A Man Burns Himself to Death.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 329, 27 April 1881, Page 2

A Man Burns Himself to Death.

One of the most shocking suicides which has ever taken place occurred at New York on March 2nd, at the extensive greenhouse of Mr. Louis Schmutz, at Flatbush. The victim was a young man named Phillip Truschel, a nephew of Mr. Schmutz, and employed by him in light work around the greenhouse. Truschel, in a cool and deliberate manner, opened the grate of the furnace, crushed his head, one of his arms, and as much of his body as possible into it, and burned himself to death. There was a strong fire in the furnace at the time the horrible act was committed, and when a fellow-workman discovered the body of the suicide the head and neck and one of the arms were almost burned off. Truschel was only eighteen years of age, and had been in the country twelve months, during which time he had been with his uncle at Flatbush. He was quiet and steady in his habits, and read considerably. He was subject to frequent fits of despondency, and on many occasions had threatened to commit suicide by shooting himself. As he had never, however, made any attempt on his own life, his uncle supposed he was fooling, and never gave the matter much attention. The young man was always treated kindly by his uncle’s family, and whatever wishes he might express were gratified. He was very retiring in his disposition, and no credence is given to the rumor that it was a disappointment in love which led him to take his own life. That the act was deliberate was apparent from the fact that he left a note behind him, written in German, on the back of a business card. The note was as follows: —“Flatbush, March 1, 1881. Good-bye to all. And if anyone is tired of life, as I am, he need only do as I am about to do.— Philip Truschel.”