New-York tribune., 1909-05-29
BANDMASTE A SUICIDE
FEARED INVESTTGATION.
Hest Point Leader accused of r.
regularly EnEsting Men.
[Ry Telegraph to The Tribune. l

West Point, May @.-GeOrge EsSigke, who had
been in charge Of the Military Academy band
for than fifteen years committed suicide to-
day by inhalng Illuminating gas. Worry IN
vestiga tons recently begun by the War Depart
ment into his official conduct is assigned a the
for his act
Mr.. Essgke under charges in connection
with the manner in which he induced three Ger
man members of his band to come from Munich
and enlist as musicians at West Point. The three
Johann Fischer, Benedict Leimer and Heinrich
Miller, alleged that the bandmaster had grossly
msrepresented conditions here to them. They fur
ther charged that Essigke while acting as inter-
prefer, had altered their ages in their enlistment
papers.
An investigation had also been ordered in con-
nection with allegations that Essigke had recon-
mended that the government purchase band in
struments which he had himself bought a short
time before and turned over to Newburg dealer.
For several weeks the charges and Investigations
had appeared to prey heav Willy Essigke's mind.
That the suicide was not the result of any tenn
porary insanity. but carefully planned. is evident
from the fact that the bandmaster arranged to
have his wife and daughter absent. and sent them
to Newburg early this morning He also gave over
the leading of the days practice his assistant,
with the remark that he would take walk in the
mountains: He gave an unusual amount Of music
Tor to-days practice to insure not being disturbed
by the return of the music too soon.
Mrs. Essigke, on her return. found her husbands
body in the bathroom with gas tube still held
The only missive left Was ' letter to Mrs Essige
beggng forgiveness and requesting that she take
host Of friends being whole-hearted German. and
his death was a shock TO the people OF the post:
He was graduated from the Conservatory Of
Liepsig.
Johann Fischer, Benedict Ieimer and Heinrich
Muller, the three young musicians whom George
Essigke induced to come to the United states and
join his band West Point. explained in the affi-
davits which were filed with the War Department
last March how they had been misled. When they
got into communication with Essgke they were al
ready solo musicians in an orchestra in Mdnich
where they We'll known university graduates
and young men of noticeable refinement.
Essigke's statements. it is alleged, led them 70
believe that there gold mine waiting for them
in this country. He painted In glowing colors the
triumphs they could win here. Fischer is a Cornet
player and violinist Leimer who is nineteen. but
whose &c given twenty-one. is a claTinetist
and celist, and Miller plays several wood instru-
ments. including the flute and piccolo. besides the
piano
In September 1908, Fischer received three letters
from Essigke, It is said requesting him TO come
with Leimer MILLER and two other young
players These two decided not TO come but Fischer
and his two friends sailed the Hamburg -Ameri-
can liner Amerika after receiving $50 marks from
Esslglle They arrived in New York October 25
and were taken to West Point by Essigke, who per
suaded them Join the band He said the enllsting
was mere matter OF FORM and they could with
draw after r month upon the payment of $50 If they
desired But when the three young musicians found
themselves obliged 10 wash dishes and scrub floors
they rebelled With the permission Of Colonel Scott
they New York and retained August p.
Wagner lawyer. to prosecute their case with the
War Department. the ground that their enlist
mont was fraudulent. The War Department was
asked at the same time TO investigate the charge
that other military band masters were obtaining
musicians from abroad under false Prctcnccs in
order improve their bands.