Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-06
CONFESSED AND DIED
SENSATIONAL SUICIDE OF P. c.
DOEPpENSCHMID
COULDN'T FACE DISGRACE
Took Money From Benziger Bros,
His Employers-Was Given an OPP
portunity TO Make Good the Short
age. but Refused, saying He Had 10
Money.

/ Chicago, May 31.-After confessing
that he was defa utter, although every
opportunity was offered him TO make
8 his shortage good, Philip c. Deepen
schmidt ended his own life yesterday
morning. He was the cashier for Ben
Tiger Bros, dealers in Catholic sup
plies, at No. It's Monroe street, and
he shot himself in the private office of
Charles W. Hawley, No. 631 Monad-
mock building. The remains We're re-
moved 10 Rolston's morgue, No. IL
Adams street, where an inquest was
held by Deputy Coroner Kelly. The
verdict of the jury was that the man
had committed suicide, and the body
was then taken to Jaegers undertake
ing establishment ON Twelfth street,
near HaiSted.
Seven years ago Doeppenschmidt en-
tered the employ of Benziger Bros.
as chief bookkeeper. A year Iater he
was made cashier, and he came to
tie company with such excellent ref
erences that no bond was required of
him. 1t was not until two years ago,
however, that he commenced his steal
ings. Such implicit confidence was
placed in him that his employers were
greatly surprised when their suspi-
rions were aroused. They at once
placed his books in the hands of Mr.
Hawley, who is an expert accountant,
and then the discovery of his shortage
was first made known. 1t is said it
will not exceed $1,000 or $1,000.
Doeppenschmidt's plan was very
simple. He made no false entries, but
instead made false footings, some of
the pages showing deficit of $50. 1t
is not known what use he made of
The money.>Tuesday he was discharged
by Benziger Bros, and yesterday he
was taken to Mr.. Hawley's Office. The
latter told him that John F. Brueckner,
representing the Catholic supply firm,
had discovered a mistake of $40 in
his trial balance.
Yes" said the ex-cashier I'm
guilty. If you look further you'll find
more mistakes just like that"
Then Mr.. Hawley told him he had
gone over his books, and that he knew
to the cent the amount of his shortage.
What have you done with the
money! he asked.
81 cannot tell you," Doeppenschmidt
replied. Il do not drink, nor have l
ever gambled."
Mr.. Hawley told him there was no
desire on the part of the company to
make his disgrace public, and said that
an arrangement could be made TO
pay back the stolen money in con-
venient payments. Doeppenschmidt
replied that he had no money, that all
of his property was mortgaged, and
that he could only see one thing i'll
view for himself, the penitentiary.
Again Mr.. Hawley offered an oppor-
tunity of settling the matter on easy
terms. His back was turned and he
did not notice the ex-cashier take II
revolver from his pocket.
He was startled by the report of the
weapon, and thinking that Deepen
schmidt had fired at him he ran out
the door into the private office. He
Soon saw, however, that he was mis-
lken. The defaulter was lying on the
floor dead, and a large pool of blood
on the carpet showed where he had
fallen.
The body Of the dead man was at
once removed to the morgue. He was
% years of age and lived with his
wife and child, baby one year old,
at No. 35S Maxwell street.