The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-20

shortage in his accounts of S8S,02o 10,
his son dead IA suicide) with absolute
ruin staring him in the face, Michael ].
Foorstel, until tonight city treasurer of
st. Louis, is one Of the most miserable
of men.
An investigation of his affairs, pre-
cipitated by the events to be related, re-
suited in the discovery OF the shortage
given, the immediate removal Of the
treasurer by Acting Mayor Q, P. Wal
bridge, and the appointment as tcmpo-
rary treasurer of Charles Parsons, tho
best known banker of the city, who i'm
medfately gave the required bond Of
$500, 900 and assumed the position. 1t
was but little after dawn this morning
when suicide added its dark intima-
tions to the cloud of charges, counter
charges, denials and half suppressed
scandal which has been hanging over
the Office OF the treasurer OF the city OF
st. Louis for weeks past.
Edward Foerstel, first assistant, and
son Of Michael ]. Foerstel, city treasurer,
at s o'clock this morning shot himself
| in the right temple, causing q fatal
wound. For weeks past stories of pecu.
liar doings in the treasurer's Office have
been afloat, There have been suits
brought against the treasurer by money
lenders, assertions regarding real estate
deals of tho treasurer and his son, and
allegations of use of the city's money
by some one who recouped the treasury.
Amid all the wild deductions drawn
from the flying rumors which could not
in any way be safely verified, there
came this morning at about s o'clock
the announcement that fro had been
kindled shortly before in the city treas.
urer's Office, where, with the doors OF
the vaults wide open, q too apparent
attempt had been made to conceal the
guilt Of any one who should be guilty
Of wrong doing. Scarcely Two hours
later came the news OF Foerstel's sui
eide; then the situation began to clear
itself.
FATHERS GRIEF.
Fortunately for the city, prompt
discovery of the blaze enabled its quick
control, with the destruction, SO far as
known, of only some old papers and
furniture. (.
Immediately upon the controlling Of
the fire the police were placed in
charge OF the city treasurer's Office.
When Treasurer Foerstel reached the
office and discovered the situation, al
most his first words were: "When Ed
die comes down we will count the cash,
although / don't think there was much
there"
arrived and Il was learned that there
should be little over S11, ,000in thesafe.
.tIye sent for Eddie" said the treas
urer, land think he will be here in q
minute"
A few minutes later the news was
broken to the old man that Eddie had
committed suicide.
He did not speak or hook up. The
only outward sign OF the grief which he
was undergoing was that he seemed to
grow twenty years older. The treasurer
paced the office minute, his handker-
chief to his eyes, and then bya violent
effort suppressed all emotion and went
to the comptroller.
.sWhen will you look into things here
with me2" he asked.
tAs soon as you are ready" replied
the comptroller.
In a few minutes the work was begun
under the direction Of Comptroller Stew
enson, with assistants.
OF the cash on hand the young sui
eide was custodian. His death has
closed his lips, but the last act Of his
life surrounds him with evidence of
guilt. The attempt to burn the city
hall is construed by the police as the
act of guilty man whose only chance
to escape detection was in the destruc-
tion OF tho records in the treasurer's
Office of which he had control. The
evidence shows that he occupied his
room after midnight and left it an
early hour this morning. His move
ments after leaving the house cannot
be traced until q point after the quench-
ing of the fire is reached.