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

CHICAGO, Feb. 5.-Lying at the Coun-
~ Morgue are the remains of a man
whose history probably has few par.
aliels for profigacy and pathos. His
name was Robert R~athgorber, form
erly of prominence in New York, but
lately a homeless, pennilcss 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.
81 want n place to rest" said the
stranger. II have taken poison and |
am going to die"
Al ambulance was hastily called, and
pital,, where he sank into insensihility
and died. Rathgerber's mother resides
at 30+j Groveland avenue. She is ninety
one G years old; aS an nd has prSpertS valued ID
who 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 reputeG one OF the
richest men in the city, having made a
fortune in the real estate business.
Robert Rathgerber himself was once a
ests in Mew Y Yi1h laT RE had s9si a hsnd In,ers
wife and a bright son. An unquench-
able thirst for liquor, II 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 lived Cor drink alone.
"Forty-tive years ago, the family,
which Is of Hebrew origin, occupied a
high social position in Berlin" said an
acquaintance of the dead man last
night. 1T was wealthy. and 1t is said
had political influence through its as
cial and social matters. Then the father
concluded to come to America to in
crease his already large fortune. lie
lived a few years In New York and
then moved to Chicago and engaged In
the real-estate business with great sue
cess.
when his son Robert became of age
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 aSSo-
Ciated with the upper class of fast young
fellows in New York. ana in two or
three years was n total wreck, mentally
and financially. His father In Chicago
supported him until he became a burden.
and then cast him of. His wife. heart
broken. took her young child and re-
turned to her parents in Berlin.
"A bankrupt and a wreck, ltathgerber
came 20 Chicago, n was supported by
his family until three years ago. Then
he hired out as a common house j%anitor
which business he had followed at irregu.
lar intervals ever since. \ week age
he called on his mother and begged for
assistance. He was given a considerable
sum of money and a gold 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, hut was refused. Then he
turned and said that the beginning Of his
end had come. He babe them farewell
and left
His wife and child, who are still ir
Berlin, will be notified by cable of his
death. His relatives ave made arrange
ments to bury him.