John Woessner
John Woessner
Born in
Wurtemberg, Germany
June 23, 1839
Died in
this city
Sept. 10, 1884
Aged 46 years,
2 mos. & 17 days
WOESSNER
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
1. Receipt from H.W. Berry, 1864
Provenance: Mrs. Willie Lee Biggio Jones and Rebecca Lee Jones
Provenance: Mrs. Willie Lee Biggio Jones and Rebecca Lee Jones
3. Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (December 22, 1999). Available on microfilm.
4. Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (August 2, 2000). Available on microfilm.
5. Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (August 15, 2003).
6. Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (January 2, 2008).
7. Photograph of John Woessner & Son business
Provenance: Corpus Christi Public Libraries
8. News item about death, 1884
DEATH OF JOHN WOESSNER
Our citizens were shocked and almost dumfounded last Wednesday afternoon upon hearing that John Woessner, a prominent merchant and banker of this city, had taken his own life. His act was sudden and unexpected. During the morning Mr. Woessner was in his office conversing with his son Walter. At 11 o'clock he left his bank and at 1 his body was found in his son's room in a building in the rear part of the lot, a bullet hole in his forehead and a Smith & Wesson 38 caliber pistol lying by his side. No cause was assigned.
Mr. Woessner was born in Wartumburg, Germany, in 1838, and came to Corpus Christi when quite a small lad, since which time he has been identified with the business interests of Western Texas.
For some months past the deceased has, at times, acted in a strange manner, and it is believed by many that he was not in his right mind or he would never have committed the late rash act.
To the bereaved family and the deceased's mother, brothers and sister the Caller extends its sympathies.
The following is the testimony given before the coroner's jury as well as the verdict:
Walter Woessner being duly sworn on oath, says — I am a son of the deceased. I saw my father about 11 o'clock this a.m. in the office. He was talking to me about the World's Exposition. At that time, and in fact all the morning, he seemed to be more cheerful than he had been for a week or two. He never uttered a word from which I could infer that he was troubled about any thing whatever. — About 11 o'clock this morning he got up from where he was sitting, went to the water bucket and got a drink. From there I did not notice what he did or where he went. I went in the office and began to write a letter. I knew he had left the office after getting the water but thought nothing of it till dinner time — one o'clock. He usually came in about that time to let me go to dinner. As he did not come, I thought that he might have gone to his mother's for dinner, which he had done before once or twice. I locked up the safe and went out to diner, and as usual after going to a meal, I went to my room and found the door closed without being locked. I pushed it open, saw the deceased's feet hanging over the bed, then saw the pistol in his hand laying off from his body towards the door, then saw his face which was bloody. As soon as I saw him in that condition I at once thought he was dead. From what I saw I supposed he had killed himself. I left the door open and walked back and told my mother about it. After I had closed up the front door of the store, my mother and myself walked back to the from where my father was. We opened the door and looked in for a moment or two then closed the door and I went over and told Mr. French about it, then came and told Judge Wm. J. Robertson. The pistol exhibited in court is the one he had in his hand. It is mine. I laid it on the top drawer of the bureau in my room last night. It was loaded at that time. Do not know whether deceased knew I had the pistol or not. It was in the place I usually keep it. Deceased seldom or never went in the room unless I was in there. Do not remember of having heard the report of the pistol. The pistol usually has four loads in it.
Fred M. Lege being duly sworn, said — About half past 12 o'clock to-day I heard a noise which seemed to me like a shot of a small pistol, and my wife asked me at the time what it was. I told her I tho't it was a window sash that fell, as I did not wish to frighten her. I in fact tho't it was a pistol. I thought the shot was in Walter Woessner's room or in the kitchen at John Woessner's. I am satisfied that it was in one of said places. My house is about one hundred and ten feet from said houses. There was nothing to obstruct the view from my house. I could see Walter's room from my window. I did not go to see what it was. I merely looked over and saw the cook in the kitchen, and paid no more attention to it, thinking that it might have been some boys.
I, Thos. J. Turpin, County Physician of Nueces county, Texas, being sworn, depose and say: That I have examined the body of the deceased, John Woesnner, and have heard the statements of the witnesses and from examination of the wound in his head I believe that deceased came to his death from a pistol wound in his head, and that he said wound was probably made by himself with suicidal intent, though it is possibly that it might have been accidental.
W. B. Wrather being duly sworn, deposes and says that he has known the deceased for about twenty-five years. For the last six or seven weeks I have noticed that he has been depressed about something. He is about forty-six years of age. I was not surprised at hearing of his death.
C. Cahill being duly sworn, deposes and says — I have noticed for the last two and a half months the deceased has been depressed, or what I call the blues. He seemed to be dull and silent — did not have much to say. He told me that he would like to borrow money. This was about two months ago.
Judge Jos. Fitzsimmons being duly sworn on oath, says — On the 5th of September, 1884, in the evening, deceased came to my office and asked me to write a deed for him to some land in Starr county; also, he asked me to write a deed from himself to his other for lots 3 and 4 in block 17, beach part of the city of Corpus Christi, saying he wished to secure her in a homestead — that he felt bad and did not know what might happen. I asked him what was the matter — that he did not look sick. He said no, but that business was dull, and Corpus Christi was going down and nothing doing, etc. I noticed he looked peculiar, and that he was despondent. He executed before me the deed to his mother, and also the deeds to the above lands.
Verdict of the Jury
We, the jury summoned to inquire into the cause, manner, time and circumstances of the death of John Woessner, do find that the deceased came to his death in the city of Corpus Christi on Sept. 10, 1884, between the hours of twelve and one o'clock p.m., from a pistol shot wound in his head; said pistol being held in his own hand and discharged by himself with suicidal intent.
G. W. Westervelt H. Keller
W. H. Daimwood C. C. Heath
C. Hirsch P. Hoffman
Wm. J. Robertson, J. P. P. No. 1, N. C., Acting Coroner
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, September. 1884
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales