Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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DELL H. GRAVES

Elgin, Illinois


Body of Elgin Jeweler, with Throat Cut and Wrists Bound, Found at St. Charles, Ill.

St. Charles, Ill., March 12.—The body of Dell H. Graves, said to be a jeweler of Elgin, Ill., was found with the throat cut and wrists slashed to-day in a cornfield two miles east of town. Failure of the police to find a weapon near the death spot led them to a murder theory.

Graves has been missing since Tuesday evening, when he vanished mysteriously. Fred Strict, a farmer boy, found the body hidden away in the field.

In the dead man’s pockets was found a roll of bills, and his jewelry was in place. From the condition of the body it was believed by the police that it had been there since Tuesday night.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th March 1914

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AMERICAN SILVER Co.

Bristol, Connecticut


An employe of the American Silver Co., Bristol, Conn., was severely burned at the plant of the company Wednesday afternoon by hot tar, the burn extending from the wrist to the elbow of his right arm. A physician was called to the factory, but the patient was not sent to the hospital.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th March 1914

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CHARLES R.L. MAXWELL

Lancaster, Pennsylvania


Charles R. L. Maxwell, who a few weeks ago went west to prospect for a location for a shop, was badly injured on Nov. 26 in alighting from a street car and being hit and knocked down by a passing team. An arm was broken and a severe scalp wound sustained.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 4th December 1912

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FRANK E. RIDGEWAY

Kansas City


Frank E. Ridgeway, Kansas City, Mo., Commits Suicide

Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 19.—Frank E. Ridgeway, owner of a jewelry establishment at 604 Southwest Boulevard, committed suicide at his residence at 4640 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, Kans., recently by swallowing potassium cyanide. Financial troubles were said to be back of the young jeweler’s self-destruction. His liabilities are small and the business will be continued.

Ridgeway was 28 years old and was married. His wife found a note on a table in his room reading: "I have taken three capsules of potassium cyanide. I hope I die. I am unfit to cope with the difficulties of life." The body was found in a small shed in the rear of his home.

Ridgeway had been in business only for about six months. He was a graduate of the Stuhl Institute of Engraving and Watchmaking, of Kansas City, and was a finished workman, according to A. C. Stuhl, head of the school.

Besides a widow, two children survive the deceased. E. R. Brown, his brother-in- law, who has been connected with the jewelry establishment of R. L. Lee, Kansas City, Kans., will continue the business.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 24th December 1913

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NORA HEMERDING

Cincinnati


Last Wednesday, Nora Hemerding, head polisher at Ed. Croninger’s, was hit by a motor cycle and badly hurt. She was returning to work when the accident happened.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 24th December 1913

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HARRY MICHAELS

Cincinnati


Harry Michaels, age 25, jeweler, 933 Central Ave., was resuscitated at the General Hospital, Sunday, after being looked upon as dead. Mr. Michaels took poison and had all the appearances of a dead man when removed to the General Hospital. Dr. Samuel Seltz, receiving physician at the hospital, etected a slight movement of the heart and called four other members of the resident staff at the hospital, who worked with a pulmotor and finally succeeded in bringing Mr. Michaels around. Artificial respiration and every means of resuscitation were employed by the physicians, and the patient made such a remarkable recovery that he was able to leave the institution unattended. Physicians declared it to be one of the rarest cases of its kind in local medical circles.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th April 1925

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OSCAR F. STURMER

Easton, Maryland


Oscar F. Sturmer, Easton, came to his death suddenly some weeks ago by accidentally falling from a train crossing into the Susquehanna river. The verdict of the coroner’s jury was accidental drowning, the body being recovered some hours after the accident. His estate will pass to his sister in Chicago and his brother, Ernest D. Sturmer who is at present conducting the business as administrator for the estate.

Source: The Keystone - June 1908

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ADOLPH ENGEL

Chicago


Adolph Engel, a German jeweler, 35 years of age, committed suicide on April 7th, by cutting his throat with a razor at his home 271 North Wells street. The deceased leaves five children. No reason is assigned for the suicide.

Source: Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - May 1888

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ALFRED A. JANICKE

New York


Alfred A. Janicke, a young man recently in the employ of G. Armeny, committed suicide early last month. He entered Mr. Armeny's employ on the 1st of August, and before long, as alleged, Mr. Armeny discovered him to be dishonest, having taken goods to the amount of $500. Before Mr. Armeny had him arrested, however, Janicke secured employment for short periods with several other firms, who have also reported nothing good of him. Mr. Armeny, when he became positive of Janicke’s having robbed him, secured a warrant for his arrest, and, when the detective was taking him up the stairs in police headquarters to appear before the inspector, Janicke drew a pistol out of his pocket and shot himself through the right temple. His death was instantaneous. It was supposed that he did the act in consequence of his alleged crime, but his family report that the whole cause of the suicide was domestic troubles. This latter explanation seems to be corroborated by the fact that several letters he had in his pocket, written before his arrest, were worded as if he intended committing suicide at that time.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - November 1887

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C.E. SMITH

North Attleboro, Massachusetts


The death of Mr. C. E. Smith, of North Attleboro, Mass., early last month, aroused considerable sympathy among eastern manufacturers especially, and also among his many friends in the town of his residence. His death was caused by severe internal injuries, sustained while driving an unmanageable horse about two weeks before his death. In attempting to check the reckless plunging of the animal, Mr. Smith was thrown from his carriage, and, after some days of considerable suffering, he was obliged to take to his bed. He was born at Jamaica Plains, in Massachusetts, on January 2, 1828, and when a lad of about twenty, started on his long career in the jewelry business, learning the trade with Henry Robinson, a jeweler, of Old Town. In 1877 the present firm of C. E. Smith & Co. was formed, out of the old firm of S. S. Ginnido & Co., of which Mr. Smith had been the agent. Mr. Smith was widely known in business, social and Masonic circles. In all local affairs in the Attleboros he was prominent more as a worker than as a figure head, and his charities were numerous. His funeral was largely attended, and, to make the event more memorable, the shops in Attleboro were closed on that day and all business stopped.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - December 1887

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J. ROY GARSTMAN

Chicago


J. Roy Garstman, city salesman for the Gorham Manufacturing Company, met with a most painful accident at his home one evening last week. Mr. Garstman had repaired to the back porch of his apartment to clean his gloves. Having finished the job, he went indoors, and in reaching to turn on the electric light he did not notice that the gas jet right under was burning low. In an instant his right arm was on fire. When he used his left hand to put it out it also was instantly in a blaze. Before Mr. Garstman could put out the blaze from the gasoline, both of his arms, from his wrists to his elbows, were badly burned and have proved most painful since the accident. At last accounts Mr. Garstman was doing well under the circumstances, but it will be several weeks before he will be able to take up his work again.

Source: The Keystone - May 1906

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SOL. E. BRODKEY

Omaha, Nebraska


Sol. E. Brodkey, Omaha Jeweler and Pawnbroker, Commits Suicide

Omaha, Nebr., Oct. 20.—Sol E. Brodkey, jeweler and pawnbroker at 14th and Douglas Sts., took his own life last Wednesday by drinking an ounce of carbolic acid. Brodkey went home at noon, walked up-stairs, drank the poison and returned down-stairs to tell his wife what he had done. The wife immediately called two doctors, but their efforts were futile, as Mr. Brodkey failed to rally and passed away shortly after 3 o'clock.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 27th October 1915

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CHARLES BECKWITH

Boston, Massachusetts


Charles Beckwith accidently fell down an elevator well last week, receiving a broken shoulder bone, a broken arm and three ribs. Picked up in an unconscious condition Mr. Beckwith was rushed to the city hospital, where he was placed upon the dangerous list. According to those who saw the accident the well was without a guard. The well was on Washington St., and apparently had descended with a load of freight. Mr. Beckwith fell a dozen feet, landing head first.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th November 1924

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HARRY JANOWITZ

New York


Harry Janowitz, a jeweler at 12 E. 125th St., is at his store again after having been confined to his home for five weeks as a result of an accidental pistol shot which lodged in his right leg.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 24th April 1912

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HAROLD L. WERTHEIMER

Philadelphia


Harold L. Wertheimer, at one time connected with the trade, committed suicide in the St. James hotel here by shooting. He was a veteran of the World War and the suicide is laid by those who knew him best to the effects of shell shock suffered in France where he served in the ambulance corps and was cited for the Croix de Guerre for bravery under fire while rescuing wounded. He was found dead in his room at the hotel. He had seated himself in front of a large mirror, placed: the revolver to his head and sent a bullet into his brain. Mr. Wertheimer, who had a large circle of friends, was only 26 years old and lived with his uncles, Moses and Simon in Oak Lane, a suburb.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd December 1925

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C. W. BOLLINGER

Oskaloosa, Iowa


C. W. BOLLINGER KILLED

Leading Jeweler and Music Dealer of Oskaloosa, Ia., Fatally Injured in Fall from Step Ladder

Oskaloosa, Ia. Nov. 29.—C. W. Bollinger, Oskaloosa’s leading jeweler and music dealer, died on Tuesday morning at 1:30 at the Mahaska Hospital, this city, as a result of injuries received from a 16-foot fall from a step ladder, upon which he was working in the rear of his store on Monday evening. Mrs. Bollinger and Mrs. D. Lewis, who were also working in the store, heard a crash, but thought nothing serious. A trip to the rear of the store brought Mrs. Bollinger upon her husband lying prostrate on the floor at the foot of the ladder. Mr. Bollinger had fallen from a 16-foot ladder while putting some holiday goods on a shelf. Dr. Jarvis was called and an ambulance summoned and the injured man rushed to the Mahaska Hospital, where he died at 1:30 Tuesday morning.

It is believed by the hospital authorities that Mr. Bollinger fainted while on the ladder and this was the cause of his fall. At the time of his death Mr. Bollinger was 58 years of age.

The Bollinger jewelry store and music house is one of Oskaloosa’s pioneer establishments and the oldest in its line in town. Mr. Bollinger entered the jewelry business here about 31 years ago, establishing a small stand in a downtown shop window. Later the business expanded and Mr. Bollinger opened up in the room where he was located for about 23 years. Several years ago Mr. Bollinger purchased the two-story business structure at 217 High Ave. W., establishing his store on the first floor and in the room of the second floor, and making the front suite of rooms of the second floor his living apartments. Here business continued to grow, and this Summer the frame structure which formed the rear half of the property was torn down, and a model three-story brick building was erected, joining the two-story brick structure in front. The new building was completed but a short time ago, and Mr. Bollinger had hardly become settled in his new quarters when death came.

The deceased is survived by a wife and two sons, Charles and Ralph Bollinger. The older son, Charles Bollinger, has long been connected with the establishment, and upon his shoulders will fall a large part of the management of the business. Ralph Bollinger is a clerk in the local post-office.
Mr. Bollinger had been a resident of Iowa all his life and of Mahaska county 34 years. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., Elks, Eagles, and M. W. of A. Funeral services were held today, at 2 o’clock, at Cheesman Funeral Home. Interment was in Forest cemetery.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th December 1917

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MARY F. POND

Providence, Rhode Island


Mrs. Mary F. Pond, for several years employed as an engraver at the plant of the Theodore W. Foster & Bro. Co., was knocked down and instantly killed by an automobile on Broad St., near Potter Ave., last Sunday night. She was crossing Broad St. to go to her home after a visit to the home of her mother, when she was struck by the machine and almost instantly killed. Her husband died about three years ago.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 5th December 1917

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A.M. COOK

Hattiesburg, Mississippi


A. M. Cook, Hattiesburg, Miss., Falls Through a Skylight and Dies from Injuries.

NEW ORLEANS, La., March 26.—Considerable regret 1s expressed in this city over the death of A. M. Cook, well-known Hattiesburg, Miss., jeweler, who was well known to the local trade. Mr. Cook fell through the skylight of the First National bank of Commerce, in Hattiesburg, a distance of 30 feet, on Tuesday afternoon, March 23, and died from his injuries the following day in the South Mississippi Infirmary at Hattiesburg.

Mr. Cook went into the tower of the bank building to repair a clock. He lost his balance and fell through the skylight. He was picked up unconscious.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon, and the interment was in the City Cemetery under the direction of the Masonic fraternity. The jewelry company, of which Mr. Cook was the head, was one of the largest in that section of the south. The only surviving relative of the dead jeweler is an eight-year-old daughter. His business is held closed until legal action is taken in behalf of the minor child.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 31st March 1915

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