| 12. | ZUCH, Charles H was born on 3 Jan 1891 in Germany (son of ZUCH, Carl and FOLESKA, Augusta); died on 18 Jun 1944 in Pekin, Town of Cambria, Niagara County, NY. Notes:
Niagara Gazette - 6/19/1944
A gun-crazed husband who shot lind seriously wounded
Sheriff Fred A. Bigalow at Pekin, N. Y., at 10:30 o'clock last
night when the sheriff went to arrest him for threatening his
estranged wife with a shotgun, committed suicide early today
by turning the gun on himself near the rear of the Pekin firehall.
The body, identified as that of
Charles Zuch. 53, North Tonawanda
war worker, was found at 7:30 this
morning near the edge of a small
woods. Part of the face and head
were blown away by the shotgun
blast.
A cordon of 18 deputies and nine
state troopers, headed by Undersheriff
Arthur Muisiner, Niagara
Falls, and Inspector E. O. Hageman,
of the state police, Batavia
barracks, heard the shot about ttto
hours earlier but were unable to locate
the body until daylight dispelled
a heavy fig which had blanketed
the area.
Sheriff Fights for Life.
Meanwhile Sheriff Bigalow, fight-
| Ing for his life with a shotgun
| charge which penetrated his right
side and injured his liver, lay in
I the Lockport City hospital, where
his condition is reported as fair. An
emergency operation was performed
early today at the hospital by three
physicians, including a Buffalo specialist,
and several blood transfusions
were given. *
After Zuch's body was viewed by
Dr. L. R. Hurlburt, Lockport coroner,
it was removed to the Pike
funeral home in Sanborn. N. Y.
Authorities said that Zuch formerly
operated a gasoline station
In Pekln and later was employed at
the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works
near Modcltown N Y Recently he
was employed by the Bison Ship-
building company. Tonawanda. according
to Undersheriff Mulslner.
Jail records show that he was
fined $100 and committed to the
Niagara county jail on March 28 of
this year at city court. North Tonawanda.
on a charge of driving an
automobile while Intoxicated.
Shot In Bam
About 10 o'clock last night Mrs.
Leona Zuch. wife of Mr. Zuch. from
whom he had been estranged, called
8herlff Bigalow at the Jail In Lockport
and reported that her husband
had come home and was threatening
her life with a shotgun.
Accompanied by Deputy Fred
Strauss, the sheriff drove to Pekin,
where Mrs. Zuch was waiting for
him. She said that her husband
had gone to the barn with the shotgun
and warned him to be careful.
The sheriff and deputy went to the
bam which was In darkness and
called for Zuch to come out. They
received no answer. Strauss started
up the stairs to the loft but the
sheriff called him back.
"Let me go first. I know him and
I think that he will come out with
me all right." the sheriff told
Strauss. -
Deputy Strauss said that the
sheriff had reached the top of the
stairs .And was about to enter the
loft when » gun roared and the
sheriff dropped, wounded, on the
stairs.
Walks Unaided fo Car
Ticklni nunself up, the sheriff
walked unaided to the car outside,
where wtt called for an ambulance
and assistance over the short wave
radio," said Deputy Straws.
"The sheriff refused to leave until
the undersheriff was notified. He
warned us to get the man but not to
take any chances."
Within a short time Understeriff
Muisiner. Criminal deputy Henry
Becker and other deputies were on
the scene. On order of the under-
sheriff, every available deputy was
summoned. State police offered
their asistance and the area was
quickly surrounded. Headquarters
was set up in Pekin firehall near the
Zuch home.
Neighbors told authorities that
they believed that Zuch was still in
the barn but demands that he come
out remained unanswered. While
deputies watched all exits, Deputy
Becker fired several tear gas shells
into the barn and house.
No one came out and after wait-
ing about an hour Undersheriff
Muisiner entered the building with
a gas mask obtained from the Niag-
ara Falls fire department. He was
accompanied by several deputies and
troopers, who made short explora-
tory trips into the barn and house
but were forced to leave soon be-
cause of the tear gas fumes.
A description of Zuch was broad-
cast with the warning that he was
heavily armed. all highways over a
wide area were patrolled but the fog
made visibility poor.
Body Found in Woods
Shortly before daylight deputies
in the vicinity of the Pekin Fire hall
heard a shot at the rear of the
building. As soon as daylight per-
mitted, a searching party set out
and started across the wet field
towards a small woods about a half
a mile away. As they entered the
woods they found Zuch lying dead
with the shotgun beside him.
"Apparently Zuch sneaked out of
the barn directly after shooting the
sheriff and hid in the ticket back
of the firehall or in the woods."
Undersheriff Muisiner said. "He
never could have lived in the gas-
filled building. Beside hisbody we
found a stove poker with which he
apparently tripped the trigger of
the shotgun after propping the butt
of the gun against an old stump and
putting the barrel against his head."
The undersheriff spoke highly of
the fine cooperation given to the
sheriff's department not only by
state police but also by the Pekin
firemen, the Niagara Falls fire department,
which furnished rubber
boots and other equipment, the
police of Niagara Falls. Lockport
and North Tonawanda and many
Pekin residents.
Popular Official
Sheriff Bigalow. son of Alanson
C. Bigalow, who died while serving
as sheriff of Niagara county 25 years
ago, has been sheriff for nearly
nine years.
He Is the first sheriff of the
county elected for a third term and
recently announced his candidacy
for re-election this fall. Prior to
his election as sheriff, he served six
years as supervisor from the town
of Wilson, where he engaged for
many years in the wholesale meat
business.
State police who assteted ln the
search included Inspector Hageman,
Corporal A. S. Horton and Corporal
George S. Wood, of Batavia.
N. Y.: Sergeant George H. Southworth,
of Lewlston. N. Y.: Sergeant
Harry Adams, of Gaines. N. Y.. and
Troopers Hlmmer, Lawrence. Peck
and Norsen.
Members of the sheriffs staff on
duty Included Undersheriff Muistner.
Criminal Deputy Becker. Roy
Foster. John Lach, Howard Underhlll.
Wlnfleld Mang. George Ray.
Raymond Dale. Melvin Shaver. Alfred
Haner. Victor Vandenbosch,
Robert Clifford. Robert Andrews.
Edward Bothwell. Charles Oaylord.
Edward Secord and Joseph Berassl
Charles married STRASSBURG, Leona E on 25 Nov 1920 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Leona (daughter of STRASSBURG, Albert Wilhelm Herman and PENSLIEN, Emma Auguste Helene) was born on 30 Jun 1901 in ND; died on 26 Jul 1998 in Tonawanda, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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