Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, January 5, 1890
pg. 1

HUNG HIMSELF
Gus Rosenbaum Take His Life With a Bed Sheet

Quite a ripple of excitement was created on lower Main street New Year's morning by the finding of the dead body of a Hebrew peddler named Gus Rosenbaum, hanging by the neck in one of the rooms over the Buckhorn saloon, the unfortunate man having evidently committed suicide. The facts of interest in the case, so far as obtainable, are these:
The deceased appeared in the city the latter part of the week before last and secured quarters at the Buckhorn, rooming above the saloon and taking his meals at the lunch counter. He carried a pack and was in the habit of starting out early each morning and returning about supper time. He is also said to have carried a large bottle along with his pack and to have been in the habit of applying himself to it with more assiduity than discretion. Tuesday afternoon he did not go out but hung around the stove looking despondent and apprehensive. He stated to several parties during the day that the butchers and shoemakers had it in for him and would probably "do for him" before very long and gave the general impression by his conduct that he was struggling with a case of delirium tremens.
About 4 o'clock New Year's morning he asked to retire and was shown to his room, No. 4, up stairs. After being left alone he evidently left his room and proceeding to room No. 6 took the sheet off the bed. This he tore in two length wise and making a rope of it fastened one end in a noose around his neck. He then got upon a chair. and passing the other end of the improvised rope over the door jam, fastened it also around his neck and kicking the chair from beneath him proceeded to meet death by slow strangulation.
About 7 a.m. he was found by the night cook in the lunch counter, who happened to go up stairs to fill an order for some other lodger, and Coroner Cook was sent for. The judge viewed the remains, took such evidence as was obtainable and returned a verdict of suicide.
The remains were taken charge of by the Hebrew Society and decently interred in the Hebrew cemetery.

Dallas Morning News
January 2, 1890

Denison, Tex., Jan. 1 - A Hebrew peddler named Gus Rozenburg committed suicide this morning at the Buckhorn saloon by hanging himself with a sheet. About 4 o'clock this morning he said he wished to retire and was conducted to his room, No. 4, in the second story of the building. That was the last seen of him alive. He went from his room to No. 6, in which room there was a double bed.
He removed a sheet, which he knotted, and then tied one end to his neck, while the other end was passed over the door and also secured to his neck. He then stepped from a chair, the rope tightened and strangulation was the result.
Death must have been very slow, as the feet of the dead man touched the floor and his body was yet warm when discovered at 7 o'clock this morning.
Judge Cook conducted the coroner's inquest and rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
The suicide was seen in the Missouri, Kansas and Texas yard at the Main street crossing several times yesterday and he came near being crushed by cars several times, seeming anxious for such a result.
No other reason for the suicide is known than that the man had been on a protracted spree and was as a result all broken up and despondent.
Several of the Hebrew citizens have taken charge of the remains and his personal effects.