Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-04-20
A RABBI SEEKS DEATH.
REV. DR. DAVID srBRw SUICIDES M
swALL0wHNG LAUDAxUM.
The LAberal Rabbi Despondent and Con-
vinced That the World h Unjust, Ac-
comp1lshss His Purpose ~ tire scene
Of His Former WORK,

Rev. DE- David Stern, the celebrated Jew
ish rabbi and scholar, committed suicide at
the Wyoming Valley hotel, Wilkesbarre, on
Saturday, by taking laudanum. He ar
rived in the city unknown to his many
friends there at $50 Friday evening, was
driven direct TO the hotel and retired about 10
o'clock. Nothing moro was seen or heard
of him until 1:30 p. m. next day when
groans were heard coming from his room !;
his door was broken open and he was found
stretched on the bed in his underclothing,
unconscious and scarcely breathing.
On the table at the bedside were several
vials empty and smelling of opium. There
were also one or two letters and sheets Of
paper on the table, one Of the latter contain
Ing the following words: "ToOk poison at
1910; head clear at l0:l5."
Drs. Mayer, Crawford and Rippadd were
called In and the stomach pump and gal
vanic battery were used all through the
afternoon, but without satisfactory result
and at 9 p m. DIR Crawford pronounced the
case hopeless The UNCONSCIOUS man was
still breathing, but the respiration, which
was heavy and stertorous, was only 16
Two OF the papers found on the table
were intended for the public. One had been
tended killing himself in PhiladeIphia. II
was dated in that city, and was as follows:
wEAR1ED WITH THE WORLDS INJUSTICE.
"Having arrived at the deliberate conclu-
sion to end life which has been to me
source Of pain and turmoil, and not know
ing exactly what day will carry my pur-
pose into execution, I deem 1t right and wise
to write the following: My name is DIR.
stern aged about 81 place of birth, Manches-
ter, Eng; occupation, Jewish rabbi. There
are quite number of gentlemen who know
me in this city. MIR. ID. Klein, liz Market
street; Mr.. Herman Heller, on Arch and
others Under no circumstances shall any
rabbi or clergyman of any denomination
olnc1aiiy act al my grave. Whatever money
or gold jewelry is found on my person I
bequeath to the poor. The only reason that
have to give the world for my act is that
after struggle Of ten years have become
convinced that injustice and selfshness rule
the world, and that 1 possess neither strength
nor inclination to continue the struggle any
longer. am weary. tSignedl
"DR. DAVID STERN"
The other letter was as follows "Shouid
any religious ceremonies by friend of mine
take place, command that 1t shall consist of
reading the third chapter OF Ecclesiastes,
fythird chapter % Of isaiah%that i % AND noihins ~ i
else. My curses upon him who disobeys,
changes or modifies."
Another Of the letters was sealed, marked
private, and addressed to A. b. WE'LL, of
Vhn0SpatIc, w peISUiaii iIleHu " tilo tisDuis
HOW HE wauLp BE BuRrED.
On.a third slleet of paper was the follow.
Ing mo humbux; no white ragn Bury
me in tho best brcadclotf suit tbere II in the
room Lefme wssr my ring and gold sleeve
buttons, het the Ceret!rsy hoe as laid down
in the ctheS paperv dere oCcur some names
of PERSONS wiorr. h<e wished to ~ pail i-bearers
Ds. S$sra H1s man Of Unusual and bril-
lianA u}ental abilities and an advanced think
or. Din lfber.fity Of thought and speech
made him many enemies in Wilkesbarre
during his three years pastOrate of the jew
ish temple and eventually led to tho severing
OF the pastoral relations He resigned his
charge about three months ago, and since
then has been chiefly in New York lecturing
and waiting for a call from some congrega-
ton. He received none however. 1t Is sup
posed that this disappointment produced de-
spondency, and led to the commission of the
deed. He had no property, and, it is be-
lieved, died almost in want
Rabbi Stern's father wasa noted rabbi of
Manchester, England. He was born in Ger
many and his mother i'm Turkey. He has no
relatives in this country, but has an aunt in
ConstantinOple and other relatives in Man.
chester, England He has been in this cOun-
try about IL years, and has had charge of
congregations at Natchez, Miss. ;::Peoria, Ill,
and at places in West Virginia and Missis-
sippi. He was frequent contributor to the
columns of the New York Herald and other
leading papers.