The Monitor-Press
Wellington, Kansas
Wednesday, October 27, 1920
page 1
Arnspiger's Death Is Self-Inflicted
Grief Over Wife's Condition Held Responsible For the Deed.
Chas. H. Arnspiger, one of the best-known farmers of Guelph township, was found dead last Thursday in a field a short distance from his home, three miles northwest of Portland, under circumstances which leave but little doubt that he had taken his own life. The theory that the shooting was accidental obtained some credence at first, but the facts seem to show that in a fit of extreme dispondency he had been driven to put an end to his own existence.
Mr. Arnspiger's wife has been in poor health for some time and her condition has been a matter of great anxiety to him. He is described as a man of very sensitive disposition and nervous temperment and latterly had become very morose and despondent. To some of the family he had expressed the fear that his wife could not get well and in that case he said life had no further value to him. It was not thought, however, that his depression of mind would lead to self destruction.
About noon of the day of his death he took his shotgun, a double barrelled 12-gauge piece, and went out into the field near the house, saying he was going to shoot a chicken hawk, that he had seen sailing around. Soon after the report of the gun was heard, followed a few minutes later by another, this last somewhat muffled. His son, to whom he had spoken when he had taken the gun, became uneasy when his father failed to come in for dinner and going in search found the body lying at the edge of a corn field and only a short distance from the house. Death had been caused by a wound in the abdomen, the charge having ranged upward and penetrated the heart, causing instant death. The gun lying beside him contained one empty shell, another, from the load first discharged, being found almost under the body. The gun-wads from the first charge were found scattered over the field. He is supposed to have fired the first time to test the gun.
Mr. Arnspiger is supposed to have place the muzzle of the gun against his body and to have pushed the trigger with a weed or small stick that was found near by. The clothing around the wound was badly powder burned, showing that the muzzle of the gun had been held close up to his side. Dr. L.H. Sarchet, the county coroner, who examined the body before it's removal, was quite positive that the wound was self-inflicted and for that reason an inquest was unnecessary to determine the cause of death. Mr. Arnspiger was about 47 years of age and was a member of the pioneer families of Guelph township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
Wellington, Kansas
Wednesday, October 27, 1920
page 1
Arnspiger's Death Is Self-Inflicted
Grief Over Wife's Condition Held Responsible For the Deed.
Chas. H. Arnspiger, one of the best-known farmers of Guelph township, was found dead last Thursday in a field a short distance from his home, three miles northwest of Portland, under circumstances which leave but little doubt that he had taken his own life. The theory that the shooting was accidental obtained some credence at first, but the facts seem to show that in a fit of extreme dispondency he had been driven to put an end to his own existence.
Mr. Arnspiger's wife has been in poor health for some time and her condition has been a matter of great anxiety to him. He is described as a man of very sensitive disposition and nervous temperment and latterly had become very morose and despondent. To some of the family he had expressed the fear that his wife could not get well and in that case he said life had no further value to him. It was not thought, however, that his depression of mind would lead to self destruction.
About noon of the day of his death he took his shotgun, a double barrelled 12-gauge piece, and went out into the field near the house, saying he was going to shoot a chicken hawk, that he had seen sailing around. Soon after the report of the gun was heard, followed a few minutes later by another, this last somewhat muffled. His son, to whom he had spoken when he had taken the gun, became uneasy when his father failed to come in for dinner and going in search found the body lying at the edge of a corn field and only a short distance from the house. Death had been caused by a wound in the abdomen, the charge having ranged upward and penetrated the heart, causing instant death. The gun lying beside him contained one empty shell, another, from the load first discharged, being found almost under the body. The gun-wads from the first charge were found scattered over the field. He is supposed to have fired the first time to test the gun.
Mr. Arnspiger is supposed to have place the muzzle of the gun against his body and to have pushed the trigger with a weed or small stick that was found near by. The clothing around the wound was badly powder burned, showing that the muzzle of the gun had been held close up to his side. Dr. L.H. Sarchet, the county coroner, who examined the body before it's removal, was quite positive that the wound was self-inflicted and for that reason an inquest was unnecessary to determine the cause of death. Mr. Arnspiger was about 47 years of age and was a member of the pioneer families of Guelph township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
The Monitor-Press
Wellington, Kansas
Wednesday, October 27, 1920
page 1
Arnspiger's Death Is Self-Inflicted
Grief Over Wife's Condition Held Responsible For the Deed.
Chas. H. Arnspiger, one of the best-known farmers of Guelph township, was found dead last Thursday in a field a short distance from his home, three miles northwest of Portland, under circumstances which leave but little doubt that he had taken his own life. The theory that the shooting was accidental obtained some credence at first, but the facts seem to show that in a fit of extreme dispondency he had been driven to put an end to his own existence.
Mr. Arnspiger's wife has been in poor health for some time and her condition has been a matter of great anxiety to him. He is described as a man of very sensitive disposition and nervous temperment and latterly had become very morose and despondent. To some of the family he had expressed the fear that his wife could not get well and in that case he said life had no further value to him. It was not thought, however, that his depression of mind would lead to self destruction.
About noon of the day of his death he took his shotgun, a double barrelled 12-gauge piece, and went out into the field near the house, saying he was going to shoot a chicken hawk, that he had seen sailing around. Soon after the report of the gun was heard, followed a few minutes later by another, this last somewhat muffled. His son, to whom he had spoken when he had taken the gun, became uneasy when his father failed to come in for dinner and going in search found the body lying at the edge of a corn field and only a short distance from the house. Death had been caused by a wound in the abdomen, the charge having ranged upward and penetrated the heart, causing instant death. The gun lying beside him contained one empty shell, another, from the load first discharged, being found almost under the body. The gun-wads from the first charge were found scattered over the field. He is supposed to have fired the first time to test the gun.
Mr. Arnspiger is supposed to have place the muzzle of the gun against his body and to have pushed the trigger with a weed or small stick that was found near by. The clothing around the wound was badly powder burned, showing that the muzzle of the gun had been held close up to his side. Dr. L.H. Sarchet, the county coroner, who examined the body before it's removal, was quite positive that the wound was self-inflicted and for that reason an inquest was unnecessary to determine the cause of death. Mr. Arnspiger was about 47 years of age and was a member of the pioneer families of Guelph township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
Wellington, Kansas
Wednesday, October 27, 1920
page 1
Arnspiger's Death Is Self-Inflicted
Grief Over Wife's Condition Held Responsible For the Deed.
Chas. H. Arnspiger, one of the best-known farmers of Guelph township, was found dead last Thursday in a field a short distance from his home, three miles northwest of Portland, under circumstances which leave but little doubt that he had taken his own life. The theory that the shooting was accidental obtained some credence at first, but the facts seem to show that in a fit of extreme dispondency he had been driven to put an end to his own existence.
Mr. Arnspiger's wife has been in poor health for some time and her condition has been a matter of great anxiety to him. He is described as a man of very sensitive disposition and nervous temperment and latterly had become very morose and despondent. To some of the family he had expressed the fear that his wife could not get well and in that case he said life had no further value to him. It was not thought, however, that his depression of mind would lead to self destruction.
About noon of the day of his death he took his shotgun, a double barrelled 12-gauge piece, and went out into the field near the house, saying he was going to shoot a chicken hawk, that he had seen sailing around. Soon after the report of the gun was heard, followed a few minutes later by another, this last somewhat muffled. His son, to whom he had spoken when he had taken the gun, became uneasy when his father failed to come in for dinner and going in search found the body lying at the edge of a corn field and only a short distance from the house. Death had been caused by a wound in the abdomen, the charge having ranged upward and penetrated the heart, causing instant death. The gun lying beside him contained one empty shell, another, from the load first discharged, being found almost under the body. The gun-wads from the first charge were found scattered over the field. He is supposed to have fired the first time to test the gun.
Mr. Arnspiger is supposed to have place the muzzle of the gun against his body and to have pushed the trigger with a weed or small stick that was found near by. The clothing around the wound was badly powder burned, showing that the muzzle of the gun had been held close up to his side. Dr. L.H. Sarchet, the county coroner, who examined the body before it's removal, was quite positive that the wound was self-inflicted and for that reason an inquest was unnecessary to determine the cause of death. Mr. Arnspiger was about 47 years of age and was a member of the pioneer families of Guelph township.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)
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