The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-09
END OF HIRSCHBERG
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF PROMI-
 NEWT ST. LOUIS MAN.
Shot to Death in His own Home Un" der Extraordinary Circumstances. Close Friend of Archbishop
 Glenm0m.

St. Louis Dec. s.--Francis D. Hfrschberg prominent in the Roman Catholic Church and a personal friend of Archbishop Glennon, also WeiI known in club and. business circles and a director of the Louisiana Fur chase Exposition, was shot and Kllleo at his home here early today. Whether his death was the result of murder or suicide has not been determined.
 Members of the family aver that he was the victim of a burglar. The po- lice investigators take the other view declaring that there was no evidence of the presence of burglars.
 A trail of blood stains on the stair way leading from the receiving hall on the first floor indicated that Mr. Hirschberg was shot at the foot Of these stairs and then walked to his bedroom on the second floor. From there he crossed a hallway and passed through his wife's room to the bath room. As he returned, staggering into his wifes room, Mrs. Hirschberg awoke in. time to see him sink to the floor unconscious.
 Mrs. Hirschberg had her husband carried to his bedroom where he died. He made no statement. So far as the police could learn no member of the household was on the lower floor. It was found that deafness of long stand ing. prevented Mrs. Hirschberg from hearing the report of the revolver.
 Mir. Hirschberg was a prominent Ro- man Catholic laynan and it was largely through his instrumentality that the site for the archepiscopal residence adjoining the Hirschberg home was purchased. He was Arch bishop Glennon's closest personal friend among the laity.
 He was fifty-four years old and was said to be the first to introduce in America the system of insuring em- pleyers against accidents to their woYkmsn. He was an organizer of the et. Louis Fire Underwriters As- sociatlen which later was succeeded by the present organization of the Fire Frevention Bureau of St. Louis. He was a member of number of prominent clubs and 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 visited the fair. He was a son of Mime. Lucille Hirch- berg, who, before her marriage was Miss Lucille Chauvin, a member of the oldest and most exclusive French fam l flies In the city. Mrs. Hirchberg is a sister of Lady Noblesworth, wife of an English nobleman. There are no | children.
 The Hirschberg tragedy. following close on the suicides yesterday of Charles A. Ekstromer, Swedish vice consul, and Charles W. Blow, a prom inent business and club man. both of whom were friends of MT. Hirschberg has caused a sensation.
 fxawE several haffling circumstances. The blood stains on the stairs indicated that Mir. Hirschberg stood on the third step from the bottom when he wal shot Immediately below him there was an antique chair which bears deer dent as though it had been struck by the revolver which was found beside l 1t. The weapon was an old affair oi a type used thirty years ago and mem bers of the family told the police that | they had never seen 1t before. The bullet which caused death was not | found.
 Friends of the family assert that MT. Hirschberg had been in i'll healtf for three years. This was denied by his business associates who say h, had been only slightly indisposeC | lately. The possibility of financial ol domestic trouble was secuted by In inmates of the dead man. although more casual acquaintances say that h, had been complaining that 'businesi was not what it should be-"
 A minute search of the premises b, the police faIltd to reveal any sign of the entrance O. intruders
 A coroner's inquest was begun thi afternoon. The statement of Mrs Hirschberg was heard and the hearin- then adjourned until tomorrow pend ing an autopsy.
 Francis D. Hirschberg Is the nine teenth of the Worlds Fair director who has died and at least the fit who has met a tragic death.
 James L. Blair died under mysteriou circumstances after the exposure 0 many forgeries; Isaac W. Morten kill ed himself. as did also William ] Lemp, who shot himself in the bat room of his home; Wm. H. Nolker die
 from injuries sustained in an auto
 mobile accident. The death of Charle
 H Turner of New York City was no
 fully explained. Coradln H. spence
 died after financial reverses.