The story of the suicide of Agnes Minerva Zerfing of near Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania,was reported in local and area newspapers. Some of those stories follow here.
From the Pottsville Republican, 10 January 1938:
GRATZ WOMAN ENDS HER LIFE
Mrs. Agnes Minerva Zerfing, who resides on a farm near Gratz, was found hanging from a rafter in the barn by her daughter, Miss Mable Hartman, at noon, Sunday.
According to the story told by Miss Hartman to deputy Coroner George Wren of Williamstown, the other and daughter always attended church together on Sundays, but yesterday morning the mother said she would remain at home and attend to work about the house.
On the daughter’s return from services, she was surprised to find the work usually attended to by her mother untouched and no sign of her about the home. It was then that she began a search of the outer buildings and on entering the barn found her mother’s body.
Henry Buffington, a neighbor, cut down the body, but life was extinct. Dr. A. A. Horn of Gratz pronounced her dead and deputy Coroner Wren was notified. No inquest will be held.
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From the Mount Carmel Item, 11 January 1938:
GRATZ WOMAN ENDS OWN LIFE
Despondent since the death of her second husband several months ago, Mrs. Agnes Zerfing hung herself in the barn near her home at Gratz, Dauphin County.
A daughter, Mabel Hartman, returned from church, found the body hanging from a beam in the stable. A ladder stood nearby.
Deputy Coroner George Wren of Williamstown reported that Mrs. Zerfing had committed suicide.
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From the Pottsville Republican and Herald, 10 January 1938:
Gratz Woman Is Found Hanging in Barn
Mrs. Minerva Zerfing, residing on a farm near Gratz, was found hanging from a rafter in the barn of her daughter. The daughter, on her return from church services, was surprised to find that work usually attended to by her mother was untouched. She began a search of the outer buildings and on entering the barn found her mothers body.
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And, her obituary as published in the Lykens Standard, 14 January 1938:
MRS. AGNES M. ZERFING
Mrs. Agnes Minerva Zerfing, 56, a Gratz resident for many years, was found dead Sunday morning hanging from a beam in a stable adjoining her home according to George W. Wren, Deputy Coroner, of Williamstown. It is believed despondency since the death of her husband, Charles Zerfing, four months ago was responsible.
Mrs. Zerfing was born in Schuylkill County and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Phillips. Her first marriage was to Mr. Wilson Hartman, who preceded her in death twenty-nine years ago. Two children, Miss Mable Hartman, at home and Miss Ruth Zerfing, Harrisburg; four step-children, Harry Zerfing, Millersburg; Albert Zerfing, York; Miss Mary Zerfing, Williamsport; and Mrs. J. A. Dietrich, Harrisburg, survive. One sister and two brothers also survive.
Private funeral services were held from her late home in Gratz, Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with Rev. W. Z. Artz, pastor of the Lykens Valley Lutheran Charge, officiating. Burial was made in the Gratz Cemetery.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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