Goetz - George
Source: Greencastle Herald 17 July 1913 p 4
After brooding over family troubles and charges of wife desertion that have been filed against him until his mind had become deranged, George Goetz, a Ladoga tailer, attempted suicide on Monon train No 3. The despondent man inflicted several deep cuts on his throat just as the train was pulling into the North Street station in this city. He was being taken from Menominee, Michigan where he was arrested Sunday to Crawfordsville by Police Capt. Michael of that city. During the trip Goetz told the police captain of the skeletons he had seen flitting about the corridors of the jail at Menominee. He also declared that men were running along side the train trying to grasp him through the car windows and refused to believe that it was only the shadow of the train. As the train neared this city he arose from the seat and entered the toilet room in the car in which he was riding. Capt. Michael waited outside the door for him for some time and after the train had started opened the door to see what detained him so long. Goetz staggered out with blood flowing profusely from the wounds in his throat. He declared that if the knife had not been so dull that he would have finished the job. His throat was bandaged with a handkerchief and upon his arrival at Crawfordsville he was placed in a separate cell on the second floor of the jail. He was brought into police court yesterday morning where he was questioned by Prosecutor Clouser. His preliminary hearing on the wife desertion charge was set for Friday morning – Lafayette Journal.
Source: Crawfordsville Review 29 Aug 1916
The funeral services of George Goetz who committed suicide last Saturday afternoon were held from the home yesterday afternoon. They were in charge of Rev. WH Newlin of Brownsburg, formerly of Ladoga where the family had lived before moving to this city. Members of the local Eagle Lodge were present and had charge of the last rites over the body. The burial was made in Oak Hill.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 26 August 1916 p5
George Goetz, a tailor, swallowed two ounces of carbolic acid at his home on Wabash Avenue west of the McDonald green house at a few minutes before three this afternoon and at 3:30 his death was regarded as certain. He was breathing heavily and seemed to be rapidly sinking at that hour and the physician who was at his side stated that he could live but a few minutes longer. Goetz is believed to have been mentally deranged for a few days past. Worry over being out of work is thought to have caused the man to become in the condition. This morning he came downtown, returning about noon. His wife says he was apparently in a pleasant frame of mind when he returned. His strange actions caused persons downtown to notify the police that Goetz should be watched. This afternoon Officers Shields and Long went to the house, accompanied by a physician. As the officers arrive Goetz ran from the house into a shed at the rear and when the police reached the shed he had swallowed the acid. He was carried into the house and placed on a cot. Goetz once before tried to end his life. He was arrested in Michigan on a warrant here charging a minor offence and Allen Michael then chief of police went after the man. On the way back here on the train, Goetz went into the vestibule and slashed his throat with a dull knife. The injuries were not serious. Goetz was born in Germany. With his wife he came to this city 11 years ago. He had been in the tailoring business here since then. He is the father of four small children, the youngest a babe a few months old. All of the contents of the two ounce vial of acid went down the man’s throat and there were no burns on his face. Goetz probably secured the poison while he was downtown this morning. He seemed in cheerful spirits today, his wife said. She stated that he had been acting strangely for two days. Goetz recently worked in a shop the rear of the Economy shoe parlors on north Washington street. He had formerly worked in tailor shops about town. – thanks to Dellie and JoAn for this one