Man Blows Off Head with Shotgun, Temporarily Insane

Waupaca, Wisconsin, 1912

BLOWS HEAD OFF WITH A SHOT GUN

George B. Rhodes Suicides While Temporarily Insane

RELATIVES ARE SUMMONED

Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Sweet, 227 North Main Street, Called to Waupaca by News of Sad Tragedy.

Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Sweet, 227 North Main street, were called to Waupaca Monday by the suicide of their son-in-law, George B. Rhodes, who took his life early in the morning by blowing the top of his head off with a shotgun.

According to a message received from Waupaca this morning, Rhodes, who has been employed as a sexton at the Riverside cemetery there for several years has been despondent of late and it was the verdict of the coroner's jury that he took his life while suffering from a fit of temporary insanity induced by despondency.

Sunday afternoon Rhodes dug a grave in the cemetery. Monday morning he arose at 5 o'clock, without arousing other members of the family, lighted the fire in the kitchen of his home and then left the house. Shortly after 6 o'clock his body was found back of an outbuilding.

Physicians who examined the body testified at the inquest that Rhodes placed the mouth of the muzzle of the gun against the back of his head and reached around to pull the trigger. The top of the head was literally blown off. The shot gun that was used had been left at the house by a friend.

Rhodes was formerly engaged in the barber business. He leaves his wife and two children. According to Waupaca dispatch he was confined in an asylum years ago because of mental disturbance, but was released later and pronounced cured.

Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes were visitors in Fond du Lac on several occasions.

—The Daily Commonwealth, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, December 17, 1912, page 5.


RETURN FROM FUNERAL.

Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Sweet and Roy and Clifford Sweet have returned from Waupaca where they attended the funeral of George B. Rhodes, who committed suicide in that city ten days ago. The funeral was also attended by Eugene Sweet, of Berlin; Ross Sweet, of Rhinelander; John Rhodes, of Rhinelander; and Mrs. James McCallister, of Hancock, Wis.

—The Daily Commonwealth, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, December 24, 1912, page 1.

Note: A couple mistakes in the headline fixed, not called to WAUPUN, and not M. B. Sweet.

Here's George B. Rhodes' cemetery information: Lakeside Memorial Park, Waupaca, Wisconsin. Lot #529-L, Space 2, born 1863, died 1913, age 50. [They say 1913, but it would appear he died in 1912.]