New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-06
German Ends Life
After Questioning
By u. S. Agents
Richard A. Timmerscheidt
Jumps to Death from 10th
Floor Apartment

Richard Adam Timmerscheidt, forty
five years old, q rich naturalized Ger
man, who as recently as last Saturday
was questioned by William VI. Ofaey.
superintendent Of the local Bureau OF
Investigations Of the Department OF
Justice, committed suicide early yes
terday morning by jumping from the
window Of his apartment on the tenth
floor Of the building at 200 Central
Park South, after cutting his wrist with
safety razor blade.
Timmerscheidt, who was said to have
posed as an agent OF the Russian gov
eminent, was formerly connected with
the foreign exchange department OF
Ladenburg. Thalmsnn & Co, 20 Broad
Street. In 1909 he left that company
70 take a position with the Discount
Society Of Berlin. and later went to
Hong Kong as manager Of a branch Of
the German Asiatic Bank. He re-
turned 70 this country soon afteE the
European war began and opened Offices
at Al Broad Street. He received his
naturalization papers in Deem
Der, 1914
Had Been Questioned Often
Several times since the United States
entered the war Timmerscheidt had
been called before officials OF the De-
partment of Justice, but his call on
Captain OfAey on Saturday was vol
untary. Assistant District Attorney
John c. Knox said yesterday.
In spite Of the fact that Thinner
scheidt's suicide followed closely on
the announcement Of the increased en-
deavors Of officials in Washington 70
round up all persons suspected OF az
inc the enemy by forwarding informa-
ton regarding military and naval ac--
tivities. Mr.. Knox said that there was
notbinc in the reports Of the investiga-
ton Of Timmerseheidt 20 suggest thas
his suicide was in any way connected
with the questioning 20 when ne ha
been subjected.
Captain OfAey likewise declared that
ne had been questioned merely as
matter OF routine because ne nae
knowledge OF certain transactions. ne
aid not believe. he sad. that the no
tive for the suicide would. when DIS
covered. be other than purely personal.
Surrounded in Mystery
I,dications are that. while the gov
eminent has no direct Information that
irmerscheidt was actively engaged IN
a consDiracv. IL was believed tnat sucn
evidence might be discovered az any
time. ,. -.
Justice kept in close touch with him.
To add color 20 the theory that MS
suicide NAV. in some way, have been
connected with an attempt 20 aid the
German government. is tie veil o. mys-
tory with which TimmerscheiGt sur
rounded himself. His name does not
appear in the city directory or the
talephone book. nor Il he listed on the
directory OF the building az II Broad
Street nor AZ % Broad Street. the
building in which the Offices OF Laden,
burg. Thalmann & Co. are located, and
with which mis- suite was connected Dy
a long corridor. The door OF MS once
did not carry his name.
Two clerks. questioned yesterday az
lis Office. said that they had last seen
Timmerscheidt Tuesday afternoon and
that he then appeared IN ms usGaI
health They could give no reason TOT
their employers suicide. except, per-
haps. worry over the state OF aralrs De-
tween Germany and the United States.
Iittle business had been done with Ger
many since war was declared. they said.
Crashed Through Sidewalk
Examination OF Timmerscheidts
Apartment az 200 Central Park South
showed that he had first intended TO
kill himself by slashing MS wrist. AFTER
cutting 10 three times with a safety "a
zor blade, however, he bound i VI, WIN
piece Of cloth torn from his bath