Uecker, Ernest

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2680
• Obituary: 27 Oct 1925; Appleton Post Crescent
• Obituary: 29 Oct 1925; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
YOUTH SLAIN AT FARM BY STRAY BULLET County Authorities Investigate Unwitnessed Death of Ernest Uecker Outagamie-co authorities are investigating the instant death by a rifle bullet about 7 o'clock Tuesday morning of Ernest Uecker, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Uecker, North Cicero. The explanation advanced at Cicero is that a hunter's stray bullet struck him. Uecker had gone to the barn at the family's farm six miles north west of Seymour to do the morning chores and was returning to the house shortly before 7 o'clock. He was found dead by other members of the household. He had fallen about, halfway between the two buildings. An Investigation revealed the bullet wound just below his heart and the attending physician expressed the belief that he had died instantly. There arc no wood's or hunting grounds on the Uecker farm Itself but dense groves are located in two directions on adjoinlng lands half a mile from the house. These are said to be frequented by hunters. Dr. H. E. Ellsworth, coroner, and Stanley A. Staidl, assistant district attorney, went to the Uecker farm later in the morning but had not reported to John A. Lonsdorf, district attorney at 2 o'clock. They were to spend several hours making a thorough investigation in order to determine whether the slaying was accidental. Uecker is survived by his parents and four brothers. No funeral arrangements had been made Tuesday.

Obituary:
DECIDE UECKER TOOK HIS LIFE WITH REVOLVER Plain Case of Suicide, Say Officials-Search for Gun Is Futile Ernest Uecker, 22-year-old farmer who was found dead at his home at North Cicero Tuesday morning, met his death by suicide in the opinion of Dr. H. E. Ellsworth, coroner, and Stanley Staidl, assistant district at- torney, who spent two days investi- gating the case. The theory of a stray bullet is an impossible one, they say. No inquest is to be called for the present, Dr. Ellsworth says, because he is satisfied it will reveal no more than what is evident already, that the youth met death by his own hand. The only element of mystery remain- ing in the case is the absence of the revolver the young man took with him Sunday and is alleged to have used. It could not be found during a diligent search and Mrs. Emil Uecker, mother of the decedent, and her two sons, steadfastly deny they took pos- session of it and hid it. BLOOD IN GRANARY Although the body of the young man was found lying halfway be- tween the barn and the house by his mother and brothers, it is the belief of the investigating officials that, he went into the granary to discharge the revolver. A splash of blood was found there but no gun could be lo- cated. "We are positive no stray bullet fired from the neighboring woods by a hunter could have killed Uecker," said Dr. Ellsworth. "The bullet never was fired from a rifle in the first place. A gun was discharged close to the body, because there was plenty of evidence of powder burns. It was further ascertained by the two officials that Uecker's revolver kept in his bedroom at the George Schuh farm, on Freedom-rd near Ap- pleton, was removed when he left there Sunday morning to go to his home. He was working at the farm. If was seen there Saturday by Mrs. Schuh while working in his room. A mem- ber of the Schuh family located a car- tridge of the kind which Uecker had with his gun. It corresponded to the bullet removed from the body during a post-mortem examination. HEALTH WAS POOR The coroner believes the young man took the gun with him to his home and that he used it to take his life. It was revealed in questioning the family that Uecker had been troubled with headaches and that a tonsillar opera- tion failed to relieve. them. He also complained of a stomach ailment. His mother told officials he had remarked at one time recently, "What is the use of living anyway?" He had acted somewhat despondently at times, it was said. "Either the mother and two sons who were at the farm Tuesday morn- ing when this happened are trying to keep the suicide a secret to avoid the unpleasantness of it," said Dr. Ells- worth, "or the gun was thrown some- where by Uecker and it can't be locat- ed. There isn't the least doubt that it is a case of suicide, however, and an inquest can't develop any more than we know right now.
APPLETON POST-CRESCENT, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29,1925, FRONT PAGE