Evening star., 1922-08-20
ODD LOVE Barred
BY DOUBLE SUICIDE:
Louis Koemmenich, Music
Master, and Pretty
Dancer End Lives.
GIRL AT FIRST PR0TEGE
Elderly German Was Former Con-
ductor of New York
0ratorio Society.
GIRL At FIRST PR0TEGE
By the Associated Press.

By the Assoca ted Press.
NEW YORK. August ia strange
story of an elderly German music
masters infatuation for a youthful
protege that led both the master and
the girl to suicide. was unfolded to-
day by the wife Of Louis Koemme-
mich. noted composed and con-
ductor.
A week ago Vera Lehman, a
young actress, known on the stage as
Vera dArtelle. was taken to Flower
Hospital suffering from poisoning.
She had been found unconscious on
the floor of her mothers costume
shop in the heart of the Roaring
Forties." She died last Monday morn
ing.
Twelve hours later the body of
Koemmenich. clad in silk pajamas,
was found on the floor of an apart
ment in Ninety-first street. off River
side Drive. The gas cocks of a stove
were turned on. Koemmenich had
been asphyxiated.
Note Explains Affair.
At his side was found a note, ap-
parently scrawled in haste. 1t was
not signed.
Just received word that Vera COM
mitted suicide. This being a great
loss to me. there is nothing eles left
for me to do"
Koemmenich was fifty-five years
old, had been married thirty-six years
and was the father of a son and two
daughters, one of them married.
In 1912 he reached the height OF
his career, succeeding Walter Dam
rosch as conductor of the Oratorio
Society," Previous to that time he
had charge Of large German choral
organization here and had achieved
fame as director of Philadelphia
maennerchor that won the Emperor
William prize three years under his
leadership.
The world war came; Koemmneich's s
heart was with Germany, and when
it was over he was broken in fortune.
He stified his pride and a year later
started out as musical director of a
road company of "Aphrodite." His
wife and family were a great deal
concerned about him, but cheered him
of his way.
Writes Of Young Woman.
And then the change. The director
wrote to his wife of a young woman
in the company. Vera Lehman. who
gave promise of golden attainment;
she had a voice, she was beautiful and
she could dance. He was giving her
vocal instruction. In nearly all his
letters home, his wife said, he spoke
Of Vera.
Miss Lehman welcomed the as
sistance Koemmenich gave her. and
she was a frequent caller at his
home.
people began to talk. said Mrs.
Koemmenich today. land 1 began to
realize that a harmless relationship
of pupil and master had grown into
something greater-infatutation
forbade Vera to call at my home
when 1 was absent" :.
One day one of koemmenich's g
daughters returned home to find that
her father had attempted suicide.
They sent for Miss Lehmann and.
Mrs. Koemmenich said. "she came
and sat for hours. holding his hand.
1 remained in the room all the time.
During his illness she sent him
flowers and they saw each other a
great deal afterward. I saw It was
useless to try to end the affair. We
had been married thirty-six years
and I hoped his reason would return
to him."
Tries Second Time to Die.
Ten days ago Koemmenich made a
second attempt to end his life. One
Of his dapghtsrs then called on Miss
J. (Cpntinued on Page 2, Column 81