Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1898 — How Joe Guss Was Murdered. [ARTICLE]

How Joe Guss Was Murdered.

Mrs. Guss, widow of the late Joe .Guss, and her son William arrived from Woodbury, Tenn., last Friday night, and propose to make this place their future home. The story of how our former citizen. Joe Guss, met his tragic death, as told by his son, is as follows: Mr. Guss kept a saloon at Woodbury. One of his regular whisky customers was a big negro, who had been accustomed to be trusted for liquor, on the authority of the negro’s white employer. Finally the latter told Mr, Guss not to sell the negro any more whisky on credit, as he would no longer stand responsible for his whisky bills. The next time the negro came to the saloon and wanted whisky on credit, Mr. Guss refused to sell it to him. This so enraged the negro, who was an immense and very powerful man, that after quarreling a little with Guss, he seized and dragged him out doors and then deliberately cut his throat with a large bladed pocket knife. Guss lived but 15 minntes after being cut. The negro is now in jail, awaiting his trial, which was expected to take place some time this month.

Guss was killed on the 19th of last June. He was formerly, and for many years, a resident of this county, and immediately previous to his removal to Tennessee, lived near Pleasant Ridge, though the principal home of the Guss family, was Union Tp., where they are still extensively related. Joe went to Tennessee just about two years before he was killed.