Charles
Kunath
Cincinnati Enquirer, Tuesday, 10 August 1910, page 13
NEWPORT
Charles Kunath, aged recluse, died at St Elizabeth Hospital
yesterday morning. In addition to the $1,142 found stowed in a bed tick at the
home of the decedent at 29 East Seventh street, the police found another roll of
bills amounting to $16 in a box under the bed. The body was removed to the
morgue of Funeral Director William Betz.
No relatives of the recluse have been found. Kunath left no will. He called for an attorney Monday to draw up the document but concluded to postpone the matter until yesterday. In the absence of a will county Judge Hawkins appointed Chief of Police John Lickert administrator and he qualified by furnishing the necessary bond.
A woman called upon Undertaker Betz yesterday and made inquires about the funeral arrangements. She claimed to be a relative. Kunath was registered as a Socialist and was on of the peculiar characters of Newport. He built story by story without assistance, the house on East Seventh street in which he died and reserved the third or attic story for pigeons that were allowed to breed and thrive there for years without being disturbed until they became a nuisance to neighbors.
He also built unaided an automobile that made a noise like a thrashing machine when it was operated. It is said that he had four children in Germany and an attempt will be made to reach them as they are the only relatives known.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 9 August 1910, page 5
DEATH
Charles Kunath, aged herb doctor of Seventh st. Newport, who was taken to St Elizabeth Hospital several days ago critically ill, succumbed at an early hour today as a result of his illness.
Chief of Police Lickert, whom Kunath sent for Monday and confided in him the hiding place of his hoard of gold, silver and paper money amounting to $1143, when notified of Kunath's death at once notified Undertaker Betz, of Newport to take charge of the body and prepare it for interment.
In the meantime Chief Lickert will make every effort to find the dead recluse's relatives. People who were acquainted with Kunath state that he has relatives in Germany. It is also learned that a son of the deceased visited him about 10 years ago but he left and nothing has been heard of him since. The money found by Chief Lickert in a tin box under Kunath's bed has been placed in the Newport National Bank and will be held there pending the action of the County Judge.