The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11

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bility. For example. his mind leaned to
sex matters. He obtained from Germany
scientific works on the pathology of
sex. the psychology OF sex relations I;
works on degeneracy and studies in
morbidity. He liked to discuss such
matters in the intimate circle of his
friends. He planned wen to form a
secret society for the study Of medieval
mysticism. an organization which would
be based or the Rosicrucian order. In
this, however. he met slight encourage
ment.
While teaching at Lawrence. where he
met John c. Whitman. among others. he
was marked also for his interest in the
peculiarities Of insanity. Mr.. Whitman
was aware Of Muenter's ambition To
take a postgraduate course in Harvard
University and knew that Muenter had
prepared a thesis to offer for the degree,
an essay which he called Insanity and
Literature By m~ischance, this paper
was mislaid or lost oil the train which
eventually carried Muenter East. but
later he amplifed and enlarged the
thesis and called 1t Insanity in German
Romance and Literature
There are no direct evidences that
Muenter In those years was so keenly
interested In the crimes of insane per-
sons that he kept. as he kept later,
when he became Frank Holt, "A care
fully arranged file of newspaper clip
pings reporting such crimes and indi-
cations Of insanity but the traces of his
bent were in evidence. He showed at
all times a curious desire to probe the
unhealthy. And yet no one believed
Muenter was crazy when he taught at
Lawrence. He was. to all appearances
merely "a mild hammered scholar, earnest
and u~nflagRing In his profession OF
teaching.
Hid Ills German Origin.
Nor was he f~iagrantly Germanic In
speech. trend OF thought or activities
The fact is that Muenter as Muentei
and Muenter as Holt sedulously sough,
to conceal traces Of his German origin
Aware hat he spoke English with q
slight accent. he labored steadily to
eradicate that accent and even, IT is
said, cultivated a lisp which could b'
used to explain an imperfect rronuncia
ton. He was careful to spread the stor,
that he had been born In this country
although many persons besides his wifi,
and her family, the kremhses, Were
aware that he had been born in Ger
many.
From the University of Kansas ant
Lawrence he went to Harvard and Cam
bridge In 1904. entering as a candidate
for the degree of doctor of philosophy
He received an appointment as instruc
tor In the Germanlc department, teach
ing elementary courses. His Harvard
associates saw quickly that he was al
unusual type OF man, palpably eccen
trio. yet not u%nlikable and certainly yer!
capable. His diligence won him tn,
plaudits OF the professors and his qule
courtesy secured him the good will o
the students.
Among the men he came in contac
with In those days was oddly enough
Assistant District Attorney Woods o
Nassau county, one OF the persons VIII.
was able to identify Holt a few day
ago as Muenter. But his appearance
became familiar to many in Cambridge
and not one of these doubts that Muen
ter and Holt were identical.
Muenter's wife Joined him In Cam
bridge early in 1906. One child ha,
been born to the couple In their nv
years OF married life and a second wa
on the way hen Mrs. Muenter appeare,
in Cambridge, His wife and himsel
were Christian Scientists. When Mrs
Muenter gave birth to her baby and the
failed to recover strength Muenter sum
moned faith healers of his cult. FINAL.
two regular practitioners Of medicin
were called In and after Il Cursory ex
animation they decided hat Mrs. Muen
ter was suffering from etomach troubl'
They prescribed for her. but withdre,
when they learned that Muenter was nc
following the directions they gave. a
midnight on April 10. 1906, Muenter toll
the nurse In charge that he would re
main with his wife all night and tina
she had better take the opportunity I
get needed rest. She lay down. At
o'clock the following morning, April II
Muenter awoke the nurse and told he
that Mre. Muenter was dead.
Death Certificate Refused.
The physician who had last seen Mr.
Muenter refused to issue a death Gel
tifcate. His suspicious had been aroused
The Coroner ordered the woman
stomach sent to the laboratory OF tn
Harvard medical school for analysis
There was really nothing except SUI
piclon to prompt the authorities in tai
ing this action, and when Muenter. Yer
plausibly. asked permission to take h
wife's body to Chicago for burial III
} medical examiner issued "A certifca,
and permitted him To remove the bod,
He secured an undertaken and, urgin
the undertaken to make haste, left o
April II with the body for Chicago. tai
ing with him his daughter Helen, then
years old, and the newly born infant. II
never returned to Cambridge and h
departure was The last definitely know
OF him In Harvard.
He tool the body to Chicago, wher
It was Cremated by his instructions, ar
Immediately after h funeral Muents