Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Two Members of the Firm, Father and
Son, Commit Sui
eide.
Revelation viii Have an Effect on
the EmperOr's Movement Against
immortality.

the effect may be imagined when it was
announced that the leading partner in the
concern, together with his son, had com.
| mitted suicide.
The failure is associated with the recent
suspension Of Birschfeld and Wolf. The
fact that Freidlaender and Sommerfeid were
financially embarrassed and would find
| difficulty In meeting their obligations was
known TO some of the operators on the
| Bourse here early in the day. Large
forced sales were made and this action
was vaguely attributed to local financial
| troubles. These sales caused a genera
and heavy fall in prices, but the business
of the day was over before the tragic IN.
| cidents closing the career of the bankers
became generally known. As the
facts in the case developed it appeared
that the father and son met in their office
in the bank early this morning and
discussed the crisis in their affairs. At
ter talking the matter over pro and con,
they concluded that as they were hope.
lessly embarrassed, they would die. Ii
is understood that this resolution to take
their own lives was in great meas
ure due to the fact that their arrest
was impending, as Felix Sommerfeld,
the son, had become involved in specu-
lations which were more than likely to
lead to his arrest on a criminal charge.
Having arrived at the decision that
death was preferable to arrest and dis
grace both father and son shot themselves
in the head, using revolvers. When the
clerks in the office, alarmed at the reports
OF the pistols, ran to the private Office they
found father aud son still alive. They
were conveyed to the hospital In a dying
condition. The firm has been in exist
ence for long time and held a good po-
sition in the financial world. Since the
Hirschfeld and Wolff failure many of the
principal clients of Freidlaender and
Sommerteld becoming alarmed re-
gardipg the stability Of private banking
houses made heavy Withdrawals of depos-
its. Herr Sommerfeld tried to meet the
difficulty by realizing ON his investments.
These, however, were locked up in indus.
trial and other stocks, which were not
readily marketable, and eventually it was
fou d impossible for the firm to meet its
engagements.
The best informed members OF the bourse
say they do not expect the failure will pre-
cipitate a period of general disaster,
though 1t is certain to increase the alarm
among the investing classes. This even
ing large crowd assembled in front of
the uank and threatened to carry the
building by storm to recover their secu-
rites. The police had great difficulty in
res training them from carrying their
threats into execution.
Friedaender, the senior and surviving
partner is staying at Mentone. A tele-
gram has been sent summoning him to
return to Berlin. Inquiry into the affairs
of Hirschfeld and Wolff realizes the worst
antlcipations. The finn has been in bust.
"a years and had as its chief Herr Wolff,
who occupied several other positions OF
trust, He was prominent society man
who lived a life If ostentatious wealth,
his household ex Denses running to 400. 600
marks a year. He did little in the specu-
lative line until recent years, when his
private extravagances and losses at tie
gaming table led to embarrassment He
tried 10 Tecoup the losses through dealings
on the Paris and Berlin bourses. As a
matter of fact the firm has been insoven'
since 1878. For number OF years Wolf
has been living by selling and pawning
securi les OF dispositions, working in con-
nection with Banker Joseph Leipsiger.
1t is asserted that Wolff, with all the
facts being known 10 Leipsiger, foated
spurious drafts through Lelpslger and
pawned securities of depositors amounting
IN value to 3,5O0,O00 marks. Leipsiger
finally went to the wall and his failure
| FASTENED the downfall Of Hirschfeld and
| wolff. Among numerous aristocratlc
creditors of the firm are Prince Henry, OF
Prussia, who loses 100000 marks; Prince
Gunther, of ACKNOWLEDGMENT, brother
of the Empress OF Germany, 100000
marks, and Count Luttichon, prominent
leader in German society, 300.OO0 marks
Other members of the arIstocracy are
severely hit.
Wifi is confined in Mosbit prison. He
says he is una BILE to make any estimate OF
his liabilities. He has number of heavy
gambling debts. Wolff was president OF
the Resource club, an organization COM
posed OF wealthy parvenues and fnanclers
who were addicted to reckless play ing. t
is recorded that upon tie eve of the
failure ct the firm, " off refused to pick
up a couple OF thousand marks in bills
which had been accio entally dropped at a
gambling table. He left the money on
the floor for the walters.
Tie emperor desi4 LIS to cleanse high as
well as low society and his good inten-
1lons have received an impetus from these
disclosures. The Wolff clique Haunted
de mlreps In sumptuous raluents In the
uest boxes OF the opera house and wi b
their 1rau companions drove IN barou hes
Though the Ihlergarten. Officers belong
ing to Berlin and other garrlsons who are
following the same lite as the Wolff
crowd, have received caution through the
cOlonels Ct their regiments that The EN-
peIor will wipe tn,m out OF the army and
use bis influence to osiIacise them IN So
cIety unless they mend tLen ways forth
with.
The police continue their efforts to
place a check upon the social evil for
which Berlin Is notorious, being prompted
thereto by the emperor, who Is fully de
termlned 10 bring an end TO this crying
evil. They have sco1ted 10 the frontiers
or placed In prison 40 men who were
subslstlng upon the earnings OF vicious
women.
Tue movement inaugurated by the en-
peror to suppress the morally depraved
classes extends to every populous center
OF the empire. The problem is serious
one and Is engaging the attention f
press and pulpit. Religious papers ad-
wise close SCI utiny and suppression of
lmoral dramas, Supervision OF singing sa-
looms and the prohibition of the exposure
and sale OF obscene photographs, pictures,
books, etc.
UNDERWOOD OBSERVATORY.
Handsome Gift to the Equipment of Law