Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-07
DEATH FOUND INALAKF
THE SUICIDE TIES AN ANcuo,,
10 HIS LEG AND PLUNGEs m


Friends Movement 70 Fr,....
Horror Met with a Drarv,, ,,.'..,'l ',,...e sne
and Threat OF Death y =
lations with Father-in -. - -.
Cause. the
Nothing more thrillingly tragic in con.
nection with suicidal act, saws Coon-
erstown, n. Y, special Of the 4th lnst g
the World has ever been ehroplelaa than
the circumstances attending the seleaa-g
struction Of George w. .Crocker. of Sha~o.,
Springs, who to-day fastened a heavv 81,
ehor to his leg while in boat nm -
otego lake, and when his companion 81.
serving the act, took steps to save him. he
pointed a revolver at his head and Iaanad
overheard. The corpse il now 81 th~
bottom OF the lake, which Is son faaf asa,,
at the point where the tragedy oecurre9
Mr. Srocker was a young man in corn
lortaDie circumstances. He aiwavs
dressed respectfully, drove fine team
ana Aept private pleasure boat. OriS-
harily ne was OF cheerful disposition ara
years ago he was married and mas since
resided happily with his wife. The frnls
oil the union was one child, Of which The
young father was passionatelv fond III
innate friends of Mr.. Crocker saw thar ~
TAR as known all his relations were os the
pleasantest character EXCEPT those with
MS wife's father, from whom he had Ne
come estranged. feeling OF bitterness
prevailed between the two men. and ON
more tnan one occasion Crocker threat
ened to take the life of his fatber.,p.lav
1t is now thought that he had detarmined
either TO khl his father-in-law or end bis
own existence, and his action of selfaa.
structIon shows that he finally preferred
to adopt the latter. F'N''eV
His preparations for the suicide wara
planned with great deliberatenese mt
were oil such character as TO prevanf
the possibility OF any failure. In COM
pany with his friend Walter Livingston
nc ,', went rowing on the lake this afternoon.
hile MS friend had the oars CrOcker,
un0bserVed, fastened the ancher 10 his
leg. lie then rose for the purpose OF lean
ing overheard when Mr.. Livingston for
the nrswllme observed the preparations
that mad been made for the suicidal act
and he sprang forward to prevent II
such an emergency had, however. been
provided for by Crocker, as, upon an
serving his friends movement. he drew
revolver from his pocket and pointing IL
at Livingston, warned him that If he an
pFoached step nearer he would put a
1NhNN cNCA ucdIls AfOCktlH H eyes
were glaring wildly and he was evidently
insane. Mr.. Livingston hesitated 10 an
proaeh, believing, as he now does. that
he would have been shot down, and stood
transf1Xed with horror at tho terrible situ-
alton IN which he found himself placed.
Without q moments delay CrOeker raised
the anchor in one hand, while he con-
tlnued TO cover his friend with his pistol
III the other and sprang overheard. All
attempts at rescue were OF course use-
less, as the heavy iron quickly carried the
unfortunate man to the bottom of the
lake.
Mr.. Livingston pulled ashore as rapidly
as possible and told the startling story,
causing the greatest excitement among
the soiourners Of the place. Among the
friends and relatives of the unfortunate
man the deepest regret was expressed at
his unhappy fate.
Before planning his tragic death Mr.,
Crocker wrote four letters, saying fare
well to those nearest him. One of these
was to his wife, and was eouched in terms
Of the strongest affection, another was to
his only child, and the others TO his father
and mother. In them he spoke Of the I'M
pleasant relations that existed between
himself and his father-in-law, and said
that with this single exception he had no
ll-feeling or enmity towards any person
n the whole world. Efforts have been
made to recover the body, but thus far
without success.