Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-15
LEAVES VAGUE MESSAGES
Contemplated Self Destruction &
Week Ago at Atlantic City.
WAS FROM WEST VIRGINIA
Said to Be Member of Prominent
Family Of neutrality-suspicious.
Notified Of Tragedy.

Earl kunst, about thirty-ffve years Old,
son Of DR.. A H. Kunst Of Parkersburg, w.
Va. committed suicide this morning in a
room on the fifth floor of the Hotel Con-
tinental, North Capitol between D and Z
streets, by shooting himself in the head
His body was found by Charles Langley.
a messenger boy in the employ Of the
Postal Telegraph Company. Kunst had
left an order for a messenger boy to be at
his room at 2:2O o'clock am. The mes
senger boy promptly reported what he
had found, a policeman and a detective
were summoned, and later in the morning
Coroner hewitt made an investigation. He
gave a certificate showing Kunst had
committed suicide. and he had the body
taken to the morgue.
Messages written by Kunst Indicate tnat
he had long contemplated taking his life
No explanation for wanting to die is
given. He had only 1 cent and two car
tickets in his pockets, and it is believed
that his financial condition prompted the
deed.
Anxiously Awaited Letter.
Kunst was at the St. James Hotel yes
terday. He was nervous and anxious
about mail he said he expected from homes
going to the clerks desk every few min
utes and inquiring II a letter had come
for him. Shortly before midnight he
went to the Hotel Continental and was
assigned to q room on the fifth floor, pay
ing for the room in advance. surrender
ing practically the last cent he had in do.
ing SO.
When he registered. nothing indicated
that he had been drinking or was labor
ing under any undue excitement. His
handwriting did not show he was suf-
fering from nervousness. His last mes
sage was the following. addressed to A
w. Chafee, manager of the Continental
Hotel:
Forgive me, please, IL have done
you an injury. In taking my life, should
soil. deface or destroy anything. In
form my father. DIR. A. H kunst. 1103
Juliana street, Parkersburg, w. Va, and
he will make ample settlement.
Kunst changed his underclothing and
arranged himself on the bed, with his
head between two pillows, evidently ar
ranging them SO that the report of the
weapon would be muff1ed. He evidently
did not want his body to remain long
enough to be discolored. or perhaps he
feared he might not make a success of
his undertaking, and sent for the mes
senger boy to come to his room.
Contemplated Suicide Some Time.
In an envelope on the dresser in the
room in which the deed was committed
was found an envelope addressed Ito the
public and my father The envelope
contained several messages kunst hao
written.
Three of the messages had been written
on the stationery of the Hotel Strand
Atlantic City. July Z, while two others
at the Continental Hotel, and the other
at the st. James.
One of the letters written in Atlantic
City shows he was giving the matter OF
self-destruction some thought at tina
time. His message reads:
standing in the valley of the shadow
Of death, the veil of the incongruitles OF
the mortal existence is lifted, and un'
derstand-see with a vision CHARMED by
suffering-that this special destiny was te
be mine, / knew years ago. l have nc
regrets, for great is to be the compensa-
ton. l don't know where l am going, but
l am on my way. Goodbye
In another message written at the sea
his father be notified Of his deed at his
home, HOB Juliana street, Parkersburs
He alsp wrote the following to his father
Dear papa, have no remorse. for al
is we'll You could not have done other
wise. Goodbye for a little while.
Inspector Boardman telegraphed the Par
kersburg police department to notify DR..
Kunst Of his sons death, telling them to
inform the father that his son left no
money and that his body had been sent
to the morgue.
Kunst Known as an Author.
PARKERSBURG, w. Va. July 15.-
Earl Kunst, who committed suicide in
Westinghouse member of prominent
family here His father, DR.. A. H. Kunst,
is a wealthy retired physician and for
merly was superintendent Of the state
insane asylum at Weston. The Kunst
family Is connected by marriage with
that Of former United States Senator j.
NJ Camden. KunSt recently entered suit
for divorce He was known as an author,
having published two novels.
No reason is known here why kunst
should end his life, except. possibly, his
domestic troubles. He was a most &C.
centric young man, and was noted for his
peculiarities.
Kunst had no regular occupation other
than his literary pursuits, which were
irregular, from which 1t is not believed he
derived q large income. His father is
quite well-to-do, and since his separation
from his wife he has lived at his fathers
home Kunst leaves a baby girl Of two
years.
The remains OF Kunst will be brought
here for burial The news Of the suicide
naturally created a big sensation owing