Memorials › August Cornelius Stuckwisch

August Cornelius Stuckwisch

25 May 1868 – 15 Mar 1899

Birth25 May 1868
Death15 Mar 1899
CemeterySaint Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery
Washington Township , Jackson County , Indiana , USA
Added bymonumentdesigner on 29 Jun 2016
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/165669995

Bio

BROWNSTOWN BANNER March 23, 1899 AWFUL TRAGEDY Louis Stuckwisch shoots and kills his brother, August A Gloom of Sorrow Cast over the Entire Community One of the darkest pages in the history of Jackson county was made Wednesday, March 15, 1899, when young Louis Stuckwisch, aged nineteen, in a frenzy rage, shot and killed his brother, August, aged thirty, without any provocation whatever. No exaggerations are necessary in penning the details of the terrible crime, to give it any sensational features; and were it not for the fact that it occurred in our very midst, we would be inclined to discredit much of it. The killing of Abel by his brother Cain was no more justifiable than the loss of August Stuckwisch's life at the hands of his brother Louis. August and Louis, together with many brothers and sisters are the children of John Stuckwisch, who died a few years ago; but their mother is still living. August resides about two and one half miles east of town, and for about two months past, Louis had been working for him and making his home with him. On Wednesday of last week they came in town together - August to transact business and Louis to have a tooth extracted. Before going to the dental office they took a drink of whisky and also after the tooth had been pulled, as Louis complained of suffering much pain and they thought the whisky might give him some relief. Later in the evening Louis had some unpleasant words with John Manion and called him a foul name for which August reprimanded him which at once aroused Louis' anger and some words passed between them. Upon reaching the gate to drive into August's farm, August got out of Mr. Vahl's wagon and opened the gate for Louis to drive through and the latter commenced quarreling again. One word brought on another and finally Louis jumped out of the wagon and struck August in the face, when Mr. Vahl, who had in the meantime jumped out of his wagon to try to adjust matters, seized Louis but he jerked away and pulled out his knife which Mr. Vahl took away from him and afterwards gave to August who got into his wagon and started home, first telling his brother not to come to his house any more as he wanted nothing more to do with him. Louis demanded his knife of Mr. Vahl , who was trying to quiet him, but to no avail, and when informed that August had it started after him. When August reached his barn lot and was unhitching his team, he saw Louis coming, and without finishing unhitching his team, went into the house and locked the door telling his wife that Louis was drunk and did not know what he was doing. He also tried to get his wife to leave the house, but she refused to go unless he went. Mrs. Stuckwisch was a few steps in advance, but stopped just as the shot was fired. Louis had dropped the gun and told her that August was more scared than hurt. She then started to some of the neighbors for assistance and met Henry Vahl a short distance away. Mr. Vahl felt uneasy from the time he parted from the brothers, and as soon as he arrived home, placed the team in charge of his family and started started across the fields to see if he could not effect a reconciliation between them. When he met Mrs. Stuckwisch she almost swooned away, but managed to tell him that August was shot and together they went to the scene of the tragedy. When they reached there, Louis was sitting on the ground holding his dying brother, whose death wound he had inflicted, in his lap, with his head on his breast, and had carefully wrapped his coat around the wound. Mr. Vahl, with the assistance of the distracted wife and the brother, who had shed his brother's life-blood, carried poor August into the house. Mr. Vahl at once aroused the neighbors and then came to town for Drs Whitehead and Heller, but while they were getting ready to go, another courier came in and said that August was dead. He lived about three quarters of an hour after he was shot, which was about 7 o'clock pm. The gun with which the deed was committed was a 16 bore double-barreled shotgun, and was afterward found a few feet away from where the shooting occurred with the shell in the right barrel discharged and a loaded shell in the left barrel and both hammers were cocked. THE MURDERER ARRESTED After helping to convey his brother into the house, Louis remained there until about 10 o'clock, when he left for his mother's home several miles distant, one of his brothers going with him. There he remained until about nine o'clock Thursday morning, when he was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Goss and Constable John F. Stotz and brought to jail here. He made no attempt whatever to escape and offered no resistance when arrested. Soon after being placed in jail we visited him and he seemed much depressed in spirits and expressed a desire not to talk, further than to say he had never before had any trouble with August and claimed that he knew nothing after drinking the second glass of whisky. His actions are peculiar to say the least. At times he seemed to not realize what he had done and would smile and talk unconcernedly and even played cards with some of the other prisoners in jail. He remarked several times to different parties he was sorry he went to town, for if he had stayed at home he would not have drunk the whisky and would not be in his present trouble. PRISONER TAKEN TO SALEM While there was no apparent indications of mob violence, yet Sheriff Goss thought best to take the prisoner to Salem for safe keeping, for which place he left Thursday evening, accompanied by his son Bruce and Gilbert Sanders. But, before leaving, the prisoner was taken before Squire Daly, where he waived a preliminary hearing and was remanded to jail without bail, charged with premeditated murder. INQUEST. On account of the illness of Coroner Venzey, of Medora, Will Hustedt, deputy coroner, of Seymour, conducted the inquest. He commenced taking evidence at the Stuckwisch home Thursday evening and concluded at Squire Daly's office Friday afternoon, rendering a verdict in accordance with the facts as here related. OBITUARY. August Stuckwisch, the victim of the awful tragedy, was born May 25, 1868, and at the time of his death was 30 years, 9 months and 20 days of age. He was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Quade February 1st, 1894, who together with an infant child, preceded him to the grave in July, 1897. He was again married August 11th, 1898 to Miss Luzetta Benter, who survives him. The deceased was a steady and prosperous German farmer, of a quiet disposition and highly esteemed by all who knew him. The funeral, which was largely attended, was held at Sauer's church, Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. F. W. Pohlman officiating, after which the remains were laid to rest in a cemetery near by. The Stuckwisch families are among the most highly respected and prominent German families in the county and the heartfelt sympathy of the people all over the county is extended them in their double affliction, especially to the aged mother who was almost prostrated by the shock and whose declining years will be clouded with sorrow.

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