The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1892-12-22
TORCH AND BULLET.

| Tragedy Startfo the People of ST Ioui.
An Attempt to Burn the city Hail by
Firo storted In the city Troasurer's
Office Followed by tho Suicide Of Ed. a..
FoersteI, Eldest Son aud chief Dcp,tf v
OF Treasurer Foerstel.
ST. Louis, Dec. 30. Ed c. Foerstel.
the son and chief deputy of Michael C.
Foerstel, city treasurer lies a corpse,
having taken his own life rather than
race the consequences of ,his misdeeds.
At6:05a. IN. Night Watchman william
Quirlc at the city hall, walking through
the hallway on the second floor, discov-
cred fire in the city treasurers office,
Ia The southeast corner of the building.
He hastily turned in AN alarm, rand
later, when Chief Lindsay arrived, he
ordered second alarm turned in. This
brought out fifteen fire companies, and
the f1re was soon under control
When the fire WAS discovered in the
treasurcr's private office adjoining the
safe, the doors of the vault, inside and
outside, were wide open The flames
| We're raging amidst lot of old papers
on set of shelves on the north wall
adjoining the private Office OF City
Auditor Brown, and thirty feet away
from the stove, which, however, had
not contained n fire since Saturday.
The fire had burned through the par
tition into the auditors office and had
gained considerable headway, and also
burned under the floor and out into tho
hallway.
The outer doors Of the treasurer's of
nee were locked by spring lock. Capt.
VIM. Young of the Central police sta
ton took Charge of the Office, stationed
man before the safe, which was
locked, and, satisfied of the incendiarv
nature Of the fire, detectives were at
once put on the case
AT few minutes past s o'clock, the
startling intelligence reached the citv
hall, that Ed Foerstel, assistant treas
urcr, and son Of the city treasurer had
sent bullet crashing through his brain
at the house No. Pip Pine street. where
he had been living. He was seen at
barrlson's saloon Il short time before
the fire was discovered. At about half
past o'clock he reappeared at tho
saloon and borrowed the pistol with
which he later on tool, his life.
When Treasurer Focrstel reached the
Office and discovered the door of the
vault open almost his first words were:
when Eddie comes down he will count.
the cash. although don't think there
was much there"
few minutes later the bool5-kccpcr
arrived, and it was learned that there
was little over 81 900 in the safe.
I've sent for Eddie" said the treas
urcr, ''and | think he'll he here in Il
minute; he has not been staying home
lately; he rooms on Pine, near Twen-
tieth, somewhere"
At this time the rumor of Eddie's
attempt at suicide was current all over
the Four Courts and city hall. A dozen
officials, including Commodore Smith,
ten. Stevenson. Auditor Brown about
four detectives and dozen newspaper
men stood around.
All had heard the rrlnor that was 90
ing to he Il fearful blow tnSiae boys ia
ther Yet none had the ucrve to tell
1t. At this moment an rmploye of the
1flicc came III and said: My God. why
don't you tell him, why don't somebody
tell him? Tell him, ] can't" Tell
what?' asked the treasurer as he fin
lshed looking Mt n statement the book
keeper had just handed him
Mike, Ned has committed suicide"
said the speaker
When the full import Of tho sentence
was fully graspcd by Foerstcl he looked
at the safe, turned pale and then grew
ashy in color. lie didn't speak or look
up. The only outward signs of the
grief which he was undergoing was
that ho seemed to grow twenty years
older
AS soon az the condition of affairs
become known to all the chief officials
around the building Comptroller Stev-
enson and his chief clerk, Fred. Gcrbel,
and Auditor Brown went to the treas
urcr's Office and, with citizen William
freaudenau, assisted in making an
Investigation q the books and cash in
the office.
City Treasurer Focrstefs bonds are
signed by more men and better than
have ever signed city treasurer's bond
before. Whatever develops, the city
itself is secure from loss.