Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1909 — SHORTAGE GAUSE OF WEBSTER’S SUICIDE [ARTICLE]

SHORTAGE GAUSE OF WEBSTER’S SUICIDE

Michigan Insurance Man Leaves Note Charging "Graft” Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. I.—Foli lowing the suicide of Dr. Alfred M-. Webster, secretary of the New Era association, a life Insurance organization, who shot and killed himself in his office, the directors issued, an official statement saying: i “Investigation has not yet progressed sufficiently to determine the exact amount oj the shortage. There remains a bank balance of $15,000 abovs all possible liabilities so far as can be ascertained.” The statement was signed by State Insurance Commissioner I. V. Barry. State Insurance Examiner Englehart made an unofficial statement estimating the shortage at $14,594. A note which the suicide left reads as follows: , “I have fought a losing fight. I tried to allow no smirch on my good name, but 1 tjould not have a home while doing so. I fought ‘graft’ in high places and all the powers and principalities of this world have been against me. I have earned all that I have ever got from the New Era and more.”