Evidence of Historic (1907) Baseball Suicide Copycat

Resourceful baseball researcher Frank Russo has passed along a baseball-related copycat suicide news item.



The New York Times, March 31, 1907

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ANOTHER STAHL SUICIDE



Friend of Dead Baseball Player Takes Carbolic Acid



Fort Wayne, Ind., March 30. - David P. Murphy, an engineer

on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, committed suicide

to-day by swallowing carbolic acid. It is believed the suicide

of "Chick" Stahl, the Boston American baseball player, who

was an intimate friend of Murphy, had some effect in giv-

ing a suicidal impulse to Murphy's mind. Murphy left a note

saying: "Bury me beside 'Chick.'"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



The headline makes me wonder if there were a series of suicides in the wake of Chick Stahl's death.



In 1906, Chick Stahl was named the full-time manager of the Boston

Americans (later known as the Red Sox). A former popular Boston Pilgrims outfielder, manager Stahl died by suicide with carbolic acid on March 28, 1906. This occurred while he was traveling with the team in West Baden Springs, Indiana. A note left behind stated: "Boys, I just couldn't help it. You drove me to it."

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