SUICIDE AT THE FRENCH WAR OFFICE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1914, 13 April 1880, Page 4

SUICIDE AT THE FRENCH WAR OFFICE.

The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Te l egraph ” reports the suicide of M. Charles Fournier, who was one of the oldest employes in the French War Office, having seen forty years of service. He had always been popular in his department, and to the high esteem in which he wae held by his superiors must be connected to seme extent the unfortunate chain of circumstances which led to his death. His duties were those of a paymaster. Six hundred persons received from him their salaries, consequently he had the command of large sums of money, and the confidence which his character and long service inspired seems to have placed him in a position in which he could act without surveillance, while capital was allowed to accumulate is his hands. Latterly, however, the air has been full of rumours concerning certain speculations connected with the new financial companies in which M. Fournier was known to have embarked. He was reputed to have lost heavily, and it is said that General Parre, hearing of this, at length decided that the accountant’s department should be subjected to scrutiny. There is no doubt whatever that an investigation of the books was ordered. The measure was summary, no similar proceeding having been taken for three years previously. M. Fournier was surprised, and when questioned was unable to give a satisfactory account of the disappearance of a considerable sum. Another report says that the amount in default was not so large, but that the accountant employed in the scrutiny appeared to have been greatly impressed by his discovery, and thus worked upon the feelings of M. Fournier, who presently left the office. A report of firearms soon afterwards was heard, and groans were noticed proceeding from an adjoining chamber. The door was opened, and M. Fournier was seen lying in a pool of blood, still living, and clasping a revolver. His state was perceived to be hopeless, and he died as the physician who had been summoned entered the room. He had literally blown out his brains, and the walls bore ghastly traces of the tragedy. The body was at once convoyed to M. Fournier’s residence in the Boulevard Saint Germain, and his cish and books were placed under official seal pending the resumed investigation. The deceased was a familiar figure in Peris life. Tall and commanding in person, with long grey hair and beard, he bore that about him which created an individuality and almost a typo. Notwithstanding his years, ho was fond of amusement, and he made a point of spending a portion of his evenii gs at the Gaite or some other favorite theatre. He owned a little villa at Bois le Rois and was generally reputed to he well off. It is stated that his wife’s property represented an income of 30,000 francs, while his salary from the Government amounted, with certain emoluments of his post, to nearly 20,000 francs. His death under such tragical circumstances has caused intense excitement at the War Office, where his late colleagues refuse to believe in his culpability.