Submitted by: Kristina Kuhn Krumm

South Bend Tribune

April 13, 1938; page 16

J. Arthur Herbster, age 56, of Rural Route No. 1, Lakeville, this county, died at 5:30 AM today in his home from a gunshot wound coroner Donald Grillo said was self-inflicted.

Learning that Mr. Herbster had been despondent over poor health and worried over financial difficulties, Coroner Grillo said the death was suicide.

Mrs. Herbster found her husband dying from a wound in the right sided his head when she went to the barn on their farm at 5:10 AM to see why he had not come to the house for breakfast.  He had gone to the barn ostensibly to do the morning chores.

A .22 caliber repeating rifle was found beside Mr. Herbster in the haymow.  Mrs. Herbster took her husband into the house and called a doctor.  The man died, however, before the doctor arrived.  Deputy Sheriff Hobart M. Lackey investigated with coroner.

Mr. Herbster had been into automobile accidents recently.  In one of the accidents he suffered a night injury that made necessary removal of an eyeball.

He was born May 3, 1881 near Lakeville, and spent his life there.  In 1914 he married Carrie McBride, to survives with five children, Florence, Virginia, Celma, Glenn and Robert, all at home.  Friends will be received in the residence until the funeral services, and the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren at 2:30 PM Friday, Rev. H. A. Claybaugh, of Goshen, Indiana, officiating.  Burial will be in Fair Cemetery.