The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-09
FATALLY SHOT
IN HIS H0ME
Mysterious Death of Prom
inent St. LouiSan.
SUICIDE OR ASSASSINATION

Francis D. Hirschberg, Well Known
in Religious, Business and Social
Circles, Dies of Bullet Wound Re-
ceived In Unknown Manner-Mem-
bers of Family Declare He Was Vic
tim Of Burglar, but Police Say Not.
st. Louis, Dec. 9.-Francis D.
Hirschberg, prominent in the Roman
Catholic church and a personal friend
of Archbishop Glennon, also well
known in club and business circles
and as director of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition company, was
shot and killed at his home here.
Whether his death was the result of
murder or suicide has not been deter
mined. Members of the family aver
that he was the victim of burglar.
The police Investigators take the
other view, declaring that there was
no evidence of the presence of in
truders in the palatial home.
A trail of blood stains on the snow
white stairway leading from the re-
ception hall on the first floor indicate
that Mr.. Hirschberg was shot at the
foot of these stairs and then turned
and walked back to his bedroom on
the second floor. From there he
crossed hallway and passed through
III ho hofh G
he returned, staggering into his wife's
room, Mrs. Hirschberg awoke just in
time to see him sink to the floor IN
conscious, according to statements
made to the police.
Mrs. Hirschberg had her husband
carried to his bedroom, where he died.
He made no statement as to how he
was shot. So far as the police could
learn no member of the household
was on the lower floor. It was ex-
planned that deafness of long stand
ing prevented Mrs. Hirschberg from
hearing the report of the revolver.
Held Strong Social Position.
AS a descendant of the Chauvin,
Papin and Choteau families and hav-
ing for his wife a daughter of the
late General D. M. Frost his social
position was assured. He was fifty
four years old and for many years
had been leader in the insurance
business. He was the first to intro
duce in America the system Of insur
ing employers against accidents to
their WOrkmen. He was one of the
organizers of the st. Louis Fire I'm
derwriters' association, which later
was succeeded by the present organ
ization, the Fire Prevention bureau of
st. Louis. He was a member of the
st. Louis club, the Country club, the
Florissant Valley Country club and
the MONDAY club and had been d.
rector in all those organizations.
Mr.. Hirschberg was chairman of the
entertainment committee of the
worlds fair directors. That commit
tee had charge of the entertainment
of all distinguished guests, diplomats,
nobility and eminent foreigners who
came to st. Louis on account of the
fair. Mr.. Hirschberg was a son of
Madame Lucille Hirschberg, who be-
fore her marriage was Miss Lucille
Chauvin, member of one of the old
est and most exclusive French FAM
flies in the city. Mrs. Hirschberg is
a sister of Lady Wordsworth, wife of
an English nobleman. There are no
children.
The Hirschberg tragedy, following
close upon the suicides of Charles A.
Dkstromer, Swedish vice consul, and
Charles w. Blow, a prominent bust
ness and club man, both of whom
were friends of Mr.. Hirschberg, has
caused a sensation