Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-14
Prompt Action by Recipient
Prevents Death by Gas.
FURRIERATTEMPTS SUICIDE
Leo Geschickter Found Unconscious
by Brother-in-L Law, H. Zirkin.
SENDS LETTERS TO THE STAR
Bunch of Small Notes Express Feel
ings of Man Who Wanted
to End All.

Prompt action on the part of II. Zirkin
furrier. at S14 18th street northwest, fol-
lowing the receipt Of a special delivery
letter this morning. was the means of
preventing the death of Leo GeSchickter.
his hrother-in-law, from Illuminating gas.
AS soon as he had read the letter, which
set forth that his hrotherin law. who is
manufacturing furrier at III 11th street
northwest. meant to end his life, Zirkin
teiephoned the facts to the police Of the
first precinct. He then hastened to his
brother-in-law place of business. reach
ing there about the time the police ar
rived.
The door was broken open and Geschick-
ter was found on the floor, unconscious.
Gas was flowing from an open jet. With
out waiting to summon hospital ambu-
lance, the police hurried the unconscious
man to the patrol wagon and took him
to the Emergency Hospital
Mrs. Geschickter was later escorted to
the hospital by Zirkin. She was told by
the physicians that although her husband
was in a serious condition he will prob
ably recover. The letter to the brother
in-law told of the writer's intention to
end his life, contained minute directions
about what he wanted done for his fam
lily and asked that his body be looked
after.
Letter Received by The Star.
Geschickter also sent several letters to
The Star. which were received this morn
ing. In one he says:
Il have been eighteen years a SUBJ
scriber to your paper We had some
business transaction. notwithstanding
the fact that my account with you is
fully two years old, you never pressed me
for the money. You never demanded it.
Being deeply moved by your kind treat
ment and consideration, 1 herewith sub
nit to you my great thanks At the
same time beg to convey my thanks to
your representative, Mr.. Smith, who is a
worthy bearer of the good sign of your
noble concern
The other letters are:
II am a nervous wreck My physician
advised me to take a good. long rest.
Let that rest be an everlasting one.
ITO my friends: l have promised to
come back after death to tell you how
We. sinners. are being treated in the
Internal. My not coming back should be
accepted as proof that hell in the here
after is not half as bad as hell here
ITO my patrons: l assure you that all
your fur garments left by you In my care
are absolutely safe in my cold storage
room, with the Security Storage Com
pany."
In the last letter he says:
The foundation of religion is love.
justice and hope. For forty-eight years
l have been searching for love and JUS
tice, and my failure TO find them has un-
dermined my hope. l am departing with
out it. The only thing l am taking along
is my love"
Asked to Keep Family Ignorant.
Geschickter asked Zirkin not to let
his ia lily know of what he had done.
Inclosed in tn letter was a message to
the family. He addressed his wife and
six children as dear folks 1t con-
had of taking his life.
The letter reads: DO not worry about.
me. / hsi appendicitis, but / am better
now. ! had an attack at Union station
and was in Garfield Hospital several
days tt doctors helped ME d whole
lot, but l don't want to nave another at
tack. Papa
Il cant imagine why Geschickter did
Il was with him last night. He seemed
well and joked while we We're talking
Before / left him he said he Intended
going to New York on the midnish,
train, and l thought he had gone there
until l received the letter"
Mrs. GeSchckter and her children re-
turned yesterday from an outing in the
country. They were at home, 1888 Eth
street northwest, last night. GeschickteI
saw his family after their return, anC
later ne went to his place o. business
where Zirkin visited him.