St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-08
of Ed F. orth, his brother-in-law. 90

Ol Eu L. OTJH. HIS UFOIHeT-lH"ldW. JUL
Chicago avenue, with whom he resided.
Mr.. Bofferiing, whose wife is con-
fined IN the insane asylum at Battls
Creek, Mich, occupied a room alone in
the house. At about a. IN. the other
inmates of the house heard a muffied
sound in his room. but SuppOsing it was
caused by the fall of q window sash,
thought nothing of 1t. AS he did not
appear when breakfast was ready, one
of the family went to his room and
knocked. Receiving no response, the
door was opened and the unfortunate
man was found
LYING DEAD IN HIS BED,
the clothes dyed with blood from a
wound in his head. In his left hand
was still clutehed a 3S-caliber re-
voiyer, with which the deed had
been committed, and one chamber
of which was found TO be empty.
The body rested upon its back, the
feet toward the left side of the bed, and
the head on the right pillow. The cloth
ing covered the body to a point above
the waist, the only clothing upon it be-
ing light undershirt. The bed was not
tossed in any manner, and the silent
form might have been in the arms of
slumber but for the open eyes, which
were slightly diScolored. The head was
thrown over 10 the right from the force
of the shot. and the body was slightly
inclined in that direction. The wound
was two inches behind the ear. and the
pillow was saturated with blood close to
IA
1t was learned that the deceased was
left-handed. The fatal bullet had passed
diagonally through the head and found
a lodgment behind the eyes. Death
must have been instantaneous, in the
opinion of the physicians.
The news of the suicide spread rap
Idly, and naturally created much ex-
element. following, as it did, so closely
upon the defalcatiOn and abScOnding of
Teller Scheig of the same bank. There
is no doubt that MIR. Botferding's sui
eide is in great measure traceable to
the crime of Sheig. He had been con-
nected with the bank for many years;
was a competent, painstakIng officer,
and had taken great
PRIDE IN THE INSTITUTION
of which he was practically the head.
There is no doubt that the conduct of
Scheig so weighed upon his sensitive
nature that it gave away under the
strain, and that while his mind bordered
upon insanity the dreadful deed was
committed.
Mr.. Bofferding had other troubles.
Some twelve years ago he married he
daughter of John Orth, the well kno WI
brewer. After a daughter had been
born to them. who was the only child,
Mrs. Bofferding became insane. Her
husband was teuderly attached to her,
and this unhappy event bore heavily
upon him. He often referred to it in
conversation with intimate friends in
language which Indicated how deeply
he felt the misfortune which deprived
him OF the companionship of his wife.
On Tuesday he informed Warren E.
Hartford that he intended to kill him.
self. and he placed a revolver, which he
had at the bank, in his pocket. Mr..
Hartford tried to take 1t from him, but
without success, even then only think
ing it was an idle threat consequent
upon the recent trouble in the bank.
The same day he had told Mrs. Orth
that he intended bringing his revolver
home. but no attention was paid to his
words, as being of apparently little i'm
port. Last night he was about town
with friends and played several games
of cards with them. He was apparently
in good spirits. He retired at 1890
o'clock. telling Ed Orth that he had to
be up early in the morning to meet
some one at the tram at Z o'clock. Mr..
Orth remembers now that his friend
shook hands with him in an
UNUSUALLY AFFECTIONATE MANNER.
for he never did so unless he or Mr..
Orth had been away for some weeks. |
That was the last that was seen of him
alive. r. d. Kirby, president of the
bank, who resides in Chicago, arrived in |
Minneapolis yesterday morning, having |
been called there by the Scheig affair. |
He had arranged to meet Mr.. Bofferding |
at the train, but when the train arrived |
Mr.. Bofferding was dead. Mr.. Kirby |
was much affected by the news. He
was very much attached to the dead |
cashier, as, indeed, were all who knew
him. Mr.. Bofferding was comparatively |
A WEALTHY MAN.
He held block of stock, said 10
amount to 500, 900, in the Minneapolis
Brewing company, besides other prop
erty said to be worth at least SIPS, 900.
He carried $50, geo life insurance. The
occurrence naturally caused some ex-