The evening world., 1890-07-01
He HATED THE STAGE.
COrnettiSt Kothlsr, Of the Casino
Orchestra, a Suicide
Blew Out His Brains In Front Of
the Lawn Tennis Club.
Debts and a Death in His Family
Overturned His Mind.

Henry Koehler. second cornettist in the
Casino orchestra and well known in New
York theatrical and musical circles. COM
mitted suicide in a most dramatic manner
soon after midnight this morning.
lie had said he hated the painted faces
on the stage"
After walking the public street for over
AL hour bordering his troubles he put a pis-
tol to his head and ired, the wound proving
fatal.
koehler was a bis. fne.lookinR man OF
forty-ive and had been a member Of the
Casino orchestra since its formation.
lie had got into debt. and this, with the
recent loss of q child. caused him to act
strangely Of late.
hoehler mad been seen walking up and
down the block between Seventh and Eighth
avenues since a quarter Of an hour before
IL o'clock last night.
People who sat out on their stoops near
Seventh avenue to get the fresh Air saw him
pass and repAss, nov with hesitatinR step.
and again with a quick, nervous stride as
II urged on bv some mAddening thought.
He carried q little pasteboard box in his
hand.
In front OF the Lawn-Tennis Club he
halted at last. stood thinking a moment.
then apparently making up his mind, with
an impatient shrug of the shoulders opened
the box. took from it 4 new Ranger - re-
volver. put the muzzle to his head and fred.
He fell at the shot and did not stir once.
The report of the pistol had not died away
before the PROSTATE man was surrounded by
an excited throng.
AnnnU flnae whn had eoan hin, aboot xrnNa
~. j. Miller. of a12 West Torty.first street;
George Coles. of G15 West Forty first street.
and Charles L. Bosch. who lives at 4
West Forty-sixth street.
Policeman Taggart lad also heard the
shot and ran up from his beat. He called
all ambulance from Roosevelt Hospital. bu,
before it rolled through the hospital gates il
carried a corpse.
Policemen and doctors who are familiar
with suicides, when casting about for 4
cause of the self-murier. search the dead
mans pockets first. This ones were empty.
The mouth-piece OF q cornet, a plug of
tobacco. ana n membership card OF the
Goethe Hahn Council 1lS. American Legion
OF Horror. were found, but no money, The
card bore the name of Henry Eoehler. 20
East One Hundred aud Twenty-frst street.
4 letter was also found addressed q III.
Kayser,. Brighton Beach Hotel Orchestra.
Coney Island" The letter was mailed by
the hospital people.
The revolver he rad evidently bought for
the express purpose of shooting himself.
perhtps with the last none he had, The
box IN which he carried II Was evidently the
original package.
The DO 1y OF the suicide was sent TO the
Morgue to-day.
At 10 East Ore Hundred and Twerty-frst
street Mrs. koehler knew nothing Of the
tragic death OF her husband until an EvEN-
lNG WORLD reporter went there at IL
Then her grief was pitiful indeed. When
she Gained down she told the reporter some
thing ct her huiband. ,,,.
our children died last December. and since
then Henry was not in his right mind.
OF the pa" month be has actually been
out OF his head. He had come to hate tue
stage. he wUald sit down and write in
coherent sentences on Taner every day. |
have saved them and will show them to
Mrs Koehler brought ont the paper. and
painted faces Is worth TO die.
Mrs. hoehIer explained that he bad q hor-
ror OF actresses and the stage, and that the
painted ballet girls he had been used 10 see
every night disguised him.
Anotie r paper, showing that he bad con-
templa;ed suicide, had the following written
The children should go to Germany.
mamma. II possible send him to an indus
trial schoo. earlier or later. / am a good
man. always lave beeu."
Hans is the eldest Of the three children.
he is eight Years old. Michel is six and Elsie
four " Ars Ole.
Another scrap Of PAPER said: PLEASE do
not lei IL 9 children go on the stage
The only reason that Mrs huehler could
give for her husbands act was that be must
have been crazy ana that his debts and other
IN imaginary troubles drove him 10 il.
Mrs. koehleT said yley had ALWAYS lived
mp TO : month ago when he seemed
Ia change |