The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-08
heir Fortunes Gone, Their Honor
Tarnished, They Resolve to Nh
pie 1ogether.
erlin Bankers Indulge In Methods
That Equal the Philadelphians
iii gisho csty.
srr wolfr and His Disreputab1e Life
= Tie set warned q DebAsed Mon Run
q q Out Of Berlin. 5E

BERLIN. Nov. IA sensation wAs caused
financial circles to-day by the collapse
tho banking institution Of Freidl ndsr y \
pmmsrleld. This usual scenes Of excite
ent among creditors occurred around the
ncea and the effect may be imagined when
was announced that tho leading partner
the concern, together with bis son, had
pmmittod suicide. The failure il asao-
ated with the recent suspension OF
Eirschfeld g. Wolff. The fact that Fried
nder q sommer6eld were financially en-
nrrnssed and would find difficulty Il
eeting their obligations was known to
pme Of the operators on the bourss here
lilly ii ths day. Large forced sales we're
ade, and this action was vaguely attrib-
ted TO local financial troubles. These
hles caused general and heavy
HI iii prices, @ but the business
the day was over before the
agic incident closing the career Of the
hnkers became generally known. Az the
scts in the case developed it appeared that
.ther ana son met in their Office in the
ank early this morning and discussed the
risis in their affairs. After talking over
,e matter pro and con. they concluded
hat % they were hopelessly embarrassed
hey would die. It's understood that this
bgolution to take their lives was in great
hsaaure duo TO the fact that their arrest
Fas impending rs Felix sommerfeld, the
bl, had become involved in speoulations
|hich were moro than likely to lead to his
Erest 81 a criminal charge. Having ar
kved at the conclusion that death was pre-.
brnble to arrest and disgrace. both father
nd son shot themselves IN tho head, using
eyolvers. When the clerks in the oihce,
larmsd at the reports OF pistols, ran 70
be private Office they found father and
on stiI! alive, They we're conveyed TO 9
ospital in dying condition. $
The firm had been III existence for lon &
inc and held d good position III the fnan-
hui world. Since tho Hirachfeld d Wolff
kilure many of the principal clients of
Friedlander a Sommerheld, becoming
harmed regarding the stability Of private
snking house4, made heavy Y WlthdraWals
leet the difficulty ~ attempt ting TO realize
4 Investments. Y They, Nj however, we're
,cked ur-in industrial and other stocks
hich were not readily marketable, and
yentually IL was found impossible for. the
rm to meet it's engagements. 'Ihe best
hformed members of the bonrse sa say5they y
u not expect that the failure will preclpi-
hte a period Of general disaster, though it
Bcertain to greatly increase alarm among
hvsyting Glasses. Ne IL
This evening large crowd assembled in
kont OF the bank and threRtened to carry
be building by storm anu recover their Sc
urities. The police had great difficulty in
restraining the mob from carrying their
klreats into execution. Friedlander, the
|enior, and surviving partner. is staying at
Ientone telegram has been sent sum
honinG him TO return to Berlin.
Inquiry into the affairs OF Hirschfield "
Nolf realizs the worst anticipations. The
rm has been in business sixty-four years
nd had as its chief Herr Wolff, who ocou-
lea several ether positions of trust. He
,as a prominent society man and lived q
fe Of ostentatious wealth, his household OK
lenses running to 100000 marks year.
be did little in tho speculative line until
ecent years, when his private extraYa-
ances and losses at the gaming table led
osses through dealings on the Paris and
sorlin bourses. Az matter OF fact the
rm has been insolvent since 1873.
as m been living ~ selling and
awning the securities o. depositors, work
ID in connection with Banker Joseph
4sipsiger. Itis asserted that Wolff, with
II tbs facts being known TO Leipsiger,
Dated spurious drafts through Leipsiger
nd pawned securities of depouitors amount
I'd ii value to 3,5OO, 900 marks. Leipsigel
tnally went to tha wall and his failure
fastened tho downfall Of HerBhfeld y
Wolff. #51.a
Among the numerous aristocratic credit
rs of the firm are Prince Henry Of Prus-
ID, who losea 100000 marks; Prince Gun
her Of s.chleswig- Holgtein, brother OF the
impress Of Germany, 100000 marks, and
,ount Luttichon, a prominent leader N
German society, 100000 marks. Other mem
,ers Of the aristocraoy arc severely bit
Wolff is confined in the Moabite prison
70 is unable to make an estimate 9 o. hls
liabilities. He has q number Of heavy
ambling debts. Wolff was president OF
he Resource club, an organization COM
osed ofwealthy paryenns and financlers
gho are addicted to reckless playing. 1t i
eoorded that upon the eve Of the failure q
be firm Wolff refused to pick up couple
4 thousand marks which hXd accidentally
ropped at tho gambling table. lie lett the
Money on the floor for the walters.
The emperor designs to cleanse high az
veil as low society and his good intentions
ave received impetus from these dis-
losures. The Wolff clique Haunted demi-
epH III sumptuous rniment II the bes1
poxes III the opera house and with the11
rail companions drove in barouclles
trough the garaens Officers belonging K
serlin and other garrisons who arc FOL:
owing the same life as the Wolf
rowd have received caution through. the
oIonela of their regiments that the en-
error will wipe them out Of tho army ane
lse his influence to ostraciss thom IN 30
iety nnleus they mend their ways forth
With. The uolics continue their efforts V
,lace check upon the social evil for whict
3erlin Is notorious, being prompted thereto
~ the emperor, who ID fully determined tt
bring an end to this crying evil. They hny'
,pcorted to the frontiers or placed il prisol
10 men who were snbsisting upon tile earn
ngs of vicious women. 'rhB movement n.
lugurated by the emperor to suppress tn
morally depravad GLASSES e1tenda to e1er.
populous center Of the empire. Ihe prob
ention Of press and public. Religious pa.
,ers advise the close Acrntiny and repres
inI, 1.E iIu1nnrnl lrn ~ tba an nnrYi sion q