New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-05
PAPERS EXPLAIN DEATH
Suit Against Equitable Covers
Suicide of A. M. KrIdeI.
HAD $4,000 IN POLICIES
Friends Say Silk Manufacturer
Was Made Despondent by
Money Losses.

Some circumstances about the death a"'
certain incidents preceding the dea'h VI
Abraham Krdel on February 8. 1908 aoo"
which there was much mystery are
vealed in papers filed In the Supreme Ooui'
Yesterday by Felix d. Unger in SUIT "i'l.'
has been brought against the Equ''ao''
Life Assurance Society.
Kridel was at one time wealthy manu-
facturer of silks and ribbons and mehloe'
of the firm of j. Kridel & Son. He WaS
found dead behind the locked door OF MS
bedroom at his home. and near him was a
bottle which it was believed had contained
chloroform.
The papers now filed show. on the state
ments of men who We're friends or the
manufacturer. that he had talked OF emo
ing his troubles by committing suicide aho
that before he died he had entered into
some losing speculations.
The cause of death was given as harden
ing of the arteries.
The paper filed Yesterday by Mr.. Cngei
IS bill Of particulars asked for by the de-
PENDANT company. Although it does not ap'
pear just what the plaintiffs services were
1t is understood he was employed by the
company as an investigator. Cnger says ir
his bill of particulars that Kride lost his
entire fortune in the financial depression OF
1867 He had accounts with half a dozer
Wall street firms and speculated heavily
and unfortunately.
The interest of the Equitable in the death
of Kridel was that he had policies in the
company agsregating s23O.OOO. and one Of
these was taken out on his life month
before his death, and this in the face OF the
dead mans expressed hostility 10 the
Equitable company. Unger declares Krde
said TO him in the presence of J. II. Sulz-
hacker, a member of the New York Stock
Exchange. THE only way out Of It will bs
suicide"
Unger goes into details about reports that
he submitted to Or. Maxwell n. Allen, con-
ncCted with the Equitable company. lie
told the physician Kridel had obtained an
extension Of time on a premium due the
Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company
OF Milwaukee. in which Kridel carried
100000 Insurance. and also that the dead
man had borrowed money from the Equt-
eble on an old policy for 100000 Unger
says when Kridel died he owed several
brokerage concerns with which he dealt be-
tween $3.50, 900 and $500
An interesting story told by Paula An
dr. lessen. a maid in the Kridel household
Of the happenings on the day Krdel died Is
included In the legal story OF Unger. She
said Kridcl returned 10 his home about
O'Clock in the afternoon. His wife was out
shopping. lie went TO the playroom OF his
two children who were in charge OF a gov
erness. The father took them up in his
arms and kissed them arectiOnately. His
SOL. nine years old. the elder Of the chill
dren. seemed 10 realize this was unusual
and asked his father: What's the natter
Kridel did not reply. He left the chill
dron's room and had a servant bring HIM a
cup OF coffee. Then he went to his room
About 6 o'clock Mrs. Krdel came home
Her husbands door was locked. There was
DO response to the knocking The door was
forced open. and Kridel was found dead. A
strong odor OF chloroform came from the
bottle that stood near him.
Or. Leblanc coroners physician, per-
formed an autopsy but refused to permit
two physicians OF the Equitable company 10
examine the body without the consent OF
the family Of the dead man. which was
not obtained.
Unger also tells about being introduced &c
the superintendent Of the Pinkerton Detec-
tive Agency. and says two agents Of that
concern accompanied him to the home of a
well known drygoods man. who is also a
director in the Equitable company Unger
WAS asked 10 point out this man TO the
detectives that they might shadow him. al
though the purpose of this Unger did not
know. This drygoods merchant was a
frinnl of krllnl