TALA Tales: The Tragedy of Karl Kunst

Superintendent's Office
WV Hospital for the Insane
Source: WV History on View

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Weston State Hospital. West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. Whatever name you choose to call it, West Virginia's massive hospital  building is no stranger to death and tragedy. However, the patients committed to its halls aren't the only ones at risk for being taken too soon. Sometimes the staff are at the heart of TALA's tragedies...and sometimes, it's the staff's FAMILY.

Around 8pm on November 2, 1904, G. Karl Kunst was found dead in his room at the State Hospital for the Insane. Upon hearing a gunshot, Kunst's parents, including his father, Dr. A.H. Kunst, superintendent of the hospital, rushed in. Karl was found fully dressed, lying on the side of his bed, dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the temple. He was 28 years old. 

Interestingly, while The Fairmont West Virginian, dated 03 November 1904 explicitly states the cause of death to be a suicide, it is recorded at the WV State Archives as being 'accidental'. Did Karl take his own life on purpose, or was the 'accidental' designation simply for the family's peace of mind and societal pressures?

At the time of his death, Karl was a Colonel on Governor White's staff, and well known and seemingly well-liked by many. He had served as First Lieutenant with the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. In February of 1904, it was noted in local papers that Kunst, a strong Republican with many Democratic friends, would have made an excellent political candidate, and could run for public office that year, although it doesn't appear he did. But, Karl was no stranger to tragedy.

On Christmas Day, 1889, Karl, who would have been about 14 years old at the time, joined several other boys for some target practice in West Weston. In a tragic accident, the gun Karl was holding discharged, striking four year old Guy Davis in the head. The little boy miraculously held on a full day before succumbing to his injuries. Guy was the son of Henry M.L. Davis, farmer for the WV Hospital for the Insane. Karl was described by the WV Argus, 09 January 1890 edition as being "prostrated from the effects of this sad accident." Assuredly, it was a dark day for people of Weston, and especially the families associated with this tragedy. 

No one really knows for sure what victims of suicide are ever really thinking leading up to their decision to end their lives.  In Karl's case, it could have been lingering guilt from his involvement in a young boy's death. It could have been PTSD from his service in the war. It could have been anything or nothing. It's sadly ironic, however, that Karl's own father was the superintendent for the state hospital AND he lived on-site of the facility, yet was unable to get the mental health treatment needed to prevent this tragedy. 

*A new suicide prevention lifeline rolls out on July 16, 2022. Call or text 988 to be put in contact with trained counselors to help you or a loved one through a tough situation.*

Want more information on the everyday lives (and deaths) of the patients of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum? Check out my collection of posts, linked below:

COLLECTIONS: TRANS-ALLEGHENY LUNATIC ASYLUM

The Fairmont West Virginian
03 November 1904

WV Argus
09 January 1890

The Murder of John Rose at the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane

 

West Virginia State Hospital 
for the Insane-Weston, WV
July 10, 1884
Source: WV History on View

On October 7, 1881, what started as a normal Friday night at the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane at Weston (now known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum) would turn deadly for one inmate. Blaine Starry, an inmate from Jefferson County, WV, was in his room for the night---Room No. 6, to be precise. He was alone, but his room was separated from another patient room by means of a mere flimsy partition that didn't even reach the ceiling. In the adjoining room were John Rose and an unnamed roommate. John Rose, described as an inoffensive elderly gentleman, was from Point Pleasant. 

For whatever reason, Starry, in possession of what one newspaper article called a 'club,' climbed over the low partition into Rose's room and beat the man to death. He severely wounded the roommate as well before guards could subdue him. Starry was said to be a powerful man, wielding his weapon with terrific force, so I can imagine how violent and brutal the death of Mr. Rose truly was. And, unfortunately, it would become just one in a string of brutal killings committed by asylum patients against their fellow inmates.  And, like, so many other deaths of this nature, may have been preventable---at least in the eyes of one citizen from Wheeling, WV.

Going by just the name 'W.,' a gentleman wrote several letters to the editor of the local Wheeling Daily Register newspaper about the incident. He states that although the murder was discussed freely around the town of Weston the next morning, the local papers didn't cover it. Even the Wheeling paper failed to mention the rumors of a coroner's jury. Would this tragic death simply be played off as just an unfortunate accident, or would someone be to blame for Rose's demise?

Obviously, if the events took place as described, then Starry would obviously be guilty of the crime, but could the administration and staff at the hospital helped prevent it? It seems likely, as W. goes on to mention the rooms the male patients were in were both too small AND the partitions, being designed for the female patients, were too low. Was there neglect on part of the current superintendent? Perhaps. 

Back in April of that same year, a board had voted to replace Dr. Camden, long time superintendent of the asylum with a new, inexperienced doctor named Dr. W.J. Bland. This decision was apparently upsetting to, well, just about everyone. It is said the patients, upon hearing the news, screamed and cried and carried on. The general public was outraged as well, and sent in letters of support, petitions, and prayers in order to keep Dr. Camden instated. But, on May 15th, 1881, Dr. Camden was out and Dr. Bland was in, without any reason ever being given as to why the switch was made. 

The mysterious W. of the editorial mentions that there's no way that the new superintendent could know what was going on with the patients. Unlike Dr. Camden who made it a point to walk the wards multiple times a day and speak with the patients, Dr. Bland maybe visited the wards once every 2 to 3 WEEKS. He also failed to keep up correspondence with friends and family of the patients, missing out on valuable insight into their behavior and state of mind. Also...just where were all the funds set aside for the improvement of the hospital going exactly?

These are all fair concerns and questions, and so many years later, we'll probably never know the full truth. Unfortunately, I could not find any death certificates or any additional information at all on John Rose.  I was able to finally track down Blaine Starry in the WV Vital Statistics Death Certificates database. It seems as if Mr. Starry passed away from unknown causes at the asylum on February 6, 1891. He was 44 years old, and had been diagnosed with 'insanity' since he was a teenager. He was buried in the hospital cemetery. 

Want MORE tales from the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum? Check out my page:

Collections: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Sources:

The Weekly Register (:Point Pleasant, WV). 13 April 1881. Page 2

South Branch Intelligencer (Romney, WV). 21 October 1881. Page 4

The Daily Register (Wheeling, WV). 12 October 1881. Page 1

The Daily Register (Wheeling, WV). 19 October 1881. Page 1

The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. 12 October 1881. Page 4

Starry, Blaine. Register of Deaths for Lewis County. WV Vital Statistics Database