St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-06-23
STHpF IS SHORT
TO THE TUNE OF $4,000 OF THE
SOUTH ST. PAUL CITY
FUNDS.
NOT LOST In SPECULATION,
BUT FRITTERED AWAY IN BAD
BUSINESS VENTURES POOR
LY MANAGED
HIS BONDsMEN WILL REPAY.
Stapf Remains on the Ground to
Face the Music. and Is
Prisoner
NOT LOST IN SPECULATION,
HIS BoNDsMEN WILL REPAY.

City Treasurer Stapf. of South st.
Paul, is in the neighborhood of $10,-
600 short in his public accounts.
Mr.. Stapf made no attempt 10 dis
appear with the money, and is now
under arrest at South st. Paul. But
the money is gone. Contrary, how
ever, to the custom of defaulting
treasurers, Mr.. Stapf did not spend
the city's money in the pursuit of
worldly pleasures. Women delighted
not him; no, nor wine, neither; nor
did he gamble in stocks and grain;
nor risk a dollar upon a horse race.
None of these alluring pastimes COR
rupted Mr. Stapf Instead, he fell
a victim to the seductive attractions
of a grocery store, and the blandish-
ments of an establishment engaged
in manufacturing mattress stuffing.
He also dabbled disastrously in live
stock. AS soon as one of these ven
lures seemed likely to swamp him,
Mr.. Stapf embarked in the other,
only to meet with worse fortune.
landed him in the fire, for there were
no city funds left. The examination
of the books of the city recorder or
comptroller indicates that the short
age will amount to SO, 400
The defalcation was discovered
about week ago, when the Union
Stockyards bank, in which Treasurer
Stapf was required to deposit the
city funds, refused to favor a check
drawn by the proper city officials
and signed by Mayor Fitch. The
investigation which followed re-
revealed the fact that Mr.. Stapf had
made no deposits in the bank of
late. Neither had any large amounts
been withdrawn from the bank by
the city. But the fact remained that
not cent of the city's money was
on deposit in the bank and the city
treasurer's account was oVerdrawn
some 5000.
The city will not lose any money,
however, as Treasurer Stapf's bonds
men have promised to make up the
deficiency next Tuesday. Zie bond
is in the sum, of $4,000, and the
sureties are Rev. l.. S. Stapf and II.
G.. Stapf. brothers of the city treas
urer. and d. Becker and Frederick
Gender. They have assured Mayor
Fitch that whatever the deficiency
amounts to, they will deposit that
sum with the city on Tuesday.
There is no i'll feeling against Treas
urer Stapf in South ST. Paul. On the
contrary, his fellow citizens entertain
the kindest feelings for him, and SYM
pathize with him in his unpleasant
predicament For Mr.. Stapf is one or
South st. Pauls most popular ctti-
zens Four times have the voters OF
that town elected him city treasurer.
The last election occurred early this
month, and Mr.. Stapf's fourth term
of office was to begin July !. He has
held the office for six years. Another
proof of his local popularity was fur
nished last fall when he was elected
coroner on the Republican ticket by
a majority exceeding 100, whereas the
town claims a Democratic majority
of 800.
Mr.. Stapf was placed under arrest
at $50 Yesterday afternoon upon
warrant issued by City Justice James
r. Stevenson and signed by Mayor
Fitch. The mayor signed the warrant
and ordered the arrest early in the
day. but such is the confidence of
the police authorities in Mr.. Stapf that
no attempt was made to execute the
warrant. and the mayor himself was
Obliged to inform the city treasurer
that he was under arrest.
At 5 D. M yesterday / o b e re-
norter found Mr.. Stapf sitting at the
entrance of the city hall. Near him
sat a smooth-faced, dark complex
ioned man of muscular build. This
man represented a private detective
agency. He discovered later on that
he was persona non Srata, and lett Tor
st. Paul on the 6:15 motor Mr.. Stap1
looks anything but a defaulter. he
| is a miId-mannered German. possibly
| forty-two years of age, with a pleas
| ant countenance. gentle voice and dlr-
fident demeanor When asked to eX-
plain the deficiency in the city treas
ury. Mr.. Stapf hesitated while but
at last consented to talk. He said:
'.I lost most of the money in gro
Gerry store that l ran here for about
wear. I was obliged to close 1t Some
six or seven months ago. 1 also lost
money speculating in live stock.
"How much will the deficiency
amount to in alp
81 don't think it will be over $1,000
hut whatever it is, my bondsmen have
promised to make 1t good"
Mr.. Stapf admitted that he lost $1,000
of the city's money which he invested
In the st. Paul Excelsior Manufactur-
ing company, whose establishment IS
located on Rice street. 1t Is the Dusl-
ness of this concern to manufacture
material for stuffing mattresses. MI.
stapf is still interested in this plant.
He has resided in South st. Paul for
eight, years, and has always been re
earded as an honest man. He still
retains the confidence of his fellow
citizens, who look upon him as indis-
Greet rather than dishonest. Mr.. Stapr
has a wife and one child
Nayor Fitch was 10th to put Mr..
Stapf under arrest, but he recognized
that he had no alternative, and accord
ingIy did his duty. While the ob g
renorter was conversing with the may
or. half an hour after leaving Mr..
stapf. at the city hall, the latter came
down the hill and approached the
mayor.
How are you. stapf?" was the
mayors salutation.
"oh, pretty WE'LL" responded Mr..
Stapf, "how are you?"
..About the same" replied his honor.
Then in quiet, serious tones Mayor
Fitch said:
'Stapf, hated to it, but this morn
ing issued warrant for your arrest.
and L supposed it had been executed
hv this time. Personally have no feaG