People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1892 — THE PACE THAT KILLS. [ARTICLE]

THE PACE THAT KILLS.

ft Is Traveled by a Young St. Loti lien— City Treasurer's Foerstel’s Son and Assistant Kills Himself After Recklessly Squandering a Large Sum of the City's Cash—His Shortage About 963,000—His Father Deposed and Rained. St. Louis, Dec. 20.—Deposed, a shortage in his accounts of $63,020.16, his •on dead —a suicide —with absolute rain staring him m the face, Michael J. Foerstel, until Monday night city treasurer of St. Louis, is one of ths most miserable of men. An investigation of his affairs, precipitated by the events to be related, resulted in the aiscovery of the shortage given, the immediate removal of the then treasurer by Acting Mayor C. P. Walbridge, and the appointment as temporary treasurer of Charles Parsons, the best-known banker of the city, who immediately gave the required bond of 4500,000 and assumed the position. It was but little after dawn Monday when suicide added its dark intimations to the cloud of charges, counter charges, denials and half-suppressed scandal which has been hanging over the office of the treasurer of the city of 8L Louis for weeks past. Edward Foerstel, first assistant and son of Michael J. Foerstel, city treasurer, at 8 o’clock Monday morning shot himself in the right temple, the ball passing through the brain, lodging nnder the skin on the left side and causing death a few hours later. For weeks past stories of peculiar doings in the treasurer’s office have been afloat. There have been suits brought against the treasurer by money lenders notorious for their usurious charges, assertions regarding real estate deals of the treasurer and his son and allegations of use of the city money by some one who recouped the treasury previous to the regular examinations by borrowing from the shy locks who at last sued the treasurer himself on notes which he declared to be forgeries. Monday morning about 6:05 o’clock the announcement was made that fire had been kindled shortly before in the city treasurer’s office, where, with the doors of the vaults wido open, a too apparent attempt had been made to destroy everything in that office and so forever conceal the guilt of anyone who should be guilty of wrong doing. Scarcely two hours later came the news of Foerstel’s suicide. Then the situation began to clear itself. Fortunately for the city, prompt discovery of the blaze enabled its quick control, with the destruction, so far as known, of only some old papers and furniture. Of the cash on hand the youngsuicide was custodian. His death has closed his lips, but the last act of his life surrounds him with evidence of guilt. The attempt to burn the city hall is construed by the police as the act of a guilty man, whose only chance to escape detection waa in the destruction of the records in the city treasurer’s office, of which he had control. The evidence shows that he occupied his room after midnight, and left it at an early hour in the morning. His movements after leaving the house cannot be traced until a point after the quenching of the fire is reached. It is known that about 6:30 he borrowed the revolver with which he committed suicide from James Harrison, a friend, and the theory is that he had learned of the failure of his plot to destroy evidence* of his guilt and was thereby forced to resort to death as the only escape. Young Foerstel’s record is that qf a wild young man and plunger. On horses he was a heavy bettor, placing SI,OOO or more at a time. He was also interested in real estate deals beyond his capacity to handle, as is shown by recent developments in court proceedings. He was generally liked, only about 23 years old, but old in experience for his years. In his capacity as assistant treasurer of the city of St. Louis over $10,000,000 in city funds and securities passed through his hands each year. He was treasurer of two large building associations, the Phoenix and Home Comfort, but his accounts with these are said to be all right. He was also senior member of Foerstel & Saxton, handling the lock whip-socket, manufactured by the Novelty company. Late Monday night the in vestigation of the city treasurer’s accounts was completed, his books being checked with those of the comptroller and the banks holding city deposits. As a result of this searching inquiry an embezzlement of $63,020-16 was discovered, and the action already noted taken. In this phase of the affair but littl& except sympathy for ex-Treasurer Foerstel is heard. It is settled by the inquiry that he, personally, is innocent of wrong doiDg. His son sunk thewhole sum in frantic real-estate deals,, the extent of which it will take weeks to unravel. But the father is a broken and ruined man, who suffers punishment for the son’s wrong doing.