COMMITS SUICIDE

Word was received in Blair on Thursday of last week to the effect that Hans H. Stammerjohann, a former Blair and Kennard resident, but then residing at Battle Creek, this state, had committed suicide at Norfolk. It seems that Stammerjohann had lately shown signs of insanity, occasioned by being struck on the head some time ago, and that he was being held in the Norfolk jail awaiting his removal to the state insane asylum. His guards had remained with him until 4 o’clock Friday morning and as everything seemed to be all right, they left him alone. Upon their return at 7 o’clock they were confronted with the sight of the man hanging suspended from the roof of his cell, having hanged himself with his suspenders, and from the fact that his knees were touching the floor it was evident that he was determined to take his life.

The dead man has lived on a farm near Battle Creek for some time and has a family of several children. He was a member in good standing of the Modern Woodmen and Saturday, O. Gilbertson of this city went to Norfolk for identification purposes that there would be no trouble in the family collecting the $2000 which he carried. The body was buried at Battle Creek.

# 2 - - from The Pilot, October 4, 1911

Hans H. Stammerjohann, a former Blair resident committed suicide up at Battle Creek, Neb., last Thursday night, and Oscar Gilbertson, local clerk of the Modern Woodmen camp, went up there to identify him as a member of Trapbois Camp. He was hurt on the head while he lived here and had become mentally unbalanced. They had taken him to the city jail and were to take him to the asylum next day. When they went for him the next morning they found he had hung himself with his suspenders. He had been a member of Blair camp for about 18 years and carried a $2000 policy. He was about 60 years of age and leaves a wife and several children.