CARL HANSEN (d. 1918)

ASSEMBLYMAN CAR HANSEN FOUND DEAD IN OFFICE WITH BULLET HOLE IN HIS BRAIN,
SUICIDED ON DATE OF 52ND BIRTHDAY
Well Known Insurance Man Who Had Served as City Treasurer, Alderman,
Assessor of City and Member of State Assembly Had Been in Ill Health
for Some Time. Was Born In This City.
Dead at his own hands, the body of Assemblyman Carl Hansen was found
today in the rooms he occupied as a residence and insurance office on
Washington street. A bullet hole in the right temple, and a revolver
which he clasped in his hand told the story of the tragedy. The body
was taken in charge by the coroner and was later turned over to A.C.
Hanson(sic), a brother, who will have charge of the funeral.
News of the suicide of Assemblyman Hansen spread through the city and
caused a sensation. Mr. Hansen had been in ill health for some time,
suffering from a nervous breakdown and it is believed that he ended his
life while his mind was temporarily unsettled by his illness. Discovery
of the death of Mr. Hansen was made this afternoon when Police Chief
Groffman, at the instance of friends, forced an entrance to the building.
Mr. Hansen had not been about for two days and was not known to have left
the city. It had been his custom in the past to notify the Wernecke and
Schmitz Co. whose store is nearby or the Savings Bank when he was out of
town. When it was learned that he had left no word at either place and
that he was not in the city, friends notified the police and asked that
an investigation be made at his offices to learn whether he was ill, no
response having been receieved to repeated efforts to enter the place.
The body of Assemblyman Hansen was found in bed fully dressed with the
exception of his coat which he had removed. The shot which caused death
had entered the right temple and blood from the wound was spattered about
the floor. The district attorney and coroner were notified. It is not
probable that an inquest will be held as the evidence is conclusive of
suicide.
Was Fifty-two Years Old.
Assemblyman Hansen was a native of this city and was 52 years of age. He
was born on Jan. 3, 1866 and it is believed ended his life on the fifty
second anniversary of his birth, physicians saying that death had occurred
some hours before the body was found. He received his education in the
local schools and followed farming and later engaged in the insurance
business in this city, which he had followed for many years. Mr. Hansen
entered politics in 1889 when he was elected city treasurer and served
for two successive terms. He was assessor of the city in 1893 and harbor
master in 1896. In 1898 and 1899 served as a member of the city council.
In 1910 Mr. Hansen was elected as a member of the assembly from the first
district of Manitowoc county and has served since that time. Assemblyman
Hansen had the record of being the only member of the assembly in the past
two sessions who had been in attendance at every meeting of the body. He
attained considerable prominence last year as a candidate for speaker of
the assembly, but was defeated in his own party caucus.
Survived by Two Brothers.
Assemblyman Hansen leaves two brothers—Anton C. Hansen of this city and
Theodore Hansen of Sturgeon Bay. Funeral arrangements have not been made.
Manitowoc Daily Herald, Friday, January 04, 1918, Page 1
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FUNERAL OF LATE CARL HANSEN TO BE HELD SUNDAY
Services to Take Place at the Chapel at Evergreen.
State May Send Representatives
Funeral services for the late Carl Hansen will be held Sunday afternoon
at 2 o’clock at the chapel at Evergreen cemetery. Rev. M.S. Axtell will
officiate at the services and pall bearers will be Edwin Schuette,
Gustave ?, Nic Kettenhoffer, Charles Groffman, Fred Schultz and Charles
Gruhle, all of whom were school mates with Mr. Hansen and lifelong friends.
The body of Mr. Hansen was removed from his home to the undertaking rooms
of William Frazier yesterday afternoon and prepared for burial.
Many friends visited the rooms today and viewed the remains which will lie
in state until tomorrow when they will be taken to the chapel. It is
probable that Gov. Phillip or some personal representative of the governor
will attend the funeral here tomorrow and it is expected that a number of
members of the legislature with whom Assemblyman Hansen served, will also
be present. State papers pay tribute to Mr. Hansen for his service in the
legislature. Search of the home of Mr. Hansen revealed no note which he
might have left for relatives or friends and there is nothing to explain
his act.
He was about the city Wednesday as usual and during the day visited the
Herald office and spoke of the special session of the legislature in which
he said he was much interested particularly because of the financial measures
which were to come up. Mr. Hansen has been a subscriber to the Herald since
the paper was founded and on occasion of his visit Wednesday asked that the
paper be discontinued for a few days until the office heard from him again.
Mr. Hansen is said to have visited other newspaper offices with the same
request.
Manitowoc Daily Herald, Saturday, January 05, 1918, Page 6
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[bur. 01-06-1918/cause: suicide by gunshot/bur. on Hans Hansen lot]
[Carl Hanson/bur. 1-6-1918/cause: suicide by gunshot/bur. on Hans Hanson lot]