St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-07
MYSTERY OF HIS LIFE.

Strange Story of Prof Burstal,
Who Committed Suicide.
Milwaukee Special Chicago Herald.
The tragic ending of one of the most
remarkable lives by the suicide of L.
Burstall has revived interest in q curl
GUS case. Probably the most satisfact-
ory explanation of the mystery OF the
early life of the strange and erudlte
man is his declaration to very intimate
friend in Milwaukee, made in converSa-
ton a few years ago, that he is natural
son of the late Emperor William, and
that his mother was an actress who found
favor in the monarch'S eyes. Burstall's
body was found in ravine on the lake
front near North Point by crew
of graders this morning. Upon his body,
were found numerous letters, some OF
which bore dates nearly year old, ad-
dressed to friends and covering nearly
every topic, jOcular and philosophical.
The one addressed to the coroner, which
was explanatory OF the mans life, was
AS follows:
81 believe that these first lines adj
dressed to you will be the last ones.
Farewell! AS your Office will bring
you in contact with my corpse, as am
afraid of peing buried only half dead.
solicit that some physician may in some
way experiment with it by electricity
or by cutting fingers, or that it may en-
tirely be given up for dissection. My
body is very strong and may resist, as
it has resisted many events and
enduran ces. 1t is not necessary to
write any letters about me, as
have no friends outside OF
Milwaukee. My friends in Europe are
already informed of what may happen,
and will, by certain person mere, De
telegraphed to when the decease occurs.
AS nobody in America has known me In
Europe, and as some people have given
me some funny information about my
origin, there is no need to take the peo-
Pile into my confidence. 1t may suffice
to say that since my thirteenth year
forty-one years agO-l was tired OF life,
and merely a spectator. My kind wishes
for Mr.. OFT, who has always been
friend to me. I found here many real
friends among Americans and Germans,
among former pupils of mine. highly re-
spected men and generous friends. Inc
only regret that OppreSseS me is that L
am not lucky enough to be able to re-
ward them for their kindness"
Burstall's history since he arrived in
this country when about Is years of age
has been series of varying honors and
humiIiationS. He was II years OF age
and fellow-student and traveller with
Alexander Won Humboldt. the eminent
linguists and most cultured men In
America. He talked fuently in En-
glish, German, French, Spanish, ltal-
ian. and gave instructions in all as we'll
as Greek and Latin. For many years
he was teacher of French and German
in the Milwaukee High school, and held
positions as instructor in the German
and English academy. He served
with distinction in the Mexican
war, and was present as a Union
officer when Lee surrendered at Ap-
pomattox. That the name of Burstall
was an assumed one is beyond question.
He has always borne it during his resi-
dence of twenty-three years or more in
Milwaukee, but is said to have been
soldier under different title. An IN
comprehensive passion caused the de-
ceased to lose his positions OF honor and
profit one after another. In 1878 his
| friends secured for him the appoint
ment of postmaster at Cedarburg, and
he published small German paper
there called the Union. Ten years ago
he came back to his former home
with Mrs. Shreve. kindly Ger
man lady who keeps a boarding
house on Oneida street. whom he
| acknowledges and thanks as having
| been a mother to him in his last years.
| During that decade he has done little
| as private tutor, but has devoted most
| of his time to study of chemistry and
| various inventions, and has often been
| in position to need the charity which
| Mrs. Shreve has invariably extended in
| free rent and board.
Almost up to the time of his death
Burstall carried on correspondence with
eminent men in London, Berlin and
! Paris, and frequently gave intimate
| friends evidence of having some time
stood high in London literary and
| scientific circles. He was veritable
| book worm and for years haunted the
book stores of the city. The person to
| whom he confded his parentage does
| not wish his name mentioned, because
| he is a prominent business man and de-
sires to avoid notoriety and the possible
bad business policy of repeating the
| story in Milwaukee, but there can be
no question that the almost always retl-
| cent Burstall made the claim of being
son of the great kaiser. The old gem
| tleman was small in stature and slight
| in build, but was unusually strong and
| wiry. One of his eecentricities was
| never to sleep in bed. During his
| long residence with Mrs. Shreve, Prof.
| Burstall always took his rest in a chair.
When his body was taken to the morgue
| it was found that he had shot himself
| through the head, and death must have
! been instantaneous.