The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-11
EMPRESS SERVANT
COMMITS SUICIDE
William Harder, Former attendant to German
Nobility, Ends Life by Breathing Gas Through
Tube Inserted in Writing Paper Gone.

success In business. He failed and his
wandering began.
How many cities and towns IN this
country were seen by the German was
known only to himself. for he was man
Of reserve. who seldom spoke Of himself
He finally settled in Los Angeles. where
ne lived for years. giving up his resi-
dence In the California city to come to
Washington.
Frequently Winters Here.
He had visited Washington frequently
in tho last fifteen years, and was we'll
known here, but made his last trip TO the
National Capital in May He obtained
position as waiter in the restaurant in
Pennsylvania avenue where he ended his
life. Harder worked there until about
/ five weeks ago, when he lost his position.
! lie had no employment since then, and
/ spent most Of the time in his room above
the restaurant MorQse and given 10
speaking erratically about religion, Har-
/ der Stunned companionship. He remained
alone in his room nearly all the time
/ Employees In the restaurant saw Harder
leave his room about o'clock yesterday
! afternoon When he returned he told no
one where he had been. He carried a
bundle under his arm. and locked himself
In his room without telling what he had
! in the bundle. 1t contained the rubber
tube used as an implement Of death.
How long Harder remained in the room
writing letters may never be known. He
wrote several, addressing them TO friends
and employees with whom he had been as
sociated. His final messages completed,
| Harder attached one end of the tube to
teh gas get. He made a cone OF writing
paper, in one end of which he placed the
rubber tube
| Turning on the flow OF gas, Harder lay
/ on the bed and inhaled the gas until
dead. It Is thought he died after 5
O'Clock. Sounds were heard in his room
at that hour
About 3 o'clock an employee passing
| through the corridor leading to the room
occupied by Harder, detected the odor of
gas. Henry Keefer. another employe,
was summoned, and went 10 Harder's
room. Tie keyhole had been stuffed
with paper The paper was pushed from
! the hole It was seen Harder had hung
a towel from the doorknob inside the
room so that persons in the hall could
not see through the keyhole.
The door was forced. and Keefer en-
tered the room. Partially dressed, his
hands closed about the gastube on his
chest, Harder lay dead on the bed. A
physician, summoned. said the waiter
was dead
Coroner hewitt visited the room and
viewed the body. He found Harder had
nothing but a gold watch. ring, and a
few personal belongings DR.. hewitt
read the letters written by the waiter,
after which certificate Of death by sui
eide was issued.
Relatives Are Sought.
II was learned that Harder told none of
his associates in the cafe whether he
had relatives living. It is thought he
has relatives in Los Angeles. Efforts will
be made TO locate them. If they are not
found, the proprietor OF the restaurant,
who knew Harder for more than fifteen
years. will see that the body IS given
burial
1t is thought Harder committed suicide
as the result of temporary arrangement
caused by brooding about religion. In
letters, he said he was going to "a higher
life" He wrote of meeting friends dead
years ago, and said he would greet them
with 8 warm grasp of the hand.
There viii be no drinking I'm the higher
place" wrote Harder. There will be no
suffering, nothing sordid. nothing COM
monplace. ] will be a higher being. a
creature above mank!nd-to such I aspire
and 30 such am going"