Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-21

I Sou, ...........'... -. $3.50. -.
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 8 a.. g.. o
FORsMAN.s FALL.
He Is Held to Answer to the Grand Jury
and Goes to Jail.
On the night of the 18th inst, Albert
Forsman, a we'll known society man and
former clerk of the Windsor no ell, was
caught in the act of burglanzing the safe of
that caravansary. The circumstances at
tending his arrest and the incidents con-
nected Herewith, were lucidly detailed in
Tuesdays issue Of the GLOBE, but in the not
uncommon history of this mans downfall,
which eliminated in the midnight, and pain
fully dramatic climax of Monday morning,
there is something of especial interest," re-
peating, as it does, pathetic but too fire.
quently neglected warning.
man of courtly address, and of reputed
capabilities that were unequalled in the dis
charge of the peculiar duties assigned. Fors-
man maintained q place in the confidence of
his employers that had never been shaken
by the lightest breath of suspicion until last
May, when he was discharged for certain
Irregularities of conduct, his honesty at that
time not having been questioned.
Like thousands of young men in similar
positions, Forsman had cultivated taste
for high toned society, which IS too frequent
ly synonymous with riotous living aid reck-
less expenditures of money, which almost
amounted to passion, the constant ind1l-
gence of which awaited only an opportunity.
When these facts are considered, together
with his discharge, his consequent lack of
means and foolish desire to maintain ap
pearances, his desperate efforts, in short, to
seem what he was not, at every sacrifice of
principle and honor, it is not difficult to
ascribe the direct motives which precipitated
his downfall. A striking proof of the above
assertion is furnished by his actions the night
preceding his arrest. He had arranged to
accompany party of we'll known ladies and
gentlemen on pleasure excursion to Lake
Superior. The party were to leave the morn
ing following, and when Forsman was ar
rested, three hours after making arrange
ments for the trip, he possessed the pitiful
sum OF two cents, showing that he expected
to make a big haul before dawn, with which
to defray the expenses of the trip.
The examination took place in the NUM-
cipal court at 8 o'clock yesterday morning.
TIE prisoner wore an air of assumed indif-
ference, beneath which the observer could
trace the signs of intense agitation and ner-
,vousness. The examination lasted an hour,
during which the prisoner never glanced in
the direction of the auditors, among whom
were several of his former employers, while
the butterfly acqua1ntanoos of his hoy dos
hours were conspicuous by their absence.
County Attorney Rogers appeared fo7 the
State and Mr.. I. V. D. Heard represented the
interests of the prisoner.
Mr.. Albert T. Jones, the day clerk and
cashier at the hotel, was first sworn and tes-
titled to being the custodian of the keys of
the safe. On the evening of July 31st wit
ness testified to having deposited six bills of
the denomination of 500 each in the safe,
two of whicl had been distracted during the
night, the theft not being discovered until
the next morning. The safe had been locked,
and witness thought that the keys had been
taken from his pockets during the night.
The prisoner and witness occupied the same
apartment, and owing to the frequent recur-
renee of the thefts Forsman bad been sus-
pected of being the guilty party. Witness
had noticed the discrepancies at the end of
the months, when he made out his balance
sheets. Had noticed the first discrepany in
April, when the cash fell short about $40.
The shortage in June amounted to $3.50, and
the total discrepancies amounted to over
$500.
The discrepancies had been reported about
two weeks since, when the proprietors had
endeavored to trap Forsman, who was suspect
ed of having committed the thefts. The
combination of the safe had not been
changed since the prisoners discharge, and
the safe generally contained from 1926 to
$500. Witness then stated that number
of marked $5 bills had been placed in the
safe on the evening preceding the arrest, but
as the prisoner did not reach the money
drawer they were not taken.
Mr.. John Somers, one of the proprietors
of the Windsor, examined the keys found in
the possession of Forsman, and explained
that they would afford ingress to the safe.
I. w. Towne, agent for safe and lock
company, examined the keys thrown in the
letter-box by Forsman Immediately after
his arrest, and testified that they had not
been made by an experienced locksmith.
Officer Baer was called, and related the
circumstances connected with the arrest
with which the public are already familiar.
Mr.. Somers was recalled, and stated that
he had suspected Forsman on account of his
loose habits, and for the reason that he had
been caught tampering with the safe about
two weeks ago. Witness also explained
about finding the keys in the letter. box afte,
the arrest.
No evidence was offered for the defense
and at the conclusion of the above testi-
mony the prisoner was bound over to the
grand jury in the sum of 81, ZOO, on two
charges, viz: larceny and attempted larceny
and in default of sureties he was committed,
an Ohio Editors Ytsit to st. Paul.
Editorial Cor. Norwalk (Ohio) Reflector.