The Washington times., 1907-03-29
Ball Players Wife Cried
81 Could Have Saw
ed Him.
Happily Married, Well
Paid, Life Apparent
ly Perfect.
Some Secret Trouble,
Friends Believe, Drove
Him to Death.

BOSTON. Mass, March 29--"Chick"
Stahl, captain and former manager Of
the Boston American League baseball
team, has left an unsolved mystery IN
his sudden suicide Today his stricken
wife is speeding toward West Baden,
Ind, where his body is lying, with this
cry on her lips:
Il could have saved him if had been
there"
one question is on the tongue Of the
entire baseball world today, why did
Stahl take his own life?'
In the opinion of many Of those closest
10 the dead hall player, something more
than worry over baseball must have
driven him to his death.
IF 1 had gone with him." said Mrs.
Stahl. this would never have happened.
Oh Chick, You wanted me to 80 with
you," she cried despairingly, but 1
thought It would be better for me to
stay here In Boston and wait for you.
If I had only been with you those nights
when you were tossing about sleeplessly
with wide open eyes. Then you would
have had somebody to cOnftde IN. Oh,
Chick, you worry over little things,
things nobody else would have bothered
about. 1t is all my faUlt-alI my fault.
ought TO have been with you. but 1t Is
too late now-too late
BrOOded on Secret Trouble.
For some time StahI had been brood
ing over some secret trouble, declare
his friends, and now they ask What
was it2'
He had never. so far as SIS known.
shown any signs of insanity He had
reached the height of baseball fame,
his home life was apparently happy
but these facts only deepen the mystery
of the Tragedy, There is a belief thai
Stahl had long since dwelI on the
problem of cutting short his life. elst
why did he continually talk about Il
10 the members OF the team? And tht
question is unanswered.
AT Louisville StahI said 10 Dineer
one morning while rubbing himself with
solution Of carbolc acid, 81 wonder
If this stuff would kin a man"
Would it, responded DIneen, Why
a spoonful would Kill a dozen men
Then / have a good mind TO take
good drink of It" continued Stahl-
Direen looked at him and said How
would your mother or your wife Xix,
that kind of Eews?'
Chick shook his head and answered;
That's so, Bill. il would kill n!
mother"
Although not a man VINO often talke'
religion, Stahl brought uD the subJec
again and again i'm Little Rock and wen
10 holv communion while there. Stahl.
friends admit that it was only ndJura
that a man carrying sue ma reSpOnSlbll
itv would have worried some but Stab
was too sensible and level-headed, the.
say, 10 let that drive him TO death.
Life Apparently Happy.
Moreover. he had on Monday las
been relieved of the greater part of hi
responsibilities and everything scenes
10 be running along smoothly.
The members of the Boston team wer
with him to a man. The owner of IN
club had implicit faith in him and mi
ability to handle a great ball team. H
had a big salary. was lately wed TO
bright Boston girl and apparently wa
at peace with all the world
The fact that StahI had ordered hi
felIow-pIayers TO practice. had dOnne
his own uniform and apparently, full
intended 10 Join them up 10 the yer
moment he put the bottle Of deadly aCi
10 his lips. only deepens the mystery.
What thought came into his min
that finally OVerCame his resistance
the Nmpulse that had seemingly lon
been calling 10 him 10 end his life2" i
the question his friends are asking to
day.
And no one can answer