The evening world., 1894-02-05
POISON ENDS RUINED LIFE.
Once Wealthy New York Business
Man Dead in Chicago.
Rathergcrbcr Sacrificed Wife and
Fortune for Drink.
rBy Associated press.)

~ 10
CHICAGO, Feb. 5.-Lying at the Coun-
ty Morgue are the remains OF a man
whose history probably has few par
allels for profligacy and pathos. His
name was Robert R%athgerber, form
erly of prominence in New York. but
lately n homeless, penniless outcast.
Yesterday, to end a miserable existence,
he took poison, and last night died at
the County Hospital.
The clerk at the sherman House was
surprised to see standing before him a
ragged man whose lines of dissipation
could scarcely conceal his refined coun-
tenance.
Il want a place to rest said the
stranger. Il .haye taken poison and I
am going to die"
Al ambulance was hastily called, and
the man was taken to the County Hos
pitai,, where. he sank into insensibility
and died. Rathgerber's mother resides
at 3045 Groveland avenue. She is ninety.
at nearly $1,000, 900. A brother-in-iaw
h lives on. Cottage Grove avenue is
rated at. nearly the same sum. The
,ather OF the dead man. who died only
three years ago. was repnted one of the
richest men in the city, having made a
fortune in the real estate business.
Robert ~Rathgerber himself was once a
e %}!s'H IN New . Y9,R large IL had SSSi a hsnd 1"'s5,
wife and a bright son. An unquench-
able thirst for liquor. IL is said, led him
to neglect his wife and business. until
and the latter went to ruin. From that
time until his death Robert appears to
have livel Cor drink alone.
which is Of Hebrew origin. occupied a
high social position in Berlin said ar
acquaintance of the dead mar last
night. 1T was wealthy, and It y said
ISOLATION with the Rothschilds in f1nan-
cial and social matters. Then the father
concluded to come to America to in
crease his already large fortune. He
then moved to Chicago, and engaged In
the real-estate business with great sue
cess.
he started a wholesale tobacco house In
| New York. His business brought him
immense returns.
AT the age of twenty-five he went back
to Berlin to marry a wman of equal for
tune and great beauty. Two years after
the marriage, a son was born. He assoc
ciated with the upper class of fast young
fellows in New York. and in two or
and financially. His father in Chicago
supported him until he became a burden.
and then cast him off. His wife, heart
broken. took her young child and re-
turned to her parents In Berlin.
"A bankrupt and a wreck. Rathgerber
came to Chicago, and was supported by
his family until three years ago. Then
he hired out as Il common house ~janitor.
which business he had followed at irregu-
lar intervals ever since. A week ago
he called on his mother and begged for
assistance. He was, given a considerable
sum OF money and a god watch and
chain.
Might before last he visited her again
and his besotted appearance told how he
had spent the money. He again asked
for money. but was refused. Then he
turned and said that the beginning of his
end had come. He bade them farewell
and left"
His wife and child. who are still ir
Berlin, will be notified by cable of his
death: His relatives have made arrange,
ments to bury him.