New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-19
Identification Is Difficult.


Even after his death circumstances
seemed reluctant to reveal his name. for
he was looked at by many and no one
realized who ne was. IT was the discov-
cry Of mad sentences and an incoherent
confession written on scraps of paper that
first pointed out his identity.
He came TO me on July S." said Max
Kaplan, In whose home the dead man
had rented a room HE seemed i'm a ter
rlble state Of mind then. ! didn't like
him at all. but he begged me to take him
In. so | did lie wore blue glasses, a
black derby hat and a dark blue suit He
wore the glasses only that first day. He
said his name was Hirschkowitz.
He said he was q cutter out Of work,
but expected to get work soon. The rent
for the room was 81 So and he paid 81
on account. saying he would pay the rest
later lie never paid any more, but he
seemed so disheartened that my wife and
I did not have the heart to put him out.
"Wednesday he said he had a lob wash
lng dishes. and he had me call him every
morning at o'clock. He kept acting
more desperate and We felt sorry for
him. lie never talked with US much, and
usually came in about 10 o'clock at night
lie had an inside room. which has a door
opening on the hall, so he didn't have to
pass through our rooms. Finally, the last
few DAYS he didn't go out at all. but
STAYED in his room burning the gas
told him he would have TO get out. He
wasn't looking for work and was run
ming up my bill. He pleaded again and
] let him stay. He said he lost his dish
washing job and was looking for an
other.
This morning when J knocked at his
door he did not answer. hammered
loud. but no answer. ] smeled gas very
strong. Then ] climbed up and looked
through the transom. | saw him lying
on the bed with a gas tube in his mouth.
He is dead" ! cried, and sent for the
police. They broke open the door and
after a while 1t was discovered who he
was. I was hOrrorstricken TO think who
had been in my home. I was utterly
Rstonished."
On q soiled collar found in the room
was scrawled, 81 am guilty. I am in
zane" On a scrap of paper, II felt sorry
y
for me-: and on still another. Parole
Officer Hogan is liar Hogan never told
me 10 sign the paper
The full meaning of these almost cryp-
tic bits was revealed TO the police by the
following confession found on a torn en-
yelope:
New York. July II. 1912
This Is 10 my dear mother whom I am
always homesiCk for, and same to rest
and pa, whose word ] am taking by do
Ing this. which ! figure is the easiest
death Of my own estimation. ! want to
say that If ] happen 70 be revived In
order 10 be executed. why. I'll take my
medicine lust the same. My last Job was
a pocket book mfg co. at "a Grand street
He owes me for two days work Please
secure my pay and give TO mother. for
she Is very poor. and for truth my older
brother has lots of money and don't want
the old folks or a farm for the simple
life I'm sorry to cause the trouble 10
my neighbor, but all he'll have TO do is
call the CopD. Tell mother again that
I'm really guilty and shell not cry her
eyes and heart out. | knoe she thinks I'm
innocent. I'm sorry ] done II. but ! got
crazy as | often do. and you can't blame
me or any one else.