwin, — Forgive your broken-hearted father. All around is night. All is darkness."
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweler and Silversmith - 1st October 1892
Trev.
London
The painful suicide of the well-known Henry Harburg, of 6, Holborn Circus, and Redcliffe Gardens, W., has also to be recorded. In a state of unsound mind, without any apparent cause, he shot himself through the head, leaving a note upon his table addressed to his son : — " Dear Edwin, — Forgive your broken-hearted father. All around is night. All is darkness."
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweler and Silversmith - 1st October 1892
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
WILLIAM FULLER
Birmingham, Connecticut
William Fuller, a metal turner, employed by the Derby Silver Co., Birmingham, met with a very painful accident last Thursday afternoon. A metal shaving ran up his turning tool, and into the fleshy part of the palm of the left hand. It coiled up under the flesh, and made a big lump. Dr. LaBonte drew the silver out, it uncoiling in the process. The metal thread measured 6¼ inches.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th June 1897
Trev.
Birmingham, Connecticut
William Fuller, a metal turner, employed by the Derby Silver Co., Birmingham, met with a very painful accident last Thursday afternoon. A metal shaving ran up his turning tool, and into the fleshy part of the palm of the left hand. It coiled up under the flesh, and made a big lump. Dr. LaBonte drew the silver out, it uncoiling in the process. The metal thread measured 6¼ inches.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th June 1897
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
EDWARD GARDNER
Lancaster
An inquest has just been held at Lancaster relative to the death of Edward Gardner, a watchmaker, aged 58 years. It was proved that on the previous Friday morning Mr. Bell, of the firm of Bell and Atkinson, watchmakers, went to Gardner's shop to see him about a watch robbery in which he was implicated with Thomas Turner Good, then under remand, on a charge of stealing forty-six watches. Mr. Bell there found two watches belonging to him. Gardner said he was just going to bring them back, and wanted Mr. Bell to take them, but he declined to do so, and ordered him to make a clear statement. The next morning Mr. Bell saw him again, and, eventually, Gardner told him where several of the watches were to be found, and he went round to the different shops and got them. In the meantime, Gardner had purchased a pennyworth of arsenic at a chemist's, and particularly asked whether it was sufficient to kill 100 rats. Upon receiving it from the assistant, he jocularly inquired, "Do you think it would kill you and me ? " As he was well-known at the shop no suspicion was aroused. He became very unwell on the Friday night, but his son and daughter, who lived with him, thought it was only an ordinary case of sickness. A powder was obtained for him from a doctor on the Saturday forenoon, but death took place about half-past one o'clock in the afternoon. The chief-constable was not aware of the man's death until he went to the house to apprehend him. — The jury, after a lengthy consultation, returned a verdict of felo de se.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweler and Silversmith - 5th February 1885
Trev.
Lancaster
An inquest has just been held at Lancaster relative to the death of Edward Gardner, a watchmaker, aged 58 years. It was proved that on the previous Friday morning Mr. Bell, of the firm of Bell and Atkinson, watchmakers, went to Gardner's shop to see him about a watch robbery in which he was implicated with Thomas Turner Good, then under remand, on a charge of stealing forty-six watches. Mr. Bell there found two watches belonging to him. Gardner said he was just going to bring them back, and wanted Mr. Bell to take them, but he declined to do so, and ordered him to make a clear statement. The next morning Mr. Bell saw him again, and, eventually, Gardner told him where several of the watches were to be found, and he went round to the different shops and got them. In the meantime, Gardner had purchased a pennyworth of arsenic at a chemist's, and particularly asked whether it was sufficient to kill 100 rats. Upon receiving it from the assistant, he jocularly inquired, "Do you think it would kill you and me ? " As he was well-known at the shop no suspicion was aroused. He became very unwell on the Friday night, but his son and daughter, who lived with him, thought it was only an ordinary case of sickness. A powder was obtained for him from a doctor on the Saturday forenoon, but death took place about half-past one o'clock in the afternoon. The chief-constable was not aware of the man's death until he went to the house to apprehend him. — The jury, after a lengthy consultation, returned a verdict of felo de se.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweler and Silversmith - 5th February 1885
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
OLIVER EDWARDS TWISS
Winsford, Cheshire
DROWNED IN THE DEE.—An inquest was held at Bangor-is-y-Coed, on Saturday, on the body of Oliver Edwards Twiss. jeweller, of Winsford. whose body was recovered from the river Dee at Bangor-on-Dee the previous day. His brother said deceased had been suffering from nervous debility. He went out on Sept. 21, saying he was going for a walk, and was never seen alive afterwards. P.C. Nelson said that on the body he found a card, on which was written, "All endurance hath an end in death. Pain kills, and then agony is past; only what's fair triumphing to the last. Tell my darling girl I was true till death."—A verdict of "Found drowned" was returned.
Source: The Chester Courant - 5th December 1906
Trev.
Winsford, Cheshire
DROWNED IN THE DEE.—An inquest was held at Bangor-is-y-Coed, on Saturday, on the body of Oliver Edwards Twiss. jeweller, of Winsford. whose body was recovered from the river Dee at Bangor-on-Dee the previous day. His brother said deceased had been suffering from nervous debility. He went out on Sept. 21, saying he was going for a walk, and was never seen alive afterwards. P.C. Nelson said that on the body he found a card, on which was written, "All endurance hath an end in death. Pain kills, and then agony is past; only what's fair triumphing to the last. Tell my darling girl I was true till death."—A verdict of "Found drowned" was returned.
Source: The Chester Courant - 5th December 1906
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
L. HIRSCH
Denver, Colorado
L. Hirsch, Denver jeweler, sent a diamond valued at $1,000 by air mail, to be set, in the East. The plane was wrecked, the unfortunate pilot mangled and burned and all the mail lost. Evidence points that the missing stone was on that ship.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 22nd December 1927
Trev.
Denver, Colorado
L. Hirsch, Denver jeweler, sent a diamond valued at $1,000 by air mail, to be set, in the East. The plane was wrecked, the unfortunate pilot mangled and burned and all the mail lost. Evidence points that the missing stone was on that ship.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 22nd December 1927
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
CHARLES H. McLEAN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Charles H. McLean, for the past five years watchmaker for W. M. Stone, Minneapolis, while riding a bicycle, October 21st, was run into by a fire engine and so badly injured that he died within twenty-four hours.
Source: The Keystone - December 1903
Trev.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Charles H. McLean, for the past five years watchmaker for W. M. Stone, Minneapolis, while riding a bicycle, October 21st, was run into by a fire engine and so badly injured that he died within twenty-four hours.
Source: The Keystone - December 1903
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
WILLIAM JEFFRAY
Edinburgh
William Jeffray, an Edinburgh silversmith, flung himself over the Dean-bridge in that city, he being dead when picked up.
Source: The Pontypridd Chronicle - 30th March 1888
Trev.
Edinburgh
William Jeffray, an Edinburgh silversmith, flung himself over the Dean-bridge in that city, he being dead when picked up.
Source: The Pontypridd Chronicle - 30th March 1888
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
HENRY BARMEIR
St. Louis
Henry Barmeir, well known in the St. Louis trade from his long connection with the L. Bauman Jewelry Company, as bookkeeper and cashier up to about two years ago, was accidentally killed at the World’s Fair grounds September 5th. The deceased had been employed for some little time at the grounds, and while at work slipped and fell, breaking his neck, which resulted in instant death.
Source: The Keystone - October 1903
Trev.
St. Louis
Henry Barmeir, well known in the St. Louis trade from his long connection with the L. Bauman Jewelry Company, as bookkeeper and cashier up to about two years ago, was accidentally killed at the World’s Fair grounds September 5th. The deceased had been employed for some little time at the grounds, and while at work slipped and fell, breaking his neck, which resulted in instant death.
Source: The Keystone - October 1903
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
JOSEPH BURTE
New York
Joseph Burte, employed as a fireman in the building at 68 Nassau St., which is occupied entirely by jewelers, was painfully injured last Wednesday when a large weight which is part of the apparatus operating the elevator, fell and crushed his arms. Mr. Burte was extricated from his perilous position by Officers Harry Quinn, stationed at Nassau and John Sts. and Walter Loures, whose post is at Maiden Lane and Nassau St. The policemen carried the victim from the second basement to the street, where he was examined by Dr. Belmont of the Beekman St. Hospital: He was then rushed to the hospital and it is feared that he may lose both arms. Burte was cleaning the machinery when the accident occurred. His yells attracted other employes in the building and they immediately summoned the police. Officers Quinn and Loures placed tourniquets on the man’s arms and then with difficulty brought him up an extremely narrow stairway to the upper hall, where he was given first aid treatment by the doctor and then rushed to the hospital. The victim is about 35 years old and lives in Brooklyn.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd August 1927
Trev.
New York
Joseph Burte, employed as a fireman in the building at 68 Nassau St., which is occupied entirely by jewelers, was painfully injured last Wednesday when a large weight which is part of the apparatus operating the elevator, fell and crushed his arms. Mr. Burte was extricated from his perilous position by Officers Harry Quinn, stationed at Nassau and John Sts. and Walter Loures, whose post is at Maiden Lane and Nassau St. The policemen carried the victim from the second basement to the street, where he was examined by Dr. Belmont of the Beekman St. Hospital: He was then rushed to the hospital and it is feared that he may lose both arms. Burte was cleaning the machinery when the accident occurred. His yells attracted other employes in the building and they immediately summoned the police. Officers Quinn and Loures placed tourniquets on the man’s arms and then with difficulty brought him up an extremely narrow stairway to the upper hall, where he was given first aid treatment by the doctor and then rushed to the hospital. The victim is about 35 years old and lives in Brooklyn.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd August 1927
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
ARTHUR S. FERRIS
Norwalk, Connecticut
Arthur S. Ferris, a Norwalk, Conn., jewelry repairer, was severely burned recently by an alcohol lamp. Mr. Ferris had just lighted the lamp when it suddenly exploded, and the blazing alcohol was thrown all over his face, some running down his neck and under his clothing. He screamed for assistance, and a friend who happened to be in the store, succeeded after considerable work in smothering the flames, using his bare hands in the operation.
Source: The Keystone - June 1905
Trev.
Norwalk, Connecticut
Arthur S. Ferris, a Norwalk, Conn., jewelry repairer, was severely burned recently by an alcohol lamp. Mr. Ferris had just lighted the lamp when it suddenly exploded, and the blazing alcohol was thrown all over his face, some running down his neck and under his clothing. He screamed for assistance, and a friend who happened to be in the store, succeeded after considerable work in smothering the flames, using his bare hands in the operation.
Source: The Keystone - June 1905
Trev.
Re: Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade
DONA LABONTI
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Dona Labonti, employed by the C. H. Eden Co., was injured while at work Wednesday afternoon. The young man received a severe gash in the left arm when a piece of stock with which he was working struck him. Several stitches were taken to close the wound.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th June 1926
Trev.
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Dona Labonti, employed by the C. H. Eden Co., was injured while at work Wednesday afternoon. The young man received a severe gash in the left arm when a piece of stock with which he was working struck him. Several stitches were taken to close the wound.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th June 1926
Trev.