The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-20
Eddie Foerstel, Son of the Custodian of the
City's Funds. Fatally Shoots Himself After
Attempting to Burn the Court.House.
His Father Confronted with Shortage
of S63,020 and Deposed from Office.
Startling Climax to Rumors That Had Been
in Circulation for Weeks-Suicidea Plunger
in Reul Estate and Races.

in his accounts of S63.020. 16 his son dead,
a suicide, with absolute ruin staring him
in the face, Michael j. Foerstel, until to-
night city treasurer of st. Louis. is one of
the most miserable of men. An investiga-
tion OF his affairs. precipitated by events
to be related resulted in the discovery of
the shortage given, the immediate re-
moval of the treasurer by Acting Mayor c.
Z. Walbridge, and the appointments as
temporary successor of Charles Parsons,
the best known banker of the city. who
immediately gave the required bond of
S5o0OOO and assumed the position. 1t was
but little after dawn this morning when
suicide added Its dark intimations to the
cloud of charges, counter-charges. denials
and half-suppressed scandals. which
have been hanging over the Office of the
treasurer of the city of st. Louis for
weeks past. Edward Foerstel. first as
sistant and son of Michael j. Foerscel, city
treasurer, at 8 O'clock this morning, shot
himself in the right temple. the ball pass
ing through the brain, lodging under the
skin on the left side. and causing q neces-
sarily fatal wound.
For weeks past stories of peculiar doings
in the treasurer's Office have been afloat.
There have been suits brought against the
treasurer by money-lenders. notorious for
their usurious charges; assertions regard
ing real-estate deals of the treasurer and
his son, and allegations Of the use of city
money by some one who recouped the
treasury, previous to the regular examina-
tions. By borrowing from the shylocks who
at last sued the treasurer himself on notes
which he declares to be foraeries. Amid
all the wild deductions Drawn from the
flying rumors which could not In any way
be safely verified, there came this morning
about five minutes before 6 O'Clock the an
nouncement that fire had been kindled
shortly before in the city treasurer's Office.
where, with the doors of the vaults wide
open. too apparent attempt had been
made to destroy everything in that Office
and so forever conceal the guilt of any one
who should be guilty of wrong doing.
Scarcely two hours later came the news Of
Ed Foersteps suicide, and then the situa-
ton seemed to clear itself. Fortunately
for the city. prompt discovery of the blaze
enabled It's quick control with the DR.
struction. so far as known. of only somb
old papers and furniture.
INFORMED OF HIS SONS DEATH.
Immediately after the fire had been con.
trolle1. the police were placed in charge of
the city treasurer's Office until the proper
officers could make an examination. When
Treasurer Foerstel reached the office and
discovered the situation. almost his first
words were: when Eddie comes down
we will count the cash, although / don't
think there was much there"
"a few minutes later the book-keepers
arrived, and il was learned that there
should be q little over 81. 900 in the safe.
1--WE sent for Eddie" said the Treasures,
land think he'll be here in minute"
At this time the rumor of Eddies attempt
at suicide was current all over the Four
Courts and City Hall. A dozen officials,
including Commodore Smith, Controller
Stevenson. Auditor Brown. about tour de-
tectives and a dozen newspaper men stood
around. All knew where Eddie was, yet
none had the nerve to speak. At this mo-
ment an employe of the Office came in and
said: "My Cod Why don't you tell him;
why don't somebody tell him! Tell him.
can't"
Tell WHAT" asked the Treasurer. as he
finished looking at a statement the book
keeper had just handed him.
Mike, Ned has committed suicide,n said
the speaker.
"Be a man. Mike" said General Steven.
son. and she old mans eyes welled up with
stels shoulder.
When the full import of the sentence
was fully grasped by Foerstel he looked at
the SAFE turned pale, and then grew ashy
-. ~ Il 80. l. 4
only outward signs of the grief which he
was undergoing was that he seemed TO
grow twenty years older The treasurer
paced the Office q minute, his hand ndkerchief
TO his eyes. and then. by violent effort.
suppressed all emotion and went 20 the
controller.
When will you look into things here
with meip he said.
las soon as you are ready" replied the
controller. In few minutes the work was
begun under the direction of Controller
Stevenson, who had as assistants Fred
Gabel. his chief clerk; Auditor Brown and
citizen William Freudanu.
EVIDENCE OF THE YOUNG MANS GUILT.
OF the cash on hand the young suicide
was custodian. His death has closed his
lips. but the last act of his life surrounds
him with evidence of guilt. The attempt
to burh the City Hall is by the police con-
strued as the act of guilty man, whose
only chance to escape detection was in the
destruction of the records in the city treas
ureI's Office. of which he had control. The
police cannot shake Oft the suspicion that
young Foerstel set tho fire that was discov-
cred in time to save the records. They be-
lieve that be laid his plans to prove an
slibi IN case the City. Hall was a total
wreck and in the ruins lay the records of
| the treasurer's office. The evidence shows
| that he occupied his room after midnight
| and left it at an early hour this morning
| His movements after leaving the house
cannot be traced until q point after the
4 quenching of the fire Is reached. 1t is
| known that about 6:30 be borrowed the re-
! volyer with which he committed suicide
| from James Harrison. friend. and the
theory is that he had learned of the failure
| of his plot to destroy evidences of his guilt
| and was thereby forced to resort to death
| as the only escape.
Young FoerstePs record is tnat of q wild
| young man and plunger. On horses he was
| heavy better. placing u thousand or more
| at q time. He was also in terested in real
estate deals beyond bis capacity to handle.
as Is shown by recent developments in
! court proceedings, in the nature of injunc-
tions. etc. Ed Foerstel was generally
| liked. H6 was about twepty-three years
| of age but old in experience, especially in
| financial matters. for his years. In his
capacity as assistant treasurer os the city
| OF st. Louis over Sl0.00o000 in city funds