New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-19
MANSFIELD A SUICIDE
HID POVERY TO List.
Vas Connected 7cith German me
atre. and Once Ozcned Newspaper.

Cast off by his wife and destitute. Max Mansfield
for many years known in German theatrical and III
ersry circles of New York as man OF hlsh men'ai
/ attachments, killed himself yesterday by mhaIns
| Illuminating ga i'm his Office. at No Sii boWe'Y'
Two letters found pinned to his coat. one al
dressed to Coroner julius hamburger, an intimate
friend. and the other to Mrs. Maria Zufal OF NO
s24 Fast 18th street. where he lived, Indicate
NIansfelds condition before he took his life
Mansfield was director of the Ger
man Theatre In Irving Place and editor OF the
"Plattdeutsche POST until the failure Of that
newspaper a year ago. Then he rented an office In
the Bowerv in the building occupied by Max
SchmetterlinG publisher. 10 whom he owed $1,000
rent. Tuesday afternoon he left his home In 18Th
street carrying a small satchel. He told Mrs
Zuffal he going away.
Il didn't think anything Of it, said Mrs. Zuffal
last night Il knew he short Of money. but
didn't think he needed food I thought he was
going to do $ he did a wear when he went TO
Philadelphia. He said y he didn't come back
would find a letter for myself and one for Mr.
hamburger But he came back that time"
Mansfield went to his Office. locked himself in and
turned on the gas. after placing gas tube in his
mouth. There he found yesterday mornins
with the letters. In his pocket was a pawnticket
for a loan of 50 80 on OverCcat.
Mansfield had evidently looked forward to com
hitting suicide for some time. According 10 the
story told by fellow lodger Morris scheidt, Mans
field had young wife in Vienna actress. who
|
again.
This is one Of the letters Mansfield pinned to RS
coat before he died
Ny Dear Coroner; We knew each other for
many ycirs end I ALWAYS esteemed you highly
What difference there Is between ne commit
suicide and know why, but | blame no one but
H. / did belong to the German Press Club and the
didn't pay my. fees any more / wish l would he
cremated II not Potter's Field is good enough for
me. Gooihv. goodby. goodhy.
=. S.-Please paw attention to the following: All
my property in my back parIor leave to nv land
-, Az owe her Is & 30 , This have lst, in letter
leave her all goods as mentioned above NV watch
and chain ! dedicate TO Herman Zuffal my land
sstehel '''' ''S ny ''''''''' VINO" : III NY
Other letters. written December 30. were found
in Manstelds desk one addressed 10 Leo
Won Raven. OF Nc. 10 Fast 1l7th street another TO
Justice Joseph Neuberger. and stu another 20
Coroner Hamburger. The letters follow:
My Dear Friend Hamburger: I make an end.
cherish the thought that you Will take care Of my
Is that my body be eremated Please Communicate
with Leo Won Raven
:, My Dear. Dear Judge When you receive these
or heaven. Heaven did not deserve J make an
body TO be cremated. VIII you assist him?
Mansfield sixty-Hve years old. tie came TO
this country forty years agv. During his lifetime
he was an intimate friend OF Carl Schurz. oscar
l. Rcard. James Speyer. the banker and many
in the FrancO-Prussiau War a a lieutenant. and
he used 10 spend hours with General Franz SigeI
exchanging stories. Mansfield was a univer-
silly graduate. and among his German friends here
was called the Schiller Of America" Of
the beauty OF his poetry, which was. Of course.
written in his native language. one OF hts poems
was on the death OF William Steinway. the piano
manufacture. who a close friend
While associated with Gustavus Amherg IN the
management OF the Irving Place Theatre. though
he sold out his interests after year to Heinrich
Conrad. Mansf~d brought 20 america
number OF German stars. including Theodore
Wachtei. the NleHnese tenor. Marie Geistlnger.
Sonuenthal and Possart Four years he sold
out all his other interests and bought a half IN
ierest IN the "PiHtt,lsutsche Post
Morris Schedt. whose room was near MansfeId's.
said last night tI<I the Old man had been heart
broken and staying 70 death for a year.
Pride prevented him from appealing 10 any of
his wealthy friends. who would gladly have helped
him. he said. He refused to board with Mrs.
Zuffal. and told her II because he wasn't well
and very little. lie also worried about his sec
ond wife German actress. whom he married
few years He told she had no more use
For him after ne lost his money and when he saw
her little over-a ago in Vienna she had put
him out OF her house and told him never 10 enter
II again"
Coroner hamburger said Mansfeld's friends will
see that he Is not buried In Potter's Field