CHARLEVOIX, Mich. (AP) – A 79-year-old member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was shot to death by the post’s bookkeeper, who feared the organization would find out he was skimming money from the weekly bingo game, authorities said.

David Edward Goldstick, 57, was arraigned on murder charges Thursday and jailed without bail. World War II veteran Hubert William Brady was killed Tuesday in his daughter’s garage, which the post had used as an office since December, when its building burned down.

After the killing, police reopened an investigation into that fire. A state fire marshal had ruled it an accident caused by an electrical problem, but authorities said Goldstick made a reference to the fire when he confessed to killing Brady.

“It’s just good business to take another look at it,” Sheriff George Lasater said.

Goldstick served was the post’s bookkeeper. Brady, a former post commander, was his assistant. Authorities said Goldstick had skimmed money from the post’s weekly bingo games and feared he would be caught and exposed by his friend.

The sheriff said it was not clear how much money may have been taken or how long the skimming was going on. He said some of post’s financial records were lost in the fire, but others survived and will be examined.

Authorities quoted Goldstick as saying that “things have been building up ever since the VFW fire.”

“These two men, both of them, have been pillars in the group, and have worked hand-in-hand with each other for many years,” said Charlie Butcher, the VFW post commander. “It’s a tragedy for these two men and their families, and we feel terribly about it.”

Butcher said that he knew of no missing funds and that his signature was required on all checks written from the post’s accounts. “I have no idea where this allegation has come from,” he said.

Goldstick’s lawyer, Robert Banner, said Goldstick served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Goldstick’s mother said the two men had been friends.

AP-ES-04-21-05 1738EDT