GERRITSEN

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 05:27:44 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, December 30, 1920
Page 5

Tomales Boy Commits Suicide

An account of a tragedy to a Tomales boy, son of a well known family there, was printed in a San Francisco paper Tuesday. The story is as follows.

“Koendert Gerritsen, son of A. Gerritsen, Tomales rancher, ended his life here tonight in the Shasta hotel, 314 Kearney street, by sending a bullet through his brain. Gerritsen had a few minutes before firing the fatal shot, called up his brother, W. F. Gerritsen at the Y.M.C.A. quarters telling him to come at once to his room.

“Arriving at the hotel, the brother found the door bolted and looking through the transom, witnessed a grewsome sight. Seated in a chair with blood flowing from the wound was the lifeless body of his brother. The coroner was notified and the body removed to the morgue.

“Young Garritsen was a native of Tomales, aged 18 years. He had been paralyzed and crippled, one leg being powerless. Brooding over his condition, caused the act it is alleged. Gerritsen is a member of a prominent Tomales family.”

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Thursday, January 6, 1921
Page 5

Tomales Boy Writes Farewell Letter

The hopeless condition of mind due to brooding over his physical affliction before he took his own life last week, as published at the time in the “Journal,” is revealed in a letter written by Koendert Gerritsen, a Tomales boy, to his parents, immediately before he fire[d] the fatal shot.

The letter follows:

“Dear Folks and Friends:
“I guess I haven’t enough nerve to face this world and life, so am cutting it short.
“No one is the cause of it but myself. I haven’t done anything wrong or to be ashamed of. I am sorry for you folks, but I think it is the best. I am the black sheep of the family, so please don’t worry. It is a rotten way to show my appreciation for what you have done for me, especially ma and pa.
“One minute I feel like not doing it. But I am going through with it now.
“Tonight I went to two shows and had a good time. I had a swell feed. Now I ravel (sic) for a while or sleep for good.
“If there is any hereafter let’s hope we don’t meet, for I know that I am going below.
“This is not the result of one happening, but of many little things and discouragements. It would have happened long ago, but didn’t have the gun when I wanted it. I got one a week before Christmas, but waited because I didn’t want to spoil your holidays. Please forgive me. Goodby mama and papa and brother and Justina. May God bless you after this has blown over.”

The boy, who was paralyzed, was stopping at a San Francisco hotel. He telephoned his brother, who arrived to find the boy dead. Koendert was 18 years of age.