Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-24
Lieutenant Stark, of German
Cruiser Bremen, Found Life.
less in His Quarters.
WAS 1T SUICIDE OR A clOfNT (?
coroners' Jury Unable to Say How the
Tragedy Commissioning officer
Was Popular, Efficient and in Excel
lent HeaIth-runeral With Military
Honors at Lutheran Church.

WIN lle Top Oh his mean OiOWn al
most entirely off and smoking rife
by his side, Lieutenant l.. a. p. +.
Stark was found dead in his stateroonl
on the German cruiser Bremen YES
tcrtay morning at o'clock The off
Ger shot himself but whether or not
he did it Intentionally will never be
known
a few minutes before the tragedy
! he lieutenant was in the mess room,
laughing and talking with several Of
his shiDmatcs. Apparently he was in
he best of spirits and. when he left
| he room to 90 To his own quarters,
there was nothing in his demeanor 10
Indicate that he was thinking Of end
ing his life.
Death lnetantaneous.
a loud rcpOr; from the slateroom al
tractcd several officers and mon To the
scene. When the door was opened
smoke cleared ont and the lircIcss
body was discovered stretched upon
llic llnor. Death had been instanlun-
colIs
After an examination had been made
by the ships surgeon. Mr.. G. II. Arnal,
The German vice-consul, was notified
of The tragedy and he requested Dir.
Il. II. Gary, the coroner. to conduct an
inquest. jury was summoned and
the inquest was held aboard the Brc-
men. Sergeant Nlilstead having first
obtained permission from the captain
No Reason for Suicide.
The surgeon ana several other OIL
GERS were closely examined The evil
dcncc showed that the deceased was
ohiy twenty-five years old and mem
her ol distinguished German family
lie was an able officer, having attained
an unusually high rank for one SO
young, and was one OF the most popu-
lar men on board the cruiser with both
cilicers ana seamen. He was i'm cX-
ccllent health and. as far rs could bc
learned, had nothing In the world to
trouble or worry him. It also devotion.
ed that lie had received no mail re.
Gently and therefore could not have
been affected by bad news. On his
return TO Germany after this cruise he
I would have heen assigned to shore
duty, and ii is understood that he was
very much pleased with the prospect.
Owned the Weapon.
The shooting was done with large
caliDre rifle, OF German make. the
personal property OF Lieutenant Stark.
| ~ Jan tHtcieu near Inc temple
passing through the brain and top of
me head anu lodged in the ceiling of
Inc stateroom. 1t is impossible TO say
in just what position the weapon was
when it was discharged.
With the above facts before ihem
me Jury was not in position to arrive
at very definite conclusion.
/ The Verdict.
| The verdict was to the effect that
| The deceased came to his death from
the effects OF IL gunshot wound, no at
tempt being made TO say whether or
not the young officer had committed
suicide.
After the inquest the body was re-
moved to Rouses undertaking estab-
lishment, escorted by several officers
and squad of marines. Since that
time the corpse has been watched over
by detail OF six marines.
Military Funeral.
This morning at $50 o'clock funeral
services. will.gbe conducted at Trinity
Lutheran church by the pastor, Rev
-. a. Shenk. The body will be inter
red at Greenlawn cemetery with full
military honors. Later it probably
will be cXhumed and taken TO Ger
many
The dead lieutenant had many
friends ashore here. He became ac-
quainted with many people some time
ago. when he was here on the cruiser
GaZcllc
The cruiser Bremen is at the ship
yard undergoing a general overhaul.
ing. She belongs 10 the German South
Atlantic fleet.