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Louis Kellermann
1861 - 1889
Watertown Republican; Jefferson Banner 10 31 1889
The Last Act in the Tragedy
Louis Kellermann, who shot his wife last Wednesday
morning at her parents’ home in the First ward, ended his own existence at half
past 6 o’clock the following morning in his mother’s barn on the Kellermann homestead in the Fifth ward, by shooting himself
in the head, using the same weapon with which he attempted the life of his
wife.
Kellermann’s younger brother, hearing a noise in the hayloft, entered the barn and
as he did so, a shot was fired. In a few
minutes afterwards Deputy Sheriff Graewe ascended the
loft and found Kellermann dead, with the revolver in
his clinched hand and his entire body covered up in the hay, a red handkerchief
being tied around his forehead.
It is not known where he secreted himself during Wednesday. His mother and brother claim to have seen
nothing of him, and it is now the general belief that he did not go into the
barn until Wednesday night or a short time before the fatal shot was
fired. A coroner’s jury was held by
Justice Beckmann, and a verdict rendered that his death was caused by his own
hand.
Thus Kellermann, after attempting to kill his
wife, cut short his own career, preferring death rather than suffer the remorse
that was certain to follow his terrible act.
Some are disposed to cover his deed with the cloak of charity, holding
unpleasant marital relations as partly, at least, responsible for his
crimes. Be this as it may, the attempt
on his wife’s life cannot be justified by any reasoning of this kind, but it
can be said by those disposed to be charitable towards him that he atoned for
the act by taking his own life.
Kellermann was 28 years old, his wife being several years his junior. He had no children. For several years Kellermann
worked at well-drilling with E. A. Mendenhall.
It is said that he had made preparations to remove to Milwaukee, hoping
to induce his wife to go with him.
The funeral was held Saturday afternoon from the home of his mother, a
long procession followed the body to its last resting place in Oak Hill Cemetery. There were no religious exercises at the
grave.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin