Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1919 — ROBT. ZICK COMMITS SUICIDE [ARTICLE]

ROBT. ZICK COMMITS SUICIDE

Well Known Walker Tp. Farmer Ends Life With Shotgun.

Robert Zick, a well ’ known bachelor farmer of Walker township and a brother of Mrs. Bruce White of Rensselaer, committed suicide Wednesday by shooting the whole front part of his face away with a double-barreled shotgun. The act was committed on the front porch of Mr. Zick’s home and some of the shot had gone through the ceiling of the porch. He had evidently placed the muzzle of the gun under his chin and pulled the trigger with his foot. It is supposed that the act was committed about 11 or 11:15 o’clock Wednesday forenoon, Mrs. Fritz having heard a shot about this time. The Foltz home is less ythan 20 rods from the house occupied by Mr. Zick, who had lived * alone for several years. Fred Brehob was passing the Zick home about 1:15 p. m. and saw the body lying on-the porch. He spoke but got no reply, and on 4 examination found that the man was dead, the entire .front part of the face having been shot away and blood was scattered all about the porch. The body was fully clothed. Brehob then went to neighbors and gave the alarm and called the dead brother, Louis Zick. Mr. Zick had been in poor• health fQF some time and when in Rensselaer Monday last, had remarked, in conversation with his brother-in-law, Bruce White, that he did not think he would live very long. He had left a note, written in leadpencil on the outside of a No. 5 envelope: “Cannot stand the burden ~any longer. Good-bye to all.” The note was unsigned, but was in Mr. Zick’s 'handwriting. The gun was lying beneath the body and between the dead man's legs. Mr. Zick had driven out into the field in the forenoon, husked someoorn and fed the hogs and also husked an extra basketful and left it iready to feed to them in the evening. iHie had put the horses in the stable and fed them,

leaving the harness on as though

Intending to hitch them up in the afternoon. He had also gathered the eggs and they were found on a table in the kitchen. His sister, Mrs. Warren, had sent him a basket of things to eat the day before, as was her custom every few days, and he had emptied the basket, placed the food in the cupboard and washed the dishes the food had come in and replaced them to basket to return to his sister. It Is evident from' all the act had not been premeditated, but that the Impulse to end his life had come upon him suddenly and lhe yielded; Deputy Coroner Ray D. Thompson, In the absence of Coroner W. J. Wright, who is in the west on a vacation, conducted an. inquest

Wednesday evening, taking the testimony of Dr. Hackley of Medaryville, who had been called, and of Brehob, and rendered a verdict that deceased came to his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Mr. Zick was born In Walker township 61 years ago Oct. 12 next, and had resided there all his life. He was highly and was the soul of honor. z He had never married. He is survived' by one brother and three sisters, Mrs. William Warren and Louis Zick of Walker township, Mrs, Gusta Demunid of Mbntana and Mrs.. Bruce White of Rensselaer. - The body was taken to Medaryville and prepared for burial, but at this writing the time for holding the funeral had not been Set, because of waitings a reply from the sister residing in Montana and a niece, Mrs. Ben Grube, of North Carolina, as to whether they could come. Later —The funeral will' be held today at 1 P.* m. from the residence of Louis Zick in Walker townshlip, and burial made to the Wheatfield cemetery. Neither the sister nor niece mentioned above can be here to the funeral.