The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-20
ECHO OF VOGTEL DEATH
THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS
PUT AT $4,000
Trial of Case Will Be Had At
New Ulm; Letter In
Evidence

Evidence
Minneapolis, May 16-Heirs Of
Charles Vogtel, wealthy New Ulm
miller, who fell to his deaLn from the
ninth floor Of the Radisson on Nov
ember 8, 1920, have brought suits
against three life insurance companies.
to collect $4,000 on policies carried
by Mr.. Vogtel on his life in these
companies. The case came up in the
Brown county district court today.
The companies sued and the amount
! sued for are: Equitable Life Insurance
company of Des Moines, $4,000;
Connecticut Mutual Life insurance
company, $4,000, and the AetLa Life
Insurance company, 100000.
The three Insurance companies in
| resisting the suits have filed answers
offending that Mr.. Vogtel committed
suicide and that the heirs cannot re-
cover because the policies carry the
usual clauses that Insurers shall not
be liable in case of suicide within a
year after the Insurance was written.
The policies were issued early in 1920.
The heirs bringing the suits are
the widow, Mrs. Ida Vogtel of New
Ulm and DR.. Melvin A. Vogtel and
Harold c. Vogtel, sons, Of Minneapolis.
Vogtel was the principal owIer Of
the Century Milling company, Mimi
eapolis, was employed as manager OF
milling company at New Ulm and
was interested principally in a third
mill at Marshall, Mimi.
What Will Be In Evidence
Important points in the testimony
certain to be presented at the trial
will be a letter to his wife. found on
the table of Vogteps hotel room just
after his death and the fact that
the Century Milling company was on
the point of going into liquidation at
it began Soon afterward. Vogtel had
come to Minneapolis to attend con-
ference OF persons interested in the
Century Milling company when he
died. ....
On the other hand it is the state
ment OF DR.. Melvin A. Vogtel eldest
SOL, that any losses Vogtel may have
suffered in the Century Milling comp
any, will probaebly amount to, figured
the amount of a single years income
Of Charles Vogtel in recent years."
Friends and sons of Vogtel said
last night that there could have beeE
no outside motive for suicide.
Last Minutes OF vogteI
On November 8, 1920 Vogtel left his
home in New Ulm early in the morL'-
ing and reached Minneapolis about 10
a. m. His son, DR.. Melvin A. Vogtel
met him at the station with an auto
mobile He hailed DR.. Vogtel cheerily,
according to the latter's account.
Father and son drove to the Raids
SON hotel, where Charles Vogtel was
assigned room 902, a small room with
one large window overlooking an
alley on the east side of the hotel.
1--WE had some slight conversation
during which my father told me he
had come to Minneapolis to meet HAL
mar L. Hoidale, attorney for the Cen,
fury Milling company" Dr.. Vogtel
said last night. HE said he might go
or to Chicago next day. Father told
me he would meet me for luncheon"
Body Found In Alley
Alittle before eleven o'clock DIR.
Vogtel left the Radisson hotel At
NIP a. m, the time at which Charles
ogtel's watch had stopped when his
body was found, what remained of the
elder Vogtel lay in the alley beside
the hotel The nine story fall had
crushed the body terribly.
On the table of ..4s room was
sealed, stamped and addressed letter
to his wife, which read:
Ny dear Ida: Of course you know
that l am having trouble, but so far
said nothing to you, fully believing
that l could patch up matters and
still believe so. Have an appointment
with Mr.. Hoidale. If we lose every
thing, thank God have my good
health and we will get along in
good shape Am glad that am get
ting this off my mind as the strain
is terrible and is beginning 10 tell on
my health, as just now l had dizzy
spell and had to run to the window
for air as it seemed l was getting
short Of it. AS yet l don't know
whether l will go on to Chicago It
all depends on the conference. Will
telephone you this afternoon as to
band, Charles"
Coroner Gilbert Seashore decided
the cause Of death accidental, fol-
lowing an Investigation. The plaintiffs
say the letter, with reference to dir
illness, esta blishes that the death was
accidental. The insurance companies
contend this reference was written b.
Vogtel purposely to conceal suicide.
No Definite Figure on Estate
DR.. Melvin A. Vogtel was unable to
give any definite figure to the estate
left by his father, but declared that he
had died well to do, despite losses in
CURED with the Century Milling comp
any. Insurance other than the three
policies which are now the subject OF
court action, amounted to relatively
little. probably around $1,000, he es-
tnEated.
"Of his financial status, / can only
repeat at this time what | said before
that one years income of my fathers
would more than have covered his los
es in the Century COMPANY
and one wouldn't have to compare his
losses with his best year, either" he
said.
The son said that Vogtel was 2
self made man who had been in tn
milling business at New Ulm for J
years, having started at So week.
George w Rlffin oto,, ~ Aaix-aa