FOUR GUNSHOTS - The Engelke Tragedy
|
Death certificates. They're a mine of information for the genealogist, even if the information isn't always as accurate or as complete as one would like.
The section citing cause of death can always evoke some sort of emotional response. Resignation, confirmation, sadness, shock or horror are all waiting on the written words following the phrase, "The Cause of Death Is As Follows". In the early days of death certificates, medical inexperience or ignorance is evident when ailments such as "brain fever" or "exhaustion" is cited. Often, in the case of suicides, the early doctors were kind to the family, and would write "accidental gunshot to the head" on the certificate. Some, not so kind, would state the cause of death in bald facts; "alcoholic", "insanity"...no polite euphemisms there. It was the cause of death, baldly written by a doctor in 1912, that began this research. The words "Shot by Robert Engelke" shocked the reader of Agnes Bartholomae Engelke's death certificate. Such a horrifying deed, done at such a time and in such a place, would surely have sent shock waves through the close-knit communities of Guadalupe County, Texas. Close on the heels of shock followed wonderment at the cause of such a deed, and what became of her children. The facts and information that follow are a result of satisfying that wonderment. |
|
Agnes Bartholomae was the oldest daughter and second oldest of the five children of Louis and Ida Bartholomae. Louis was a first-generation American, born of German immigrant parents, who married Ida Rose Bremer in 1874. Together the couple produced five known children: Herman, Agnes, Edgar, Matilda and Carolina. The family was typical of that time; Louis was a farmer and Ida a housewife. The boys would have helped their father in the field, and the girls would have learned the arts of keeping up the home from their mother.
On 02 September 1899, at the age of 23, Agnes married Robert Engelke, the son of Ferdinand and Johanna Glenewinkel Engelke. The couple settled down to farming near Kingsbury in Guadalupe County, Texas and started to raise a family, beginning with Paul (born 1900) and followed by Bertha (1902), Laura (1904), Robert, Jr. (1905), Agnes (1908) and Gustav (1910). The marriage was not a tranquil one, and in 1912, Agnes took her children, left Robert, and filed for divorce. She moved in with her sister, Carolena (Mrs. Frank) Boring. What happened next is best described by the newspaper articles. |
|
Seguin, Texas, Nov. 8. —Surrounded by their six small children, Robert Engelke shot his wife here today and then shot himself, dying instantly. The woman died soon after. The Engelkes lived near Kingsbury but the wife and children were on a visit to the former's sister here. Mrs. Engelke had entered suit for divorce. After the shooting the bodies lay about six feet apart in the front yard. Victoria Daily Advocate, 11 Nov 1912 |
|
A tragedy that was appalling to the entire community occurred Friday about 11:45 a.m., when Mr. Robert Engelke shot his wife and then himself, at the residence of Mr. Frank Boren. Mr. Engelke's death was almost instantaneous; his wife died in a few hours. The couple lived near Kingsbury and had not been getting along well together for some time. Mrs. Engelke came to Seguin with her children and went to the home of her sister, Mrs. Frank Boren*. She entered suit for a divorce, and on Friday Mr. Engelke came to town and going to see her, tried to get her to return to him. This she refused to do, and as he pulled out a pistol, she ran from him and jumped off the gallery; he followed and fired at her three times, only one shot taking effect, that striking the back of the left ear and entering the head. After she fell, he turned the pistol on himself, and shot one time, the bullet going through the back of his head just above the ear, killing him instantly. Medical assistance was summoned for the wife, but she was never conscious and died about two hours later. They were buried Saturday afternoon in Riverside cemetery. Mr. Engelke, who was 37 years of age, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Engelke and is survived by his parents, and several brothers and sisters. Mrs. Engelke was thirty six years of age. She was Miss Agnes Bartholomae, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bartholomae and is survived by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. Six children, the oldest not yet thirteen and the youngest a baby of eighteen months survive their parents and are being cared for by relatives. Mr. Bartholomae was in the coast country and could not be notified in time to attend his daughter's funeral. To the parents, children, and other relatives, we offer sincere sympathy. Seguin Gazette, 15 Nov 1912 (Transcriber's note: Last name should be Boring) |
|
|
|
Return to Guadalupe County