The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-22
He FEARED Loss OF REASON.
G. 4. Kahn Ends His Life in Reservoir
Park With a Revolver.
He PREFERRED DEATH TO LUNACY
suffered sunstroke Some Years Ago anu
Warm Weather Affected HIS hihu'
Text ofthe Letters lie Left-Came I"
Richmond Two Months Ago.

Mr.. &. Is. nuhuiry' "h' Va
keepers in the Reservoir Park was soh"s
his rounds. he noticed man apparently
asleep on one Of the benches. something
q, the MANS appearance attracted MS at
tention. ana going up 10 him. he TOOK
hold of him TO awaken him, when, 10
his horror and surprise, he iound tnae
the man was dead \ second glance
| disclosed the fact that there was pistol
on the ground by the mans Side ana thiS
told the story Of another sad tragedy
Tho unfortunate mans vest and shirt
were omen. and on his left breast, Just
over his heart, was the cruel aiiidaWt oil
! he "smith and Wesson." Three small
| wounds. all within the space OF an men,
/ showed where the deadly bullets had
/ executed their mission, ana lauhcheu an
/ other soul into eternity
Mr.. Hundley at once gave the Alarm
| and Coroner Taylor was sent Tor. NheH
! he arrived he was accompanied ~
/ Times representative. From letters iouhu
| i'm the dead mans pocket, he was identiileu
ae O. A. Kahn. OF st. Paul, MINI. lie
came TO this city about two months aEo'
| and for the past month has had charge
! Of the millinery department In the hlOio
of the Fourqurean-Price Company.
SCENE or THE TRAGEDY.
The spot selected by the unfortunate
man to commit the last act OF MS me
was Oh a rising knoll, about two huhureu
| yards south of the Reservoir LAKE II
! was surrounded by beautiful shrubbery'
| ana owing to this fact, was very Sc
! cljded. When found, Mr.. hahh
| was seated upon one OF the faIA
! bencbes. and had his feet propped upon
| one another. His hat. new straw one,
| Law upon the bench beside him. Ills vest
| and shirt were open, concluslvely snow
| ing that in making his last earthly prepa-
| rations, Mr.. Kahn wished TO present INC
| 1esst reDulsive appearance when found
! pr Taylor made a very careful eXaml-
| rotiou Of the body. lie was Of the opin-
Ian that death had been instantaneous
| and that the man must have been dead
/ at least about two hours. In support ol
this theory on the part OF the coroner,
| Mr.. Hundley said that about o cloch
he had heard three faint pistol reVoI'S'
but had paid no attention 70 them at tho
time. ,.,.o-
ON Mr.. Kathn's person were found three
letters addressed, respectively, 10 ms
wife Mrs. Helen G.. Kahn, care OF the
Fourourcan-Price Company, 10 MI. T. IL.
smith of the Fourqurean-Price Company
and 10 Mr.. A. Cohen. No. tu5 east brodu
street. Besides the letters, there was
3, .g i'm change and one-dollar bllls; pam
gold watch: three purses Dunch on heyS'
q. pair OF Scissors and two prescrlp uohS,
The mans gauze undershlrl va V't N
| oned bv the powder-stains, showing lhat
he must have placed the pistol against
| bis bodv He was nicely dressed ID
dark coat and vest, and light trousers
1Us fnen was clean, and a blue Tie en-
c.rcled his collar.
Coroner TAYLOR had the body removed 10
| the almshOuse. to await MS luIlHci "i-
ders. No one around the park remem-
bered having seen the han until MS re-
mains were found
THE LETTERS.
After having had the body removed
| Coroner TAYLOR went 20 the store OF
the Foudurean-Pricc Company ana caliea
mon Mr. Smith. and after having ac-
quainted him with the lacts III tne cas-,
eave him the letter that was addressed
TO him. and also the one auuIe9Seu "
Mr. Kahn's wife.
,rbe letter written to Mr.. Smith was as
''''' April 21, 1896
Mr. +. IT, Smith:
| hear Sir.-As ! shall carry out my IN
tention Of leaving you for good' not car
ing what the circumstances may De- i
herewith take you by your WORD ana ac-
cent your offer OF managing my own al
fairs here. or rather Wlhdlhs tnon W
2 herewith declare you administrator
of NV affairs, requiring no bond ior the
| fulfllment Of your duties ,..
Tbanklng YOU for your many courtesles
! and kindnesses shown 10 me, remain
Yours truly,
G. A. KAHN.
p S-See TO my poor wife ana make
her go back 10 st. Paul, as that Is my
ntlnclpal reason; let her under no CON
diiion stay here. .,o,,.s IN
the store were greatly shocked "he"
thev learned what had happened.
Mr. ! Harvey Blair said Mr.. Kahr
nad had charge Of their millinery depart
,,,nt for about a month. His accounts
y,,re all straight. and that he was dolhB
| ricolv The firm had the utmost con
| odcnce iu him. lie was a genial ana al
r,l,le man. and every one in the store
v-as his friend. Mr.. Blair further stated
tbat Mr.. Kahn had left the store apout
| II o'clock yesterday morning, anu 'h1t
bo appeared TO be in good health ana
spirits ..o.o ,,,h., tho
.,,,,'io,.es were informed Of her husband s
death. but it was thought Des' no' ~
br,ak the news TO her then
THe LETTER TO MR. COHEN.
Dr Tavlor next delivered the letter ad-
dressed to Blr. Cohen, which Teao as
io'l'"'' April q, 1896.
Friend Cohen: .,,. Tor
tokine such a step. but see nothing eiSe
le1t Tor me excepting losing my reason.
! MANY thanks Tor your sOodiesS ~
o,rb uttcr strangers as We are 10 you,
fto Kind 10 my poor wife and child ana
helm them to leave the CITY, lor 'neS
must 80 back TO 81. PAU
Farewell your unhappy iriend,
c. A. KAHN.
Mr. Abraham cohen is the gentleman
.i'h whom MIR. and Mrs. Kahn lrd thelr
little eight-year-old daughter poaIu'u'
| lie lives at No. 4 west Gay street
He was greatly shocked by the sad
rov.e AIR. Cohen said that he never
i,,",, Nr Kahn until he came here 10
live two months ago. They met ana be
came friends. and at Mr.. kahns earnest
eolicltation he took him and his wite
and child to live with him. lie described
, tbe dead man as being person OF refine
mcnt and education.
lie was Of CHEEKY disposition, ge-
NAL companion, and well of financially.
SUFFERED A SUNsTRoKE.
II appears that several years ago Mr.
Kahn suffered a sunstroke, and ever
since that time his mind would at times
| ,,..oo,a elfgbtIv affected during hot