Richland Co., Ohio

 
 

Obituaries

 
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John Woetzel

THE MANSFIELD HERALD:  22 January 1885, Vol. 35, No. 10

 
 
 

Submitted by Amy

 

On last Saturday night two tramps asked for permission to sleep in the lockup and upon their request being granted, with several others, they huddled themselves on benches close to the stove.  One of them had complained of being unwell, but nothing serious was though of it until about two o'clock Sunday morning one of them awoke and found his companion not breathing.  An investigation showed his tongue to be hanging out and the fellow dead.  From papers on his person it was learned that his name was John Wotzel, a telegraph operator, and a native of Limerick, Ireland.  From appearances he was about 27 years of age.  He had nothing of value in his possession, the extent of his exchequer being but one cent.  Among other letters of recommendation and applications for positions was found the following: 

POSTOFFICE TELEGRAPH
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Limerick, March 27, 1884

I know John Woetzel to be a telegraphist of ten years standing.  He has served in the postal department and in the local railway companies as an operator during that period.  He is practically acquainted with the several systems worked in the South of Ireland, including Morse, Sounder, Bell and Needle and is rated as a smart clerk.  He leaves this country to join friends in Cleveland, Ohio, in order to better is condition.  As one who knows him since his boyhood I wish him every success.

W.F. HUMPHRIES
Limerick District Inspector

P.S. -- Mr. Wotzel understands the German language.   -- W.F.H.

The body was taken to Faust & Wappner's furniture rooms and by them interred in the Mansfield Cemetery.  Justice of the Peace Patterson held an inquest over the body and found that death resulted from cause unknown.


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