Obit: Fricke, Adolph (1843 - 1895)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: FRICKE LABUDDE

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 09/12/1895

Fricke, Adolph (1843 - 6 SEP 1895)

Adolph Fricke was run over and horribly mangled by a west bound freight train, about a mile west of Abbotsford, Wis., last Friday night at 9:45. Such was the report brought to this city (Colby, Clark Co., Wis.) early Saturday morning.

Adolph went to Abbotsford Friday evening on the 6:48 train, somewhat under the influence of liquor, was seen about that village in the same condition and the general surmise was that he had either fallen or laid down on the track, but those best acquainted with him and his habits began to investigate and could not find that he had been drinking after his arrival there, and knew that he was not enough under the influence of liquor to cause him to lie down in any place at all dangerous, therefore suspected foul play.

Justice Aug. Meyers empanelled a jury and they accompanied by Dr. D. R. Freeman, proceeded to view the remains where, in the left shoulder, over the lower portion of the shoulder blade, was discovered a hole made, apparently by a bullet of a 38 or 40 caliber size, which examination showed had cut its way through the thin portion of the shoulder blade. Justice Meyers ordered a post-mortem examination, which was made by Dr. Freeman, assisted by Sam J. Shafer.

The examination developed the fact that a hold, of irregular shape, about five-eighths of an inch in diameter, was cut through the shoulder blade, but beyond that the body was so horribly mangled that all trace of the ball was lost, though a hole found through the heart, that might have been made by a bullet or by one of the broken ribs, was discovered. The hemorrhage had been wholly internal, notwithstanding one arm had been cut off near the shoulder and one leg above the knee. Nearly every bone in the trunk of the body had been broken and the flesh, with the exception of the left shoulder, terribly mangled.

After taking the testimony of the train crew that ran over him the inquest adjourned until Monday afternoon and the district attorney notified and requested to conduct the inquiry.

District Attorney Jacques arrived on the scene Monday afternoon and a very rigid inquiry was conducted lasting until Tuesday afternoon, when the jury returned a verdict find that, "deceased came to his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by some person or persons, to us unknown, who then placed the body on the railroad track for mutilation."

Adolph Fricke was born in Germany in 1843; came to this country and Wisconsin in 1868 or 69; was married to Anna LaBudde in 1871; his wife died seven years ago leaving no children; He came to this place a little more than a year ago and purchased the hotel and saloon property of H. Mihlke, and ran the business one year, when he rented the property to Theo. LaBudde who has run it since.

Adolph was an honest upright man who would wrong no one; was genial and pleasant in his quiet way and made many friends. It was known to many that he nearly always had sums of money on his person, ranging from $100 to $500, and sometimes more, though he never made any boast of having money but rather appeared to wish to avoid notoriety on that subject.

The surviving relatives, so far as we can learn, are one brother, Erhard Fricke, of the town of Hull, Marathon Co., Wis., and two half brothers in Germany.

The funeral occurred at the St. John’s Evangelical Church, Sunday, and the remains interred in Colby Cemetery, Rev. C. C. Hartenstein officiating.