St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-10
John [. Forepaugh, a Promi-
nent Citizen, Takes His
Life.
His Health for Many Months
Has Caused Him Much
Trouble,
And He Mentally Worried
Himself Over Very Fool
iSh Fears.
He Disappeared Friday and
Was Found Dead Yes
terday.

Joseph L. Forep augh. retired me
chant and highly respected citizen, COM
mitted suicide in a small grove on Sell
by avenue Friday night Mr.. Fore
paugh left his residence on Summit ave-
nue. Friday morning at 9 O'Clock. He
was at his business office III the block
which bears his name on East Fourth
street until after 10 O'Clock. About
1880 one of his daughters sawhm OH a
cable car going west, between Nina and
harrington avenue. AS her faith er
usually left the car at Nina avenue 10
reach home she was somewhat surprised
but thought nothing more of the circum-
stance until later in the day. The alb
sence of Mr.. FOrepaugh at luncheon did
not cause any anxiety at his home and
the employees at the Office supposed he
was at home. Early in the evening the
family became alarmed and a search
was commenced. No trace of him could
be found, the last person able to give
any account Of him being his daughter,
who saw him on the car in the morning.
Word was sent j. w. Shepard, who acts
as agent for Mr.. Forepaugh, acQuaint-
III MN VI IuS dDSCLCC VI iiS piON
He could give no information. but Joined
members of the family and friends in
making such search as was possible
during the night.
HOW the Body Was Found 3
Early yesterday morning, Mr.. Shepard
being informed that Mr.. Forepaugh was
last seen on Selby avenue car, started
to make thorough search in that di-
rection.. He had carefully examined
the territory Oh both sides of the avenue
for block and was about to give up
the search when he noticed small lake
or pond about 100 yards from Seiby ave-
nue.. near Syndicate avenue. On reach
ing the water he found several boys
there bathing. Explaining he was in
search Of a lost Man, and giving the
description of MIR. Forepaugh. one of
| the lads said he saw man answering
to the description near there Friday aft
ernoon. The boy was certain he
| could not he mistaken in the
description. because lie and his COM
| panions being in bathing at the time
imagined the man was special police
officer sent to arrest them. MI. Shep-
ard, assisted by the boys, formed a line
and commenced a systematic search of
the small grove at that point. About
| one hundred feet from the pond the
body was discovered by one of the lads.
The body lay OH the right side just in
front of large tree. A bullet hole in
the mead between the right ear and eye
and revolver grasped firmly in the
right hand explained the cause of
death. Deputy Coroner Darling was
| notified and the body removed to Dam
piers undertaking rooms.
EEelanchoIia.
No letters or papers giving any rea-
son for the rough act were found, and
the opinion is expressed by relatives
| and those most intimate with the de-
ceased that while laboring under fit of
mental depression he took his life. Mr..
| FOrepaugh had not been feeling well
for several years, being subject to dys-
| peptic trouble. While not so ill as to
| be confined to his home. he had been
much depressed in spirits and labored
| under the impression that financial
misfortune would overtake him. He
had an attack of meianchOlia about a
year ago, but after spending several
| months at the sea shore with his family,
returned much improved.
Mr.. Forepaugh did not carry pistol.
| and did not have one in the house, and
4 it is supposed that when he was seen
riding up town on the cable car he was
| returning from some gun store, as the
| weapon he used was a new one.
There was not the least foundation
| for the fears of financial disaster, Mr..
FOrepaugh's realty possessions includ-
ing some of the most valuable residence
! and business property in the city. He
owned the Forepaugh block, at "a
East Fourth street, another block at
the Seven corners bearing his name,
the handsome residence and grounds
J,x,
| 100 residence lots in another part of the
city. His estate, it is expected. will
| probate fully 100000. and is practically
unincumbered.
4 The remains are beingsprepared for
burial AT Dampier's undertaking rooms
and will be taken to his late residence
this morning, from which place the
funeral services will be held Monday
afternoon at 4 o'clock.
RetrOspection.
Mr.. Forepaugh came to st. Paul in
1858 from Philadelphia, where he was
born. His first venture was in the dry
goods business, and the caption of the
original firm was Forepaugh & Justice
Maurice Auerbach was in the employ OF
the concern, and it was there that be
first drew in the valuable uraughts oi
commercial information that has since
coIlIiouteu 81 lai SGi9 " HIS SucceoS'
Afterwards Mr.. Forepaugh, appre.
ciating the manifest inherent abilities
of Mr.. Auerbach, formed co
partnership with him, and large
dry goods house was opened on
upper Third street. After a time AIR
Forepaugh sold his interest in the bust
ness. and. having faith in the future OF
st. Paul. he erected the block at the
corner Of Third and Wabasha streets
1t was then styled the Forepaugh block
but now it is known as the McQuillar
block, for the reason that Mr.. Fore
| paugh sold it to MI. McQuillan.. Ii
about 1872 Mr.. Forepalgh embarked il
the wholesale boot and shoe bushes:
with J. B.. Tarbox, in which he con
tlnued until 1858, when he retired from
active commercial life and invested hi.
means i'll real estate, and the greatel
portion OF his purchases in this line ART
still part Of the estate that is left Il
the heirs. In 1889 Mr.. Forepaugh. &C
companied by his family, took trip t,
Europe for the benefit Of his failin.
health. Returning to this city, he hal
remained here without other active EN-
ployment other than the care OF hisva
t | holdings. The past Two years his health
, has been miserable He suffered from
general debility. All his vital organ
seemed to decline until he was weak in
deed. He seemed possessed of the mani
that poverty threatened him. although
he owed
No TIan u Dollar,
J and had always been scrupulousl,
punctillious about paying every CLAIM
that circumstance created against him
t 1t is related. in fact. that he could neve
: sleep knowing thathe owed any man
: dollar. This was peculiar trait OF hi
character.
Since the decline of his health MI
Forepaugh has been exceedingly sensi
tive about his taxes and assessments
and he brooded over them Unfortunately
He fancied that they would eventual,
| eat the nrinninal and thu