Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-08
ends his OPPRESSION.
The Strange Case Of Albert Kra-
kowska, Who Committed Sui
eide at Marion.
Oppressed and Prosecuted in His
Native Land He Seeks Free.
dom in America.
Homesick and Afraid Of Officers He
Ends All by Taking His
Life

L $
kowska committed suicide in room No.
10 of the Freisinger hotel at Marion
yesterday evening. He was discovered /
almost Immediately after life was ex-
tinct by his cousin, Tony Kuroszczyk,
and cut down. He left a letter to his
wife in eros Torchaly, Poland. The let
ter was on the stand in the room, only a
few feet from where he hung. He used
a valise strap, the end of which was
slipped through the buckle and around
his neck, hung to the hinge on the door.
The door was a low one and the man Il
was forced to lift his feet foot off the
floor before the strap would choke him.
Homesckness is the fact most in ev-
idence causing his self-destruction. He
had violated the meat laws in Germany I
and was forced to flee, leaving his wife
and six children there. He thought the
officers here were on the watch for him
and intended to capture him and re-
turn him to German justice. He had |
never been away from home before and
was afraid to return and this his cousin
thought was the reason for his suicide.
He came here early in October and was
employed around the coal house in the
Marion yards of the Milwaukee.
Coroner Ranck was notified about
7:35 o'clock last night and drove over.
When he arrived the man was laid on a
cot in the room where he hung himself. |
His lips were cracked and caked over
from the blood that had issued out of
his mouth. He was still in the overalls
in which he worked. They were short,
,;v,c, 70 \, CHI ttcl
gray blue workingman's socks and all
of the heavy shoes he Wore. His hands
We're tied across his breast by red
cotton handkerchief. This was done by
one of the employees of the hotel. A
portion of the strap still dangled from
| the painted hinge and the remainder
still encircled his neck.
1 On a stand almost within reach OF the
| corpse was a letter addressed to Mrs.
Mary Krakowska, eros Torchaly, Po-
land.
He stated this would be the last letter
she would ever receive from him. The
Lord would take care of her and she
| must not let them Officers of the law
/ take the farm away from her. If neces-
sary she should sell half and keep the
other half or rent it. He explained that
i Tony would tell her all about it (mean-
ling suicide.) He was afraid to come
back, the letter went on, for he was GER
tain to be put in prison three years.
a The officers We're watching him here
and he thought he was doing best. With
a few fervent "adois' and a repetition
that the Lord would watch over her
land the children he signed 1t. Albert
i Krakowska. The body Will buried here.
STORY OF KRAKOWSKA.
Albert Krakowska few months ago
j was Polish farmer, living six miles
4 from eros Torchaly (Grand Village.)
He owned twenty-five acres and had a
few head of stock. He was happily
married and in fairly good circum-
stances. Six children, three boys and
three girls frightened that Polish fire.
side.
A disease, strange and terribly con-
tagious, broke out among the cattle of
the province. Stringent meat laws We're
put into effect. No cattle of any kind
could be sold from any herd in the
province. The disease had not yet
; reached his immediate vicinity and he
had couple of calves which he had
; INTENDED to dispose of. The money was
. needed in the households; he must have
j, lit.
One morning early this fall he loaded
. the calves into wagon and took them
/ to the nearest market. Meat was scarce
and the buyers We're willing to take ii
and ask no questions. He sold them
, and in the evening returned to his farm
home. A neighbor saw him and after
3 inquiry put the suspicious officers on
: his track.
HAD TO LEAVE POLAND.
i Albert Krakowska was forced te
e leave, to flee from home. He had only
y the clothes on his back. How much
: money was in his possession is moi
K known, nor is it known whether he hat
/, money or was forced to borrow it, A
g any rate he came to the United States
: He had been corresponding preyiousl,
j. with his two cousins, John and Tony
Kuroszczyk at Marion, and thence h
came. He was met at the depot o.
Oct. by his two cousins and securei
: work at the coal house in the Milwau
!, kee yards.
q He told them all about it and wa
= constantly in fear of the officers in thi
:. country. He became homesicls and a
: he did not hear from his wife he be
: came more so.
: He worked along in fear and worr.
= until yesterday noon. After he an
: Tony and John had eaten their moo
$ lunches he laid down by a tool box
: At a quarter past / o'clock he com
:. planned to Tony that he was sick at hi
:, stomach and the latter advised him t
= return to his room. He acted upon tn
advice.
He was seen by various peopi
: around the hotel until o'clock. The
:. he disappeared with the suhsequen
= discovery as already related. Ten cent
:, lin money and lead pencil formed tn
). capital found in his pockets. In va
- lise in his room We're found som
- clothes given him by his cousins.
1t is a pitiful story of a suicide. SAD
der than NEST suicides because of
tinge of oppression. Separation fro,
loved ones is tryin Coupled wit
e. fear, groundiess it seems. an
TT in foreign situations and SUI
at roundings the background of til
r story is still sadder. 1t is onl
II. necessary to look into his fair face an
as Ibis sunken eyes to see the centuries
ne oppression and tyranny that he inhel
ed lifted from his ancestors, then one turf
is away to think and love the fairer lar
rs of America, with it's sweeter libert
q n