Gilpin observer., 1899-12-14
KATRYN GREDE.

year was the director of schools and
teacher in his native city, and year
later became the minister of his par
ish. In 1886 he came to this country
and located in ST. Louis, where he
married the wife who died in this city
two years ago, and who came with
him from Vienna, Austria. In 1888 he
became the superintendent of the Ger
man Protestant Orphan Asylum in
st. Louis, remaining only short time,
when he took charge at st. Jacobs. Ill.
On July IA, 1890. he accepted the call
of Emmanuel Church, in Fairmount,
Cincinnati. Three years later he ac-
cepted the posiLion of superintendent
of the Altenheim, where he remained
until 1895, when he was elected to the
superintendency of the noble institu-
tion which he SO contaminated by his
conduct.
At the time of this appointment
many rumors were rife. His secrecy
concerning his life in Europe at the
Austrian capital and other places Gre
ated suspicion. Many suspected him
of being a DR.. Jeykll and Mr.. Hyde.
His suavity of manner and his calm
bearing, and knack of making
friends, secured him constituency
that fought against his opponents.
Finally three representative German
ministers, Rev. DR.. Eisenlohr, Rev.
Haefner and Rev. Vos, of Camp Wash
ington, made 1t their business to in
quire into his antecedents. A corre-
spondence with the authorities at
Hal
followed. From all sources informa-
tion was drawn and the result was
astounding. 1t was shown that Foith
had robbed the "Kranken Kasse" (sick
fund.- of his native city, swindled nu-
merous widows and orphans, commit
ted bigamy and killed his wife and fed
to Vienna. Here all trace OF him had
been lost and in the interval the wit
nesses that might have brought him to
prison for life or the gallows had died
and extradition would have been use
less.
All this damning evidence of a rec
ord OF crime was laid before the trus-
tees of the asylum. of which board the
late Charles F. Muth was then the
president Mr.. Muth was Foith's
friend, and to him he appealed to save
him from his enemies. Again that
suavity. that persuasive eloQuence
which had made him master of the
situation before. won the day for him.
Some Of the other trustees shared Mr..
Muth's confidence in the villain, and
the result was that the charges were
construed to be the malicious and un-
truthful utterances of personal en-
emies. This decision was received with
indignation by Foith's accusers. and
almost resulted in a split among the
German Protestant ministers OF Gin
cinnati.
When two months ago Foith was re-
elected rumors again prevailed. which
were traced to n domestic In the insti-
tuition. Another domestic, also cogniz-
ant OF the terrible facts. threatened to
expose him. Foith heard of this and
called the woman into his Office and
threatened her with immediate dis
missal II she breathed n word. The
girl. however. would not be intimi-
dated. and then Foith, coward-like,
went to his knees and begged for
mercy. promising reformation.
Folth must have felt the tolls clos
Ing around him, for since then his
usual GOODNESS seemed to have desert
ed him, for he had been very nervous
and distracted.
Yet the marvel will still remain how
Foith, surrounded as he was by walls
that had ears and under eyes OF so
many, could go so long without detec-
tion. The solution Is found in that
fact that he was past master In the
art OF deception.