The Detroit times., 1909-12-03
BLIND At SUNSET,
He ENDS HIS LIFE
aI Can't see," Groans Rich Henry c,
Metzscherling as Employe Points
Out Dying Days Beauty.

NEW YORK, Dec. S.--By the bed
room window OF his big colonial man
sion on the Shore road near Eighty
seventh-st. Bay Ridge, Henry c. Metz
scherling sat In an armchair that
gave a view OF the panorama OF land
and water that stretched for miles and
miles before his vision. Sixty years
OF vigorous life, ten as an officer IN
the German army and thirty-tive as an
operator in real estate In Brooklyn
and Manhattan, had left him with
only one infirmity. He was becoming
blind. Day by day the light Was grow
ing DINNER.
The doorbell sounded and soon
Thomas Bennett. rent collector for
Mr.. Metzscherling, entered the room
What beautiful picture exelalm-
ed Bennett. as he stepped TO the win
dow and gazed on lower New York
Bay.
whats that?" asked Mr.. Metz
scherling. arousing himself as II from
lethargy.
No Red-Gold Flood for Him.
"why, the sunset" exclaimed young
Bennett enthusiastically. Its paint
ing the jersey hills red and gold and
flooding this room. Can't you see it,
Mr.. Metzscherling's eyes wandered
to the window. He strained har'i.
Knitting his eyebrows; then weariiy
shook his head.
NO. my boy. l can't see H." he
sighed.
For moment Bennett said nothing.
Then he drew from his pocket a val
out cnr-nrD1
dollars.
Here's the rent I've collected. Mr..
Metzscherling," he said. "WiH you
count it?"
Mir. Metzscherllng groped about.
Their stammered:
why, IL can't see well enough,
Everything seems blurred. You count
~ and leave il here. When | grow
better I'll verify tt
Bennett did as he was told, then
shook hands with his employer and
said goodbye He went down the
broad hall and was opening the doos
that leads TO the driveway and grounds
when the sound Of pistol sno'
startled him.
Sunlight on Dead Face.
Running back Bennett met Mrs.
Metzscherling highly excited Ic-
gether they rushed UP the stairs 20
the bedroom where few minutes
before Bennett had left his employer
seated at the window.
At the door both stopped. aghast NJ
what they saw The room was stiE
bathed In ruddy midnight. Stretched
on the floor was the body Of Mt
Metzscherling. a shaft OF golden light
upon his face. Gripped in his right
hand was an old rim-fre revolver he
had carried when an officer In the
German Army A bullet hole was In
his right temple.
A scrap of paper lay on table near
the window. On il was written. IN the
scrawling hand of a blind man, the
words:
II could not help doing this. am
blind. HENRI
Had Given No Hint
DIR. Hugh Rodden OF No. 1923
Fourth-ave., Bay Ridge, was called.
He said death had been instant.
Mrs. Metzscherling told Dr. Rod
den that for weeks her husband had
been discouraged because his sight
was failing but he had said nothing
that would give even the faintesE
idea that he contemplated suicide.
Mr.. Metzscherling had at least
5000 900 in property. It is said. When
he came TO America thirty-tive years
ago he started in the real estate
business in Brooklyn. He developed
many properties and gradually ac-
ouired valuable holdings. His house
on the Shore road is one of the finest
In that section. Nearby stands the
house occupied for many years by
"Al" Johnson. brother OF former
Mayor Johnson OF Cleveland.