The New York herald., 1879-09-15
SUICIDE OF A MESSENGER BOY.

sTEPMoTHERs HARSH TREATMENT SAID TO
HAVE PROMPTED THE AcT-FoUND HANGING
IN a DOORWAY.
Adolph Bernhardt. Jr.. aged eighteen years. having
had some disagreement with his stepmother, hanged
himself yesterday at No. 491 Broadway. where he
had been employed as messenger by the firm Of j.
Schneidenbach & Co.. manufacturers Of lace caps
and wors:ed goods. Mr.. Schneidenbach employs q
number OF girls in his establishments. His
store is the fourth floor and is
divided by wooden partition. tho girls
occupying the back and tho wares
being displayed in the 'front.' Having num-
Der of unfinished orders hand he notified few
of his employees. among whom was the deceased. to
be ut the store yesterday. The boy had received
special instructions to DO hand at half past
O'Clock A. NJ. but did not put in appearance until
haf-past nine. MIR Schneidenbach inquired why he
so late in arriving. and he answered that he
not to blame. then. bursting into hood of tears.
complained that his stepmother did not treat him
kindly He said that she wanted to turn himself and
his brother out Of DOORS What made him take this
cruel treatment to heart he said that his father
had consented to it. The youth said that his father
recommended that he and his brother should go to
board with their aunt. Mr.. Schneidenbach tried to
console the lad and spoke encouragingy to him. He
seemed to become cheerful. and went about his
grievances. When he found that he had disarmed
the suspicious Of his employer he went
to two young girls who work upon machines
and bade them goodby, telling them that
they would never see him again. The rest of the
story can better he told in Mr.. Schnedenbachs own
words:-"I knew that the boy was agitated and
cited and tried to soothe him. About two o'clock
in the rest Of the hands had gone away
and Twas about leaving for dinner. 1 said to Bern.
hardt that il he objected to going home dinner he
could 20 to a restaurant and dine at INV expense. l
hon n nrQa daQI n M ha w fha hoafu and
most faithful boy ever had. He made
some eyasive answer and gave him
employed until came back. lett the store at a
quarter after o'clock and returned at quarter
and raped loudly for admittance. but received no
answer. thought that the boy had gone to sleep
and went down stairs and procured key from the
man on the next floor. When / opened the door
the body hanging in the doorway of the par
titon which separates the front part OF the store
from the room.
where the girls are employed. He had hanged him.
self with leathern strap, which used carry
ing parcels. The body was quite cold and had evil
IDENTIFY been dead for considerable time, My first
impulse to cut 1t down. but seeing that life
extinct thought it best to first notify the police.
found Officer Hummel Of the Eighth precinct, and
he notified the station. The body was then cut
down and the Coroner was informed.
FATHERS GRIEF.
telegraphic despatch sent to the father of
the youth resides No. l33 East fifty secon nd
street. apprisine him of what had happened. When
lie reached the and the dead body OF his
boy he became almost delirious with grief. He had
to be restrained or he would have done himself
bodily injury. He was conducted hoaie In q
riage. subsequently Coroner woltman granted
order for the removal Of the body. and taken
To an undertakers at No. Ill East Third street.
Upon the person OF the deceased were found q
bunch of keys. 81 05 in money and scaled letter
addressed Dear fppa." From the state ot the body
when found 1t is evident that the suicide had lost
time in making preparations TO take his life upon
tho departure OF his employer from the store. His
first care seemed to be to write the letter and then
adjust the fatal moose. lie placed two chairs be-
meath and fastened his neck in the folds of the strap
and then lot his feet fall between the chairs. His
hands united aud the chairs were not dis
.urbed, which shows that he must have died with
out struggle.
His father. Adolph Bernhardt. is employed as fore
man cutter In the clothing store of l.. Sinsheimer
Nc. 426 broadway. 1t appears that the boy had frc
qucnty threatened to commit suicide, owing TO the
harsh treatment he had received from hts step
mother. He was by all accounts industrious.
we beha we'd m