Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-20
The Boy Sunk $6S,OOO Of the Funds
of the City of st. Louis
AND LEFT HIS POOR OLD FATHER
Ruined and Disgraced-The Only
Redeeming Feature Was That
He Killed Himself, But 1t Came
Too Late-He Plunged in Real
Estate and Bet on Horses.

S63, ,020. l6, his son dead by suicide, with
absolute ruin staring him in the face,
Michael j. Foerstel, until tonight city
treasurer Of ST. Louis, is one or the
most miserable of men.
An investigation of his affairs, preclp-
iteted by the events to be related, re-
suited in the discovery of the shortage
given, the immediate removal OF the
Treasurer by acting Magyar c. Z. wal
bridge, and the appointment as tempo
rary treasurer of Chas. Parsons, the
best known banker OF the city, who i'm
mediately gave the required bond OF
$500, 900 and assumed the position.
1t was but little after dawn this
morning when suicide added its dark
intimaton to the cloud Of charges,
counter charges, denials and half sup
pressed scandal which has been hang
ing over the office Of the treasurer OF
the city of st. Louis for weeks past.
Edward Foerstel, first assistant, and
son of Michael j. Foerstel, city treas
urer, at 8 o'clock this morning shot
himself in the right temple, the ball
passing through the brain and lodging
under the skin on the left side, causing
a fatal wound.
For weeks past stories Of peculiar
doings in the treasurer's office have
been afoat. There have been suits
brought against the treasurer by money
lenders, assertions regarding real
estate deals of the treasurer and his
son, allegations OF the use Of the city's
money by some one who recouped the
treasury.
Amid all the wild deductions drawn
from fying rumors, which could not in
anv way be safely verified, there came
this morning at about FIVE minutes after
6o'clock the announcement that fire had
been kinded shortly before in the
city treasurer's Office, where, with
the doors of the vault wide
open, 8 700 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 late came
the news of young Foersters suicide
than the situation began to clear IT.
self
Fortunately for the city, prompt dis
covery of the blaze enabled its quick
control, with the destruction sa far as
known, of only some old papers and
furniture. Immediately upon the con-
trolling 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,
almost his first words were, when
Eddie comes down we will count cash,
although don't think there was much
there"
A few minutes later the bookkeepers
arrived, and it was learned that there
should be a little over $1,000 in the
safe. "I've sent for Eddie" said the
Treasurer, land 1 think he will be here
in minute"
A few minutes later the news was
broken to the old man that Eddie had
committed suicide.
He did not speak nor look up. The
only outward sign of grief which he was
undergoing was that he seemed to grow
20 years older.
The treasurer paced tho office min
ute. his handkerchief to his eyes, and
then by violent effort suppressed all
emotion and went to the comptroller
when will you look into things here
with me?" he asked.
"As soon as you are ready" replied
the Comptroller. In few minutes the
work was begun under the direction OF
Com ptroller Stevenson with assistants.
or 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
10 escape detection was in the destruc-
tion Of the records in the treasurer's
Office Of which he had control.
The evidence shows that he occupied
his room midnight and leitit an early
bour this morning. His movements
after leaving the house cannot be
traced until point after Quenching Of
the fire is reached.
1t is known that about $50 he bor-
rowed the revolver, with which he COM
mitted suicide, from James Harrison, a
friend. and the theory is that he
learned OF the failure of his plot to de-
stroy evidences of hia guilt, and was
thereby forced to resort to death as the
only escape.
Young Foerstel's record is that OF a
wild young man and piunger. On
horses he was h heavy better. He was
also interested in real estate deals be-
yond his capacity. He was generally
liked. He was about % years OF age,
but old in experience, and especially In
financial matters, for his years.
In this capacity as assistant treasn-
rer of the city Of st. Louis over S10,-
600. 600 in city funds and securities
passed through his hands each year.
Late tonight the investigation OF the
city treasurer's accounts was compile
Ted. his books being checked with those
OF the comptroller and the banks hold
ing city deposits.
AS a result of this searching inquiry,
an embezzlement Of S63, ,020. SO was dis
covered. In this phase OF the affair but
little except sympathy for ex-Treasurer
Foerstel is heard. 1t is settled by the
INQUIRY that he. personally, is innocent
of wrong-dolng.
His son sunk the whole sum In frantic
real estate deals, the extent OF which it
will take weeks 20 unravel. But the
father is a broken and ruined man, who
suffers punishment for the sons wrong
doing.
Jack McAuline in New York.