DEATH BY THE PISTOL

Christian Gabler Kills Himself at 10:30 Friday Morning - A Horrible Affair

Chris Gabler, proprietor of the European Hotel of this city, shot himself dead at about 10:30 o’clock Friday morning. The weapon used was a 38 caliber revolver, which he placed to his forehead, the ball penetrating the brain, making a ghastly wound, and the surroundings were of the most horrible description. News of the deed had spread all over the city, and hundreds congregated at the scene to learn particulars and to see the remains. It was a sight that no one would care to look upon a second time. The deed of self-murder was committed in a room adjoining the sitting room upstairs in the hotel. Just a moment before he had bid goodbye to his family; though nothing unusual was thought of the proceedings, as Jake informs us he had gone through this formally before, and it is evident that excitement and the cares of the hotel had worried him for sometime, as no other cause can be assigned for the deed, though of this we shall at this time make no further address. After leaving his children he passed into the room, and a moment afterwards the report of a pistol was heard. Rushing into the room they found him spread out with a ghastly bullet hole in his forehead. He must have stood up before the looking glass, which was spattered with blood, and he appears to have had his photograph in his hand, as it lay nearby. He left a note with simply the words “Good-bye”, and the date and signature. He was about fifty years old and has lived here two years and a half. Physicians were at once sent for, though of course it was too late for any aid.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #205436851