The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-09-09
NO GOOD REASON
FOR HIS RASH ACT
Was of Steady and Sober Habits and
Had Work-Complained of Illness
in the Morning and Remained at
Home-Coroner's Inquest To Be
Held Today.
Especial to THE TIMEsl.

Indiana Harbor, Ind, Sept. 9.-While
sufferingyfrom some momentary mental
arrangement, Axel Zalberg. aged %
years, last night plunged leather
pairing knife into his heart and com
mitted suicide. His body was found
a few moments later by his aged
mother. Mrs. Emma zalberg. who noti-
fed the police and Mortician Teal Of
her CHASTITY discovery.
Suicide in Closet.
The deed was committed in closet
adjoining the dining room of the Zal-
berg apartments in the large three
story building near the corner of Ivy
and One Hundred and Thirty-ninth
streets. Zalberg is forge operator at
the Standard Steel Forgings company
and has never had any trouble with his
employers He is not a drinking man,
and for this reason the police are un-
able to assign any motive for the deed.
Complained of Illness.
The unfortunate man did not go to
work yesterday morning, complaining
of slight Illness. He decided that he
needed a days rest and towards even
ing his spirits began to rise. He par
took of a hearty supper with his fam
lily at 6 o'clock last evening and while
the family was in an adjoining room
at about o'clock, entered the closet
in which the passion for self -destruc-
tion was satisfied.
Used a Knife.
| Mrs. Zalberg and her daughter de-
clared to the police that they heard a
| short cry, followed by a sound of a
| body falling heavily to the floor
| Thinking that Axel had tainted. they
rushed to the closet. He was found
face downward doubled over a large
trunk, the cover of which was partly
lifted. One hand was inside the trunk
as though reaching for something
while the other hung Imply by his side
Mrs. Zalberg, fearing the worst, called
| two neighbors, Carl Kalberg and Her
man Nelson, to her assistance, and to
gether they lifted the suicide to tn,
floor. On opening the trunk the tell
tale knife was found, blood -bespattereC
for fully three inches from the poin
of the blade A jagged hole in tn,
y
above the heart, completed the ghastl.
| details and convinced the awed specta
tors that life was extinct. Drs. Saue
and Robinson were notified, however
and arrived on the scene promptly
| They pronounced life extinct and de
clared that death had been instantane
Gus. A call to police headquarters re
suited in the response of Officers Weif
enbach and Thompson, and the urgen
ordering of Mortician Teal's Red Cros
ambulance.
Was Temporarily Insane.
The body was removed to the Tea
morgue. on Michigan avenue and tn
trunk and knife taken to the Harbo
police station, where they will be re
tanned pending the coroner's inques
The inquest will be held in Morticia
TeaTs parlors this afternoon under tn
direction of Coroner E. r. Gordon Z
Hobart.
The unfortunate young mans mothe
is convinced, she says, that her son wa
temporarily insane when he committe
the CHASTITY deed and places no cred
ence in the theory that the suicid
was premeditated. Her evidence. a
well as that of the neighbors and tn
, young mans sister will be taken b
Coroner Gordon in an effort to secur
true version of the CHASTITY sacrific
+ of human life.