Surnames: BERKA

----Source: CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN & PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.) 04/07/1910

Berka, Michael (? - 2 Apr 1910)

A man named Michael Berka, who is said to have lived near Hatfield, swallowed poison at the county jail Saturday night, and in a few minutes was dead. He left a letter to the public in his pocket, saying that he was out of money and could find no work and had nothing to live for. He was about town during the day, went into John Simon’s saloon, called for a sheet of paper and wrote the letter found in his pocket, took a glass of beer and went out. Toward evening he was seen in a stupid condition in the south end of town and those seeing him supposed him to be drunk, called up the city marshal, who got a team and had him taken to jail. He was able to walk, but could give no intelligent account of himself. Soon after being lodged in jail he called for a cup and emptying the contents of a small bottle, supposed to contain strychnine into it, he swallowed the poison and died in a short time. His pockets contained a few old letters, a bottle of whiskey, but no money. He was buried in the potters field at the city cemetery Tuesday.