Facing Losses, Billionaire Takes His Own Life

[groovedaddy]

(seems like the honorable thing to do...Madoff & others should take note. gd)

FRANKFURT — Adolf Merckle, the German billionaire whose speculation in volatile Volkswagen stock had pushed his sprawling business empire to the edge of ruin, has committed suicide, his family said Tuesday.

Mr. Merckle, 74, was found dead on railroad tracks near his villa in the southern German hamlet of Blaubeuren on Monday evening. German authorities in the nearby city of Ulm confirmed the death and said there was no sign anyone else was involved.

“The distress to his firms caused by the financial crisis and the related uncertainties of recent weeks, along with the helplessness of no longer being able to handle the situation, broke the passionate family businessman, and he ended his life,” the family said in a statement.

The police said a suicide note had been found; its contents were not publicly released.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/business/worldbusiness/07merckle.html?th&emc=th

[AndyTiedye]

1. Train Engineers Would Prefer that People Chose Some Different Way to Exit

[Demobrat]

2. That was my first thought too.

The poor engineer. How traumatic.

[groovedaddy]

4. Did the engineer even know? Still, there are far less messier methods. n.t

[Demobrat]

5. Somebody did it that way here in SF.

Jumped in front of a BART train. The poor engineer was a wreck.

[Deja Q]

3. Old story. The geezer has been dead for days and at 74 wasn't going to care either way.

You know, why these thieves and swindlers just don't come in while you're sleeping and kill you... seems a hell of a lot more humane.

We do better toward pets and convicted murderers. x(

[katty]

6. very messy exit - an Anna Karenina drama