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Charles Neugebauer
1847 - 1909
Watertown Gazette, 07 16 1909
Last Friday
morning the body of Charles Neugebauer was found in his room over his saloon at
408 Main Street and the supposition is that he shot himself between 9 and 10
o’clock the previous Wednesday night, as a neighbor heard a shot at about that
time but did not pay much attention to it.
He had been at
his place of business that evening but on Thursday not being seen about his
place, Friday morning his neighbors thought something was wrong and Chief of
Police H. C. Block was notified. He
visited Mr. Neugebauer’s room over his saloon and forced an entrance to this
bedroom, where he found Mr. Neugebarer’s body undressed lying on the bed, a 32
caliber revolver clutched in the right hand and a bullet wound in his
mouth. Drs. Thos. F. Shinnick and C. R.
Feld were called and stated death must have occurred instantaneously.
Within the past
few years he lost his wife, son and daughter, and being hard up financially he
became despondent. He was unable to
raise money to pay his saloon license July 1st and it is thought this, with the
loss of his entire family, so preyed on his mind that he became insane and took
his life.
Deceased was
born in Landskron, Bohemia, in 1847, and in 1868 located in this city and
learned the shoemaking trade with the late Jacob Koerner, for whom he was
employed many years. Since 1882 he
conducted a saloon here and to his credit it can be said that he conducted one
of the most orderly and respectable places of its kind in the city. He was a kind-hearted and pleasant gentleman
and always tried to do right by everyone.
He was a high-spirited and rather proud old gentleman and would rather
suffer than make his straightened circumstances [?] known to his friends. His sad ending is universally regretted
here.
A letter was
found in Mr. Neugebauer’s room in which he gave reasons why he was going to
take his life. He said he lost by death
all that was dear to him in this life, that he was partially blind, had no
bright future before him and was tired of life.
In the letter he bid good bye to the world and all his old friends in a
most piteous manner.
Saturday afternoon his funeral was held under the auspices of the Watertown Saloon Dealer’s Association and the interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Rev. A. G. Wagner conducting the services.
