The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-06
A PRUSSIAN'S SUICIDE.
KoERsTEIN ENDS A BAD CAREER.
A German Forger, Ordered to BE Extra
dlted, Takes Cyanide of Potassium on
the Eve OF His Departure,
% and Dies.
[Chlonpn 1,rihnne.l 1

LChicago Tribune.l
Herman Koerstein, German thirty.
eight years old, committed suicide at the
County Jail yesterday by taking poison.
He was fugitive from Germany, where
he had committed the crimes of forgery
and embezzlement while in the employ as
Secretary Of Government railway at
Bromberg, Prussia. His extradition was
demanded, and Judge Blodgett decided to
deliver him up to the German authorities.
Yesterday Detective +. B. Clark, Of Pink
erton's Agency, called at the Jail for the
purpose Of starting with the prisoner on
his journey to Europe. Jailor Folz Or
dered Deputy John Connell to bring Koer-
stein from his cell, which was No. 20 on
the second tier. In the meantime Clerk
Price got the discharge papers in readi-
ness. The officer was about to take his
man into custody when he noticed dead.
ly pallor overspread his face, and with a
cry Of pain he fell heavily to the ground.
Jailor Folz had suspected that Koerstein
would probably attempt suicide, and the
idea that his surmise was correct
Immediately flashed upon him. DIR.
Krost, the Assistant County Ply
sician, was hastily summoned, and
superficial examination satisfied him
that the man had poisoned him.
self, and thai his end was near Mt hand.
This was at quarter past three o'clock,
and at a few minutes after four all signs
of life had fed. The poison he took was
cyanide.of potassium, a most violent drug,
which Immediately took effect in tho vital
parts. Every effort was made to save the
man, but all remedies proved of no avail.
A portion of the poison was still remain.
ing and was discovered in the dead prs.
oner's clothing. There is no doubt that he
made careful preparations to commit the
act. He arranged all his belongings, tied
them up carefully, and left directions for
their disposal. In his cell was found a
letter in German, written in a fine hand.
The envelope bore the words:
"My last wish, which hope will be re-
spected." The contents Of the epistle were
as follows:
My extradltion has been ordered, but Ia
Germany, where i had to su0er so much bit
terness and woe, j shall not return. ] remain
here, and prefer death TO dlshonor. The Lord
closed letters 81 at to once SC IL. RoERsrEIS. s gaH ~
P;s.-The cyanide of potassium l brought
with me. X.
The two letters were addressed TO HIS
three children and Mrs. Schwan, at No.
6l4JS North Clark street. The latter has
the custody OF the children, and he asks
them and h Ter to love and respect his men,
ory. He hoped for forgiveness in the next
world. The poison, he writes, he always
carried with him. The Jail officials thought
he bought 1t while being taken to and from
court, but, in the absence Of other testi.
mony, Korstein's posthumous statement
must be taken for the truth. Among his
effects was found Lutheran hymn.book
addressed to Mrs. Hulda Hahn, No. 19C
Polk street. On the wrapper was written:
"open before delivery" The first page
on the inside was covered with an inscrip-
tion, also in German. Translated it was
as follows:
This book was sent 10 me this day, Jan. 49,
1854, In package OF washing.
HUI.DA HAHs; Thou darest TO send me
this book-thou who hast mortgaged thy SOU
TO the Devil. Where thou mayest travel OF
dwelleth soul foul and vile. Thou hast not
only made me unhappy, but orphaned nv
children. To many families thou hast been q
veritable Satan. Curses on you. Wander
restless Till lightning strikos you dead:
KoERsrEIN.
Mrs. Hahn was found at her home by a
Iribune reporter last evening. She was
Informed Of the parting curse dedicated to
her without explanation In such strange
manner by the deceased. She said she
was the sister-in.law OF Koerstein. He left
his home and family suddenly last year
and came to the United States. After his
arrival he sent for his wife and his chill
dren whom he had by former marriage
Mrs. Koerstein refused TO leave home and
follow her husband TO a strange land, but
advised Mrs. Hahn to emigrate. She ar.
rived here three months ago with the chill
dren. Koerstein had borrowed two hundred
dollars from her, which she alleges he
squandered on q woman in Detroit. He
came back to Chicago and was arrested.
Subsequently he asked to see her at the
Jail and his eldest son, Theodore. They
gave him money, but he was very severe
in his language toward his offspring, whom
he accused OF acting traitorously by Civ.
ing the police information which led to his
arrest. This the lad denies. He is very
much grieved at his fathers suspicious,
which he claims were without foundation.
Mrs. Hahn further states that she Dor.
rowed thirty dollars from butcher named
Becker, on Blue Island avenue, 10 defray
the expenses Of Koerstein's trial. She is
now compelled TO work for Becker 10 pay
the debt she owes him. She denied posi-
lively that she had offended Koerstein in
any way that would cause him to curse
her, and said she did not care a snap Of
her finger for his curse. He was ungrate-
full to the last She had sent the hymn.
book to tho prisoner because he had made
request for something to read. She
thought hymn book would console him,
and he at the same time could seek moral
truths from IL. In conclusion, she reiter'
ated that the dead mans curse would not
affect her In the least.