The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-29
A. W. Lehnherr Shot Himself
Thru Head Today.
Had Much Money on Person
No Cause for Act.
RECENTLY LEFT THE ARMY
Was Returned From France
Only Short Time Ago.
He Left Sabetha About Week
Ago, Relatives Say.

Dead. a gaping hole thru his right
temple, a man believed to be A. W.
Lehnherr. OF Sabetha. was found ly-
ing by the side of the Lake street road
near Fifteenth and Lake streets at
noon today. A new .22 caliber revol-
yer was at his right side. One cart
ridge was exploded in the chamber.
Travellers checks issued on the Cit
izen's State bank OF Sabetha for $500
and cash and currency amounting to
S129.65 were found on his person.
The checks were made payable to A.
w. Lehnherr. A new pocket notebook
in his pocket bore the following di-
rection:
ship my body to sabetha, Kansas,
for burial"
on another page appeared the fol-
lowing, written in a hand almost illeg-
ible:
In case of accident notify H. NJ.
Feldman of Sabetha or L.. f. Lehn-
herr of Humboldt, Neb."
Rich Sabetha Youth.
A. W. Lehnherr of Sabetha was one
of the wealthiest men in that town,
according to information received to-
day over long distance telephone from
the cashier of the Citizens State bank
Of Sabetha. His parents died several
years ago leaving him much money
and property.
The description given of Lehnherr
by the Sabetha banker tallies in every
respect with the description Of the
stranger found on the roadside with a
bullet hole thru his head.
Absolutely no cause for the young
mans act could be assigned by the
banker. Lehnherr didn't drink, was
not a sport in any way, the banker
stated, and had no love affairs so far
as the community at large knew.
Lehnherr was in France and was
discharged from the army about 60
days ago. He left Sabetha less than
a week ago, the banker stated. He
did not know Lehnherr's destination
at the time he left Sabetha.
NJ. NJ. Feldman. of Sabetha, whom
the dead man left word for officers to
notify is an uncle Of Lehnerr.
His Clothes Were New.
The clothes worn by the Sabethan
were new. He had a new. green hat.
new shoes, new socks, new under
wear, new shirt and a new necktie.
Absolutely no motive for the mans
act had been uncovered at late hour
this afternoon by DR.. c. NJ. Hensley,
coroner. and Chief of Police George
! G. Hannah.
Lucille Knight, 1918 Lake street, and
Mrs. Starnes. who lives next door, both
negroes, told police officers that they
saw Lehnherr plodding thru the
Il
particular attention to him.
NJ. ]. Herwitz, who lives at Fiji
teenth and Lake streets, and Sam
| Day, aged Is years, living at 1895
Lime street, were working in field
opposite to the grassy spot under a
big tree which .Lehnherr selected
| to shelter him during the last min
utes Of his life. They were probably
a. quarter Of a mile distant. A view
, of the roadside is shut off from the
field by a high hedge.
Discovery of Body.
I'VE heard a shot about 11:45
o'clock" said Herwitz. There are
hunters shooting around here all the
time and we didn't think it amounted
to anything"
| Later the 15-year-old lad started
| home Herwitz heard a cry for help
and hurrying to the spot, looked down
on the blood stained face.
/ The chief of police was called, the
coroner notified and DR.. A. B. Jeffrey
the first physician, who could be To-
Gated hurried to the scene. Death
physicians stated, was instantaneous
The spot chosen by the man be
lieved to be Lehnherr is isolated The
Herwitz home is the nearest habita'
ton and II is 500 yards south and hid
den from the roadside by n hedge
There is another house occupied by
negroes probably 500 yards north Of
the place.
In a purse on which the name o.
r. NJ. Lehnherr. Dawson, Nebr-, is In
scribed was a card bearing the seria
number of the man. The serial mum
ber is 3.296.725. Also a rifle number
was found on the card.
There was a check book which ha6
been used found in his pockets ant
issued by the Citizens State bank o
Sabetha, Kan. A khaki handkerchief
new drinking cup. knife and bag
gage checks showing he had baggage
checked at one of the depots in To
pelSa were all the other articles founC
in his pockets.
In the excitement following the find
ing OF the body. the acting coroner
misplaced the baggage checks. How
ever. he intends to call at the various
check stands at the depots in an eff