Wayne Farmer Takes Own Life
 
Herman Damme Dies at Farm Southeast of Here Monday From Self-Inflicted Shot
 
Was Living Alone
 
Deceased Leaves Note Explaining That No One Is Responsible For His Act
 
Herman Damme who lived alone on a farm three miles south and one-half mile east of Wayne, died Monday morning about 9 o'clock from a self-inflicted shot through the head. When the report of the gun was heard, Carl Damme, brother of deceased who lives with his parents about three-fourths of a mile from the Herman Damme home, was the first to go there. Roy and Albert Hendrikson of Fort Pierre, S. D., nephews of Carl Damme, accompanied him. Otto Flege, neighbor, also went to the scene. The body of Mr. Damme was lying outside the door of his home. A twelve-gauge single barrel shotgun was in his hand and he was also holding a stick with which he had pulled the trigger.
 
Fred S. Berry, county attorney, and William Beckenhauer, undertaker, were called immediately. They reached the premises about 9:45 and found that nothing had been disturbed. Lying on the table in the house they found a note, written by Mr. Damme, saying that no one was to blame for the act except himself. The note stated that everyone had been very kind to deceased. In the message Mr. Damme expressed regret for what he was about to do and stated that he not know what had come over him.
 
No inquest was held as suicide was evident. The body was taken to the Beckenhauer parlors, where the funeral service will be held Friday afternoon at one o'clock with Rev. H. A. Tekhaus in charge. The casket will be open at the parlors until 1:30 Friday. Service will follow at the Evangelical Lutheran church. Interment will be made in Greenwood cemetery. Mr. Damme gathered with relatives at the Ed Damme home Sunday for a reunion in honor of Mrs. Ed Damme's birthday anniversary. He seemed well and was apparently in very cheerful frame of mind. He showed no signs of worry. No one knows what prompted the act as Mr. Damme had never been heard to express any thought of the deed.
 
Mr. Damme was born in Wayne county February 23, 1895. He was aged 31 years, 5 months and 17 days. He grew to manhood here and served eleven months in the U.S. Army in the World war. He had been on the farm southeast of Wayne for the past five years. Deceased is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Damme of near Wayne, and the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Hans Hendrickson of work Pierre, S. D..,Mrs. Harry Suehl of Winside, Mrs. William Schroeder of Norfolk, Ed Damme of near Wayne, John and Fred Damme of Winside, Will Damme of Cheyenne county, and Albert, Ben and Carl Damme who are at home with their parents. Mr. Damme was an ambitious and successful young farmer and he had many friends who will extend sympathy to the family in their bereavement.

Source: The Wayne Herald, 12 Aug 1926, Pg. 1, Col. 6.