Private Rites Held for Fred Tuerk, Jr.

Private funeral services were held for San Marino turfman Frederic R. Tuerk, Jr.  Tuerk died Friday afternoon, July 21, 1961 at Huntington Memorial Hospital less than 10 minutes after police said he slashed his throat with a sliver of broken glass.  The County Coroner's office listed the death as "a probable suicide."

Tuerk was owner of the horse, Port of Mecca, scratched from Saturday's $147,800 Hollywood Juvenile Championship at Hollywood Park because of its owners death.

Pasadena Star-News, July 24, 1961

************

Horseman's Strange Suicide to Be Probed

A coroner's examination was pending this week in the strange suicide of San Marino horseman Fred R. Tuerk, Jr., 27.

Tuerk, who detectives said had been a psychiatric patient, was the owner of the horse, Port of Mecca, scratched from last week's seventh race at Hollywood Park because of the owner's death the day before.  The horse was to have been ridden by Johnny Longden in the $147,800 Hollywood Juvenile Championship.

It was learned yesterday that Tuerk had suddenly run out of a doctor's office and tried unsuccessfully to dive under the wheels of a moving car.  Then he ran to a service station at 2255 Huntington Drive and smashed his head through a plate glass window.  Police said Tuerk grabbed a piece of broken glass and cut his throat.  According to police reports, Tuerk pulled a bone from the hole in his throat and wrote in his own blood the word "commie" on the wall of the service station.  Tuerk was dead less than 10 minutes after his arrival at Huntington Memorial Hospital.  Officers had to subdue Tuerk in order to get him to the hospital.

Funeral services are pending.

Pasadena Star-News, July 27, 1961