St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-28
BULLET IN HIS BREAST
Frederick De Haas Dies, in a
Fit Of Grief, by His Own
Hand.
Business Difficulty Improper
ly Imputed as the Motive
for the Act.
His Financial Affairs Loose,
But Without Suspicion Of
Dishonesty.
The Home of His Cousin the
Scene OF the Sad and
Tragic Event.

Frederick De Haas, of the firm of De
Haas & Van der Velde. state agents of
the German Life Insurance company,
yesterday shot and killed himself. The
cause that drove to suicide one so APP
parently contented and happy is known
to only few intimate friends, and will
probably never be divulged, but that it
was not due to financial troubles, and
that he was not short in his accounts,
may be stated as positive facts. 1t will
be relief to his family, his connections
and his friends to know that in his sad
death there is no stigma Of diShonor.
The fatality occurred at o'clock yes
terday morning. Earlier than that hour
Mr.. Haas sent word to his cousin.
Charles Frey, living at 735 East Fifth
street, on Dayton's bluff, to remain at
home until he called. Frey was the
confident of De Haas. and awaited bis
coming. Upon his arrival they went
up stairs together and had short talk.
DE Haas was quiet and composed, and
Frey noted the air of desperate determi-
nation in his manner. Presently De
Haas walked into the alcove and
drew curtain about him. Be-
fore Frey could realize the sit
uation there was the report of a pistol
and DeHaas was lying on the floor, shot
through the left breast, just over the
heart. Frey got him upon the bed and
physicians were summoned. For ten
minutes DeHaas was conscious, and re-
peated three sentences: My poor wifel
My poor childrenl My poor motherW
Drs. Stamm. Ohage and Senkler were
soon at his bedside. but the first exam
inatlon showed that life would soon be
extinct. Tina muZZle OF the pistol had
been elevated slightly and the ball
passed over the heart, but the pericar
dium was pierced and the bullet lodged
In the muscles of the back, beneath the
shoulder blade. Mrs. DeHaas Was sum-
moned and Albert Scheffer and few
other close friends and relatives. All
that medical aid could suggest was done
for the wounded man, but he never re-
gained consciousness, and at short
time before 6 o'clock quietly passed
away
Business Affairs.
When the first news of the tragedy
was given the city. it was followed i'm
mediately by rumOrS of financial trOub-
les as the probable incentive to the act
1t was known that MessrS. Hubert Gil
lis and William Cohr, agents of the
Germania company, were in the city
examining the local books and accounts
and this gave color to the current st0-
ries. 1t was determined. how ever, that
while the local affairs of the company
had strongly felt the effects of the re-
cent depression in financial circles.
there was absolutely nothing wrong
with the accounts. The local
agents had accepted as pay
ments for premiums, a considerable
amount i'll notes, perhaps $4,000. These
were either indOrSed and discounted or
carried by local banks. About the first
of the year the mo renewal rule went
into force In the banks, leaving the
agents with this paper on their hands.
1t was to examine this state OF affairs
that Messrs. ellis and Cohn came to st.
Paul. They have made their investiga-
tion, and unite III saying that no charge
OF dishonesty can be laid at the doors Of
Messrs. De Haas and Won der Velde.
Mr.. Cohn is a close personal friend of
Mr.. De Haas, and said the company was
perfectly satisfied with his conduct OF
Its business. This was confirmed in
other quarters and in such way as to
completely..set at rest all questions of
shortage or misrepresentation.
The Cause a Mystery.
''No one knew Fritz De Haas but to
love him." said near friend, last
night. HE was as popular man as
ST. Paul contained, and had not an en-
emy. For twenty years he has been
agent of the Germania. and had its un-
bounded confidence. Why, il it had
been question of finance, l know
twenty men who would have advanced
$4,000 each in six hours to help him
out. But it was not that. L know the
trouble, but 1t will never be known. l
have expected this for some days past.
Poor fellow 1t was grief that nearly
killed him; not financial trouble. He
will leave his family plenty to live on,
besides policy for $4,000 in the Ger
mania company"
Frederick De Haas was thirty-eight
wears of age. and has been in st. Paul
twenty years. He was the son OF Fred
erick De Haas, the former publisher of
the Buffalo IN. " Democrat, and who
was killed at public meeting by the
falling of a liberty pole. The victim of
yesterdays tragedy married daughter
of Paul Hauser, and had five children,
the youngest only a few months old.
He was nephew of Hon. Albert Schef
fer, on his wife's side, and through the
same connection cousin of Charles
Frey, at whose home the deed was COM
mitted.