KANSAN SUICIDE IN
KANSAS CITY HOTEL.
ALBERT SARBACH OF HOLTON
FOUND DEAD IN ROOM.
Killed Himself With Chloroform,
But Had Acid in Reserve -- Pros-
perous Merchant and Mason --
Motive Unknown.
With an uncorked chloroform bottle fastened to the bed in such a manner that every drop fell on a towel laid over his face, Albert Sarbach, a prosperous merchant of Holton, Kas., was found dead in his room in the Baltimore hotel at 8 o'clock yesterday morning.
Deputy Coroner Harry Czarlinsky said Sarbach probably had been dead two days.
No motive for the suicide could be found yesterday. The only thing that could be found of a significant nature was a bottle of carbolic acid, possibly to have been used had the chloroform failed.
That Sarbach contemplated suicide, though no motive was given, is the opinion of officers who investigated the matter. In one of his pockets was a will which was made out on April 20. The writing was identified as that of Sarbach.
MAID THOUGHT HIM ASLEEP.
Mr. Sarbach is supposed to have gone to his room some time around midnight Saturday. He took the key out of the door, evidently knowing that the maid would use the master key to open the door, and find his body.
The maid opened the door Sunday morning and saw Mr. Sarbach's body lying across the bed. She th ought that he was asleep, probably suffering from the effects of a bad night, and as he was dressed and the bed was made she hurriedly closed the door and went about her work. She returned to the room in the afternoon and when she saw the body was unmoved she concluded that he had not awakened.
Yesterday morning when the housemaid found his body in the same position as the day before she summoned the housekeeper and it was discovered that he was dead.
HIGH IN HIS FRATERNITY.
Sarbach was a member of a prominent family of Holton, and was unmarried. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, and had held various offices in the order. At the time of his death he was grand treasurer for the order in Kansas. At one time he was mayor of Holton, and until his death was a member of the board of regents of Campbell university, located there.
He was elected to the Kansas legislature in 1900 on the Republican ticket. He is survived by a brother, Max Sarbach, and two sisters, Carrie Sarbach and Mrs. Sarah Lehman.
The body was taken to Stewart's undertaking rooms. Dr. Czarlinsky said no autopsy would be held.
Mr. Sarbach's uncle, W. W. Nailer, called at Leo J. Stewart's undertaking rooms and identified the body, which will be sent to Holton for burial.
Samuel B. Strother, public administrator, was yesterday afternoon appointed by the probate court to take charge of Albert Sarbach's estate. This move was made so that the coroner may turn over to Mr. Strother any personal property Mr. Sarbach may have had in this state at the time of his death.
When told of the suicide of his brother Albert at Kansas City, Max Sarbach collapsed. The Sarbach store was closed. No probable cause for the act is known to members of the family.
Sarbach is reputed to have been wealthy. He operated grain elevators in Holton and at Della, Winchester, Boyle, Half Monn, Larkin and Circleville, Kas., in addition to his mercantile establishment. No financial losses sufficient to cause suicide are known.
