Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-20
HANGS HIMSELF IN
LONDON PRISON
Leaves Note Admitting He Was Sol
disr and Prsfsrrsd to Die 40 Such
and Not as spy-TriaI in Prosrsss
at irims-Admittsd Fairness Of
Fairness Of Tsssimony-eors Pass-
port Signed by Bryan at Time Of His
Arrest.


who claimed to be an American citizen
who once lived in Brooklyn, and who
has been on trial charged with giving
military information to enemies OF
Great Britain, committed suicide last
night in Brixton prison.
He left note on q slate bearing on
the fairness of the testimony at his
trial. He confessed he was soldier.
said he wished to die as a soldier. and
declared he could not bear to mount
the scaffold as spy.
Was Closely Watched.
When court opened this morning.
the attorney general. Lord Reading
announced the death Of the prisoner to
tho judges.
"since the rise Of this court last
night" the attorney general said, the
man, Kuepferle, has committed suicide
in Brixton prison. He was in spec
ial observation cell, but during one of
the short intervals he was not under
observation, he took his own life"
Chief Warden Cook said that last
night patrol officer came to him and
said.
II can not see the prisoner
Warden Cook went to the cell and
found the prisoner hanging from a
ventilator in corner Of the room. He
had used silk scarf to hang himself.
Gave Facts TO Germany.
The trial Of Anton Kuepferle began
Tuesday at the Old Bailey police court
before Lord Chief Justice Reading and
Justices Avory and Lush. Tho proceed
.inks were public and the court room
was crowded. The charge against the
prisoner WAS that he attempted to
communicate to Germany information
respecting British warships and rnili-
itary forces. ..e
The prosecution was conducted by
the attorney general. The prosecution
contended that while he claimed to be
Q naturalixed American citizen, he was
in reality German. He was charged
with writing a letter to a neutral
country In Europe giving valuable facts
regarding important military disposi-
tions. It was asserted that while the
letter appeared on its face to be an
innocent communication. 1t was found
to be interlined with invisible ink with
informa tom written In German.
Bryan sisned Passport.
He came here and showed a pass
port signed by Secretary w. ]. Bryan.
issued ten days before his sailing from
New York. He gave his home address
>as 1865 DeKalb avenue, Brooklyn. N. Y.
He represented himself to be Woolen
merchant. From Liverpool he went to
Dublin and then to London. where he
was arrested Feb. 16. His hearing was
resumed yesterday in Old Bailey, but
was in camera, "in the interest Of the
national safety"
Confession Produced in Court.
Warden Cook produced the slate on
which the prisoner had written his
message. His communications follows:
ITO whom 1t may concern: My
name Is kuepferle. and was born
in Rastatt, in Baden. i am a SOL
der with rank do not desire to
mention. can say have had a
fair trial in the United Kingdom.
but I am unable to longer stand
the strain I have fought many a
battle and death is the only savior
for me. would prefer death by
shooting but do not wish to as
cend the scaffold as"-here the pri-
soner drew a Masonic sign-"and
I hope the Almighty Architect Of
this universe will lead me In the
unknown land. I am not dying as
q spy but as soldier. I stood my
fate as man but can not be q
liar and q perjuror myself. I ask
you kindly that my uncle, Ambrose
Droll, OF, Rastatt, be notified Of my
death. desire. that all my estate
go to him. What have done was
for my country. I express my
thanks and may the Lord bless you
all.
yours. etc,
a "KUEPF,ERLE."
On the other side of the slate the
man had written:
ar ,,,,. h.,n T,,o~11 100,