Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-21
ALLEGED Spy ENDS LIFE,
BY HANGING, IN PRISON
Anton Kuepferlc, Who Had Been on
Trial In British Court Since Tues
day, Commits Suicide.
CLAIMED TO BE AN AMERICAN
Left Message Written on Slate Bear
ing Testimony to Fairness of Pro-
Cecdings-ConfesSed lie Was Sol
der and Wished to Die as Such.

CecdingS-ConfeSsed He Was Sol
der and Wished to Die as Such.
| LONDON, May 20.-Anton Kuepfcrlc
who claimed to be an American citizen
has been on trial charged with giving
military information to the enemies of
Great Britain, committed suicide last
night in Brix,on Prison. He is re-
ported 10 have hanged himself.
kuepfcrlc left Il message written on
slate bearing testimony to the fair
ness Of his trial lie confessed he was
a soldier, and he wished 10 die az a
soldier. ana declared he could not bear
10 mount the scaffold as a spy.
When court opened this morning for
resumption Of the trial the Attorney
General. Lord Reading, announced the
death OF the prisoner TO the Judges.
since the rise of this court last
night" the Attorney General said. this
man. ku"pferle. has committed suicide
III Brixton Prison. lie was in n special
d observation coli under practically con-
tinuous observation. but during one Of
the short intervals he seized the oppor-
unity Of taking his own life"
USED SILK SCARF
TO COMMIT SUICIDE
Chief Warden Cook who is in charge
Of the prison. testified that last night.
the night patrol officer. a warden named
Perry. came TO him and said: II cannot
sec the prisoner" Warden Cook i'm
mediately rose and, opening the cell
door he found the prisoner hanging by
:he neck from a ventilator In a corner
behind the door. He haG used a silk
scarf to commit suicide. and he was
hanging clear of the floor. Warden
Cook cut the scarf and summoned the
prison doctor. The mans body was still
warm. but he could not be revived.
/ Warden Cook produced the slate on
which the prisoner had written his mes
sage. His communication follows:
! ITO whom it may concern; My name
is Kucpfcrle. and I was born In Ras-
TAFT. in Baden. am n soldier with a
rank do not desire to mention. l can
/ say have had a fair trial in the
I United Kingdom, but am unable
longer TO stand the strain. and l take
the law in my own hands have
fought many battle, and death is tho
only savior for me. l would prefer
death by shooting, but do not wish
! 20 ascend the scaffold AS (here the
/ prisoner drew a Masonic sign), and
( hope the Almighty Architect of this
universe will lead mo in the unknown
land l am no, dying as spy. but as
| a soldier. | stood my fate as man,
! but cannot be a liar and pcriure my
self l ask you kindly that my uncle.
q Ambrose Droll. of Rastatt. be notified
OF my death, desire that all my estate
go 10 him. What ] have done was for
my country / express my thanks, and
may the Lord bless you all
Yours, etc.
| tSirncd) "KUEPFERLE"
On tho other side OF the slate tho
man had written: IL was born June IL
IlSS3"
! The trial OF Anton Eucpferle began
| Tuesday at the old Bailey Police Court
! The opening proceedings were public.
but yesterdays session was in camera
! 'in the interest of national safety"
The charge was that the prisoner
attempted 10 communicate TO Germany
information respecting British warships
and military forces. Kuepferle pleaded
not guilty
The prosecution contcndcd that w lille
he claimed 10 he a naturaliZed American
citizen. he was in reality German.
He was charged with writing letter
TO an address in n neutral country in
Europe, intcrlincd with words in in
visible ink, giving valuable facts re-
Gard!ng English military dispositions.
kucpferlc arrived in Liverpool Feb
ruary II. He showed passport signed
| by Secretary Bryan issued ten days be-
| fore he sailed from New York. He rep
| resented himself 10 be wooden mer-
chant. From Liverpool he went TO
| Dublin. and then to London, where he
was arrested February &c.