Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, February 7, 1892
pg. 3

DIED IN HIS ROOM
Henry Thiele, a Druggist of Lehigh, I.T.
Monday evening between 1 and 2 o'clock the body of a dead man was found in room No. 3, upstairs at the Bon Ton hotel and restaurant. The body was that of Henry Thiele, a druggist of Lehigh, and a partner of Dr. John A. Cobb, proprietor of B. K. S. medicines.
Mr. Thiele came to Denison Saturday night, and early Sunday morning called at the Bon Ton and asked for a room. No one was on duty except the night clerk, and the name "Henry Thiele" appears last on the register for Saturday's business. Monday morning the chambermaid found the door locked, and as no answer was given to repeated knocks the attention of the head clerk, McFadden, was called to the matter. The door was locked from the inside, but by looking through the open transom over the door the lower limbs of a man were seen on the bed which stood in the corner of the room to the left. A panel to the door was knocked out, the lock unbolted and the door opened. Theile was lying partially on his left side, the right hand lay across his breast, while the left arm was straight, with the hand clinched. His shoes were under the edge of the bed, his coat and hat were on a chair to the right, and at the further end of the room on a stand were a number of vials of sulphate of morphia and two empty whiskey flasks. Two of the morphia bottles were full, the seal to one not having been broken, while a third was about empty. A physician was immediately summoned, but his services, of course, were of no avail, as the man evidently had been dead several hours. Judge Hughes was notified, and, acting under his instructions, the body was turned over to Undertaker Lindsey, and the bottles and other personal effects were placed in the care of Constable Loving. In a coat pocket was found a letter from Dr. John A. Cobb; also a letter written in German, which, translated, reads as follows:
Dear Mr. Thiele - In reply to your letter of the 13th of November 1891, I have to inform you that owing to the decision of your brothers and sisters, I must decline to send you the funds you wish. In view of the experiences of the past year it is doubtful if your present wish can be fulfilled except in direct opposition to the will of your deceased parents. I regret exceedingly if this refusal brings you unpleasantness; nevertheless, even if it should, I cannot grant your request.
Cordially,
Hartwieg, Geheimrath.

A telegram was forwarded to Dr. Cobb at Lehigh and early Tuesday morning the doctor arrived. In conversation with a Gazetteer reporter he stated that on January 1, this year, he and Thiele began partnership in a drug business and the manufacture and sale of the B.K.S. medicines. Saturday he left Lehigh in a buggy for Atoka, where he left the team and came to Denison on the early morning passenger train. The doctor further stated that in his opinion the suicide, if such it may be called, was the result of disappointment. Thiele was expecting money from his father's estate in Germany, and he did not get it as soon as he expected. Some obligations were due, and no doubt this led to the untimely ending. He was a good man at heart, well educated and possessed unusually refined and gentlemanly feelings. He was 35 to 40 years of age. He came to the United States several years ago, spending a few months in New York city.
"I first met him," said the doctor, "in Sherman some time last year."
Tuesday the remains were interred in Oakwood cemetery.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, February 7, 1892
pg. 4

LOCAL CONDENSATIONS
Monday - J.M. Standifer states that he has been acquainted with Henry Thiele, the man found dead at the Bon Ton this morning, several months. Thiele is from a wealthy German family.

Tuesday - The remains of Henry Thiele were buried this evening at Oakwood. A number of friends from Sherman were present.

Mr. R.E. Krueger of Sherman was in the city Tuesday to attend the funeral of Henry Thiele, who suicided in the Bon Ton restaurant. Deceased had been in the employ of Mr. Krueger, and he was intimately acquainted with him and knew much of his history. All the funeral expenses were borne by Mr. Krueger, so the Gazetteer has been informed.