Joseph Schertler
Kentucky Post, Monday, 16 October 1905, page 5
CLEANING THE WEAPON
Joseph Schertler, 51, a butcher living at Fourth av. and Boone st.
Dayton, accidentally killed himself Saturday night while cleaning a shotgun that
belonged to his son. Schertler was preparing to go on a hunting trip. The report
of the gun brought a young daughter to the room and a fearful sight met her
gaze. Schertler lay on the floor, the whole left side of his face blown away,
the eyes torn out and nearly the entire skull gone. Death was instantaneous.
Coroner Higgins found the victim's cap on the top of the cupboard. He pronounced the tragedy the most horrible sight he had ever witnessed. At first the supposition of suicide was entertained, but the Coroner thinks that the barrel of the gun was too long to have been used for that purpose. It is thought that Schertler did not know the gun was loaded. The Coroner today pronounced the shooting accidental.
Schertler had not been able to attend to business for the past three years having been injured in an accident while driving along Taylor Bottoms. He leg was fractured and he was confined to his room for nearly a year. The deceased leaves a widow and six children. Mrs. Schertler was not permitted to view the body until the undertaker had prepared it for burial.
The condition of the empty shell would indicate that it had been in the gun for some time. Schertler at one time was attacked on Vine st. where he then conducted a meat market. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning with services from St Francis Church. Rev Griefenkamp officiating. The interment will be in St Mary Cemetery.