The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-02
NO SIGNS OF POISON
YET BAKER KLEINSCHMIDT APPAR-
EMILY COMMITTED SUICIDE.


Henry Kleinschmidt, for eight years the
proprietor of a bakery and creamery at No.
1872 Indiana avenue, died suddenly yester-
day afternoon at 1:90 o'clock, under sus-
picious circumstances. Though two half
filled phials, one labeled prussic acid and
the other morphine were found in places
in which he had been short time before
his death, Coroner Beck, who arrived with
in a short time, held that the outward ap-
pearance of the body did not show any
symptoms of poisoning.
The relatives and near friends of the
dead man have long thought that his mind
was affected. Three or four years ago he
disappeared from home and was gone sew
eral weeks. AT the end of the second week
his wife received a letter from him, stating
that he had been in New Orleans all the
while. He returned shortly after this, but
when asked why he went to New Orleans,
said he had a desire to see that city and
went for other purpose. He had no &C
Quaintances or friends living there as far
was known. About this time last year
Kleinschmidt disappeared from home Sec
ond time. He left home in the morning and
was gone several days. On the third day
his wife was told that he had been seen
wandering in the river bottoms near North
indianapolis. She asked the assistance of
Gustav Pink a grocer living next door, to
find him. He and a companion drove to the
fve-mile bridge over White river. Pink
secured the bottoms along the river towards
the city, while his companion drove to the
city. When near the Big Four bridge over
the river, Pink saw Kleinschmidt in the act
of drinking from a spring under the bridge.
He went up to him and had no difficulty in
inducing him to return home. Kleinschmidt
offered no explanation of his actions.
About six weeks ago he again disappeared
and was gone two weeks before he was
heard from. \ letter was received from
him by his wife stating that he was in
Lafayette. this State. The letter further
explained that he had walked the entire
distance to Lafayette, following the route
of the Big Four to Chicago. He said he
wished to return home but was out OF
money. Friends went to Lafayette and re-
turned with him TO this city. He refused
to give any reasons for his actions.
Kleinschmidt arose yesterday morning
and spent the morning in tending to mat
ters around the bakery and the creamery,
as he was accustomed to do every morn
ing. Along towards noon Mrs. Kleinschmidt
noticed. as she was preparing dinner, that
| he did not appear TO be well. She spoke to
| him about it, but he said ht feeling
| we'll as usual He went to the cellar for
| few moments before dinner was ready. A
| young girl, employed as help to Mrs Klein
| schmidt, was sent there also TO get some
| thing soon after Klenschmidt went there
| She found him with. small tumbler in his
| hand. In the tumbler was a liquid which
kleinschmidt was stirring with spoon
| The girl asked him TO give it to her, as
she was well acquainted with his peculiari-
ties. but he refused to and said: ''Well, if
| you take this from me, ii won't be a hard
| matter for me to get some more"
The fact that Kleinschmidt spoke about
the liquid being taken from him was very
suggestive to her. He drank the contents
| of the tumbler and the girl remained
| around where he was for short time to
see if the stuff had any effect on him. At
| ter waiting a few moments, she saw that
| he did not seem effected and left the cellar
to attend to. further duties. In short
| time kleinschmidt returned to the room
| above No. 1872, in which he lived, and found
his wife and the girl eating dinner. His
wife asked him to. sit down with them and
| eat. but he complained of being fatigued
| and said he would lie down on the lounge
| first. He went into room next to the
an IN 1 wah e w o and d the b girl
few moments. The girl told. Mrs. Klein-
| and Mrs Kleinschmidt at once became APP
prehensive and went into the room to look
chief over his face and she removed this
keinschmidt - who had been doing.
Sm himself he @ Wd ASKED Sesd h rc not Hs to s d
| he put the handkerchief on his face to
keep the flies from bothering him. Mrs
| Kleinschmidt returned to her dinner The
| girl went to the rear yard to get a bucket
of water, and while she. was gone Mrs
Other room. She hurried to the room and
jerked the handkerchief from her husbands
rond Mdy hs face Was sMeen an
flushed, and he was breathing with diff
Guilty; With q loud -. scream Mrs Klein,
the girl coming up the stairs With a bucket
of water She. told her that her husband
| was dying, and the girl summoned Gustav
| Pink, the grocer, living next door. Mr.. Pink
hurried to the room and found Klein
! thought that Kleinschmidt had only faint
ed, and he threw, the bucket of water
which the girl had obtained on his face.
The latter half rose to a sitting posture,
gave a gasp and fell back on the lounge
Coroner Beck and the police were noti-
fled. The coroner examined the body, but
say no signs that t. would o indicate that
labeled morphine that would hold sixty
grains when filled was found on shelf.
coroner was shown the fumbier, the con-
tents of which the girl had seen Klein
and there was nothing to show that it had
contained poison. After thorough search
small. nalt-nlled Vial, laDeleQ pruSSlc
acid was found in a hollow candy pig that
stood in the show window of the bakery.
Kleinschmidt had evidently bought this vial
and drug in Lafayette when in that city
several weeks ago, the vial bore the
mark of a druggist of that city. Coroner
Beck is undecided as to whether il is a
| case of suicide whether death was
caused by heart failure other natural
causes. He will give the matter a further
| close investigation to-day, and will probably
| hold an autopsy this morning.
| Kleinschmidt was born in Hanover, Ger
many, thirty-five years ago. He married
| his wife in that country and came to this
| country in 1872. He first obtained a stua-
| ton with Conduit q Co., wholesale gro,
| GERS on South Meridian street. Later he
| established a bakery on West Washing
ton street. Eight years ago he started
| the bakery and creamery at the above
| number He was a member of Koerner
| Lodge No. g. X. of p. and of Center Lodge
| of FreemasCns. he was formerly a knight