Not On The Spur Of The Moment

NOT ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT

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Did Albert Klein Take the Prussic Acid

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WROTE A LETTER FEB. 12

Four Days Before the Suicide Letter was Found in His Pocket Book

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The inquest on the death of Student A. O. Klein was brought out rather conclusively that it was not on the spur of the moment, last Sunday morning, when he administered unto himself the dose of prussic acid. 

Klein had contemplated the act of self-destruction for at least four days. 

The letter which he had written to his student friend, Walter Hamacher, was dated last Wednesday.  This letter he had placed in his long pocketbook and in his coat pocket.  It read as follows:

Ann Arbor, Feb. 12, 1902.

My Beloved Wally,

I beg forgiveness for the seemingly rash deed which I, this morning, contemplate.  My life has this far been a complete failure and undoubtedly would continue so.  Therefore at the present stage of mental depression I take the liberty of ending it.

Forgive and Forget.

Sincerely yours,

ALLY.

O Wally dear -- my Wally, dear, 

Farewell to thee my Wally, 

And if forever, still forever

Farewell to thee.

ALLY.

At first it was thought that Klein may have made a mistake in the date but Student E. C. Hutton stated that he had found Klein's election card for studies for the second semester and on the back of this was written the exact wording of the poetic postscript of the letter addressed to Hamacher.  This card was to have been handed in to the faculty last Saturday and this would make it appear that Klein had given up any idea of continuing work in the University and resolved to end his life.

There were no new facts brought out at the inquest outside of those stated above.

The jury consisted of Arthur Sweet, Harris Ball, John R. Miner, Hudson T. Morton, George R. Haviland and Harry C. Benham.  Their verdict was "that said Albert O. Klein came to his death on Sunday about 8:30 .m., Feb. 16, 1902, at 610 Forest avenue, Ann Arbor, from a dose of prussic acid administered by himself with suicidal intent."

The witnesses sworn were Alter Hamacher of St. Clair, D. O. Huntoon, M. D. Verdier of Grand Rapids, Dr. W. B. Hinsdale, Frederick C. Hatch of Chicago, W. D. McNally of East Saginaw, Thomas D. Buell of Marine City.