Brost Death Termed Accident or Suicide
Authorities Lean Toward Accident Theory; Announce Case is Closed
John Brost, 50, School Hill butcher, whose body with a bullet through its head, was found in a field near his shop September 9, met death either accidentally or was a suicide.
This was the decision reached today by District Attorney John Cashman and Sheriff Norman Berkedal, who have made an exhaustive investigation of several puzzling angles that cropped up after the finding of Brost's body. They announced the case closed, as far as they are concerned.
Accident Theory
According to the sheriff, there is a possibility that Brost might have been fatally wounded by the accidental discharge of the automatic gun he carried. It is reported that he planned to kill some stray dogs which had been hanging around the Brost slaughter house, a short distance from the butcher's shop in School Hill.
Sheriff Berkedal said Brost might have slipped and fell and in some manner his finger might have pressed the trigger of the gun as he fell backward. The bullet from the .32 calibre gun entered behind the rightear and came out over the left eye.
Reports that paraffin tests failed to disclose powder burns on the backof Brost's neck or on his hand are easily explained, the officers said.
The undertaker had washed the body to prepare it for burial before the paraffin impressions were taken.
Lack of any grounds for Brost to end his life two weeks ago led officers to believe that the butcher did not commit suicide. His home life had been pleasant, he had no known enemies, and had no disagreements with any of his customers.
Son Found Body
Brost left his market in School Hill on the morning of Sept. 9 in charge of his hired man, and walked out the rear door to go to the slaughterhouse. He wore his apron and shop cap. When he did not come back by
evening his son, Norman, 19, went to search for his father and found the dead body slumped at the edge of the field near the slaughter house.
There was no sign of a struggle or indication of foul play.
County authorities, when they began an investigation, found several points which needed further study before a decision could be reached as to how Brost came to his death. They did not want to dismiss hastily a
surmise that the School Hill man might have been the victim of foul play.
"We have finished our investigation and have closed the case." District Attorney John Cashman said this afternoon.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Tuesday, September 21, 1937 P.2
Authorities Lean Toward Accident Theory; Announce Case is Closed
John Brost, 50, School Hill butcher, whose body with a bullet through its head, was found in a field near his shop September 9, met death either accidentally or was a suicide.
This was the decision reached today by District Attorney John Cashman and Sheriff Norman Berkedal, who have made an exhaustive investigation of several puzzling angles that cropped up after the finding of Brost's body. They announced the case closed, as far as they are concerned.
Accident Theory
According to the sheriff, there is a possibility that Brost might have been fatally wounded by the accidental discharge of the automatic gun he carried. It is reported that he planned to kill some stray dogs which had been hanging around the Brost slaughter house, a short distance from the butcher's shop in School Hill.
Sheriff Berkedal said Brost might have slipped and fell and in some manner his finger might have pressed the trigger of the gun as he fell backward. The bullet from the .32 calibre gun entered behind the rightear and came out over the left eye.
Reports that paraffin tests failed to disclose powder burns on the backof Brost's neck or on his hand are easily explained, the officers said.
The undertaker had washed the body to prepare it for burial before the paraffin impressions were taken.
Lack of any grounds for Brost to end his life two weeks ago led officers to believe that the butcher did not commit suicide. His home life had been pleasant, he had no known enemies, and had no disagreements with any of his customers.
Son Found Body
Brost left his market in School Hill on the morning of Sept. 9 in charge of his hired man, and walked out the rear door to go to the slaughterhouse. He wore his apron and shop cap. When he did not come back by
evening his son, Norman, 19, went to search for his father and found the dead body slumped at the edge of the field near the slaughter house.
There was no sign of a struggle or indication of foul play.
County authorities, when they began an investigation, found several points which needed further study before a decision could be reached as to how Brost came to his death. They did not want to dismiss hastily a
surmise that the School Hill man might have been the victim of foul play.
"We have finished our investigation and have closed the case." District Attorney John Cashman said this afternoon.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Tuesday, September 21, 1937 P.2
Brost Death Termed Accident or Suicide
Authorities Lean Toward Accident Theory; Announce Case is Closed
John Brost, 50, School Hill butcher, whose body with a bullet through its head, was found in a field near his shop September 9, met death either accidentally or was a suicide.
This was the decision reached today by District Attorney John Cashman and Sheriff Norman Berkedal, who have made an exhaustive investigation of several puzzling angles that cropped up after the finding of Brost's body. They announced the case closed, as far as they are concerned.
Accident Theory
According to the sheriff, there is a possibility that Brost might have been fatally wounded by the accidental discharge of the automatic gun he carried. It is reported that he planned to kill some stray dogs which had been hanging around the Brost slaughter house, a short distance from the butcher's shop in School Hill.
Sheriff Berkedal said Brost might have slipped and fell and in some manner his finger might have pressed the trigger of the gun as he fell backward. The bullet from the .32 calibre gun entered behind the rightear and came out over the left eye.
Reports that paraffin tests failed to disclose powder burns on the backof Brost's neck or on his hand are easily explained, the officers said.
The undertaker had washed the body to prepare it for burial before the paraffin impressions were taken.
Lack of any grounds for Brost to end his life two weeks ago led officers to believe that the butcher did not commit suicide. His home life had been pleasant, he had no known enemies, and had no disagreements with any of his customers.
Son Found Body
Brost left his market in School Hill on the morning of Sept. 9 in charge of his hired man, and walked out the rear door to go to the slaughterhouse. He wore his apron and shop cap. When he did not come back by
evening his son, Norman, 19, went to search for his father and found the dead body slumped at the edge of the field near the slaughter house.
There was no sign of a struggle or indication of foul play.
County authorities, when they began an investigation, found several points which needed further study before a decision could be reached as to how Brost came to his death. They did not want to dismiss hastily a
surmise that the School Hill man might have been the victim of foul play.
"We have finished our investigation and have closed the case." District Attorney John Cashman said this afternoon.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Tuesday, September 21, 1937 P.2
Authorities Lean Toward Accident Theory; Announce Case is Closed
John Brost, 50, School Hill butcher, whose body with a bullet through its head, was found in a field near his shop September 9, met death either accidentally or was a suicide.
This was the decision reached today by District Attorney John Cashman and Sheriff Norman Berkedal, who have made an exhaustive investigation of several puzzling angles that cropped up after the finding of Brost's body. They announced the case closed, as far as they are concerned.
Accident Theory
According to the sheriff, there is a possibility that Brost might have been fatally wounded by the accidental discharge of the automatic gun he carried. It is reported that he planned to kill some stray dogs which had been hanging around the Brost slaughter house, a short distance from the butcher's shop in School Hill.
Sheriff Berkedal said Brost might have slipped and fell and in some manner his finger might have pressed the trigger of the gun as he fell backward. The bullet from the .32 calibre gun entered behind the rightear and came out over the left eye.
Reports that paraffin tests failed to disclose powder burns on the backof Brost's neck or on his hand are easily explained, the officers said.
The undertaker had washed the body to prepare it for burial before the paraffin impressions were taken.
Lack of any grounds for Brost to end his life two weeks ago led officers to believe that the butcher did not commit suicide. His home life had been pleasant, he had no known enemies, and had no disagreements with any of his customers.
Son Found Body
Brost left his market in School Hill on the morning of Sept. 9 in charge of his hired man, and walked out the rear door to go to the slaughterhouse. He wore his apron and shop cap. When he did not come back by
evening his son, Norman, 19, went to search for his father and found the dead body slumped at the edge of the field near the slaughter house.
There was no sign of a struggle or indication of foul play.
County authorities, when they began an investigation, found several points which needed further study before a decision could be reached as to how Brost came to his death. They did not want to dismiss hastily a
surmise that the School Hill man might have been the victim of foul play.
"We have finished our investigation and have closed the case." District Attorney John Cashman said this afternoon.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Tuesday, September 21, 1937 P.2
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