Frederick Wilhelm Geister (1858 - 1892)

Born 10 Mar 1858 in Stockwell, South Australia

Ancestors

Died 5 Sep 1892 at age 34 in , South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ian Mitchell [send private message]

Biography

Frederick was born in 1858. He was the son of Johann Geister.

A MAN KILLED WITH A BEER BOTTLE.

The Murderer Committed for Trial.

[By Telegraph.]

Eudunda, November 16.

Mr, John Lort, a settler in the hundred or Bundey, some miles north-east of Eudunda, came by his death in a sensational manner on Saturday evening about sundown.

An inquest on the body was held on. Sunday by Mr. Nicholas Westphalen of Robertstown and the evidence disclosed that the deceased had been brutally assaulted by Benjamin Watts, a local sheep farmer. Lort, Watts, and a man named Geister were drinking together, and they all indulged to excess in whisky and lager beer. Suddenly an altercation arose between Lort and Watts, and the latter threw two bottles at the deceased. One of them struck him on the head, causing terrible injuries, and while he was lying in a perfectly helpless condition Watts seized a broom-handle, with which he beat, the unfortunate man to death. Geister states that he was unable to prevent Watts from completing his fiendish. work as he was mad from the effects of drink.

The jury brought in a verdict of murder and Watts was committed for trial at the next Criminal Sittings.

Very great excitement has been caused by the tragedy, as all the parties connected there with were well known in the neighborhood.

He passed away in 1892 - apparently by accident.

W. Geister, the chief witness in the Bundey homicide case, has met with a sad end.^[1]

There are many references to his unusual death in the papers at the time.

STRANGE FATALITY AT BUNDEY. — On Tuesday evening we received the following telegraphic message from our Eudunda correspondent: — "It is rumoured that Mr. Geister, who was connected with the Bundey homicide case, has shot himself at or near Robertstown. Mounted-constable Queale has gone out." Enquiries of the police resulted in a confirmation of this statement, the message from M.C. Queale being to the effect that William Geister, farmer, of Bundey, had been found shot in the scrub, where he was cutting wood. He was working alone at the time. It is supposed that the affair was accidental. The clothes of the dead man were burnt off him.^[2]

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT AT BUNDEY.

[From our Eudunda correspondent.]

A fatal accident happened to Mr. Wilhelm Geister, aged 35 years, farmer, Hundred of Bundey, on Monday afternoon at about 5 o'clock. It appears from the evidence produced at the inquest, held on Tuesday, by Mr. Westphalen, J.P., of Robertstown, and a jury of six men, of whom Mr. Edward Gertig was foreman, that Mr. Geister went out on his farm to cut down wood and took his gun with him, as usual, to shoot vermin. His son, aged 10 years, was out with him until about 4 p.m., when he went home, leaving his father at his work. About dark, as Mr. Geister did not return home, a Mr. Schmuker and Mr. Gregurke went out to look for him and found him dead with his clothes almost burnt off. The gun was lying, at his feet, the full charge of which had gone under the right rib. The body, gun, axe, &c., were left lying where they were found until the police from Eudunda arrived. It appears from the evidence that deceased left his gun lying across the stump of a tree and in taking hold of it by the barrel it went off. The jury returned the following verdict—"That deceased, Friedrich Wilhelm Geister, came to his death by the accidental discharge of his gun, while in the act of drawing it across the stump where the gun was lying." Deceased leaves a wife and four children, the oldest being ten years of age. Much sympathy is expressed for the widow and orphans, and also for his aged parents, brothers, and sisters, who have always borne an excellent character, and have resided in this district for the past twenty years. The deceased has also borne a good character, and has been considered a quiet inoffensive man. He has left his family in fairly good circumstances. The accident happened about 25 chains from Geister's house. M. C. Treloar conducted the enquiry.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Crumbs. (1892, September 7). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206513901
2. ↑ CORRESPONDENCE. (1892, September 7). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206513866
3. ↑ FATAL GUN ACCIDENT AT BUNDEY. (1892, September 9). Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 - 1951), p. 3. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108362301

• Source: S557607146 Repository: #R550443397 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=108040383&pid=93
• Repository: R550443397 Ancestry.com
• FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR EUDUNDA. (1892, September 7). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), p. 6. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25336637
• The Register. ADELAIDE: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7, 1892. (1892, September 7). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 5. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48533664