Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-19
THEFT. RUIN AND DEATH.
GRAY A SUICIDE AND PAYSON
IN "A TRUSTEES HANDS.

/ Sesrchers Find the Corpse of the EN-
| bszzler With Bullet in Ais Heart
and His Upturned Face CHASTITY In
the Snnshine-A Possibility that Mr..
Payson NJ ay be Able to Pay Ont.
| BOsTON, Aug. 1S.-It has been definitely
/ learned that Gray, the defaulting treas
urer OF the Atlantic and Indian Orchard
/ Mills, committed suicide. His body was
| found this morning at Blue Hills.
/ The search for the body began at
! O'clock this morning by detectives, ac-
! compauied by Boston reporters and 9th
ers, and the woods were secured for
mile in the vicinity where the team was
| found. The body was found by young
man who was alone at the time and who
! in his excitement picked up and put in
his pocket Gray's revolver, which lay by
his side.
SCENE OF THE SUICIDE.
| The place where the body was found
was about a mile from the road. The
body was living on high, fiat boulder in
a cleared space, with the sun shining full
in the face, giving it CHASTITY appear
ance. The position was easy and lifelike,
and but for the pallOr of the face there
were no indications Of death. A stream
of blood flowed from wound in the heart.
| His vest was unbuttoned, and a blood
stain was visible on the outer shirt. the
tongue was clinched between the teeth
and the mouth was partly open. The
weapon is a silver 1-barreled, 32-calibre
revolver, and has only one chamber
empty. From the appearance OF the body
Gray had apparently been dead several
hours. Behind the body at the head Of
the rock was partly smoked cigar. The
revolver was put back in the posi- ton in
which it was found ard medical exam
liner sent for.
MR.. PAYsON ASSIGNS.
Samuel r. Payson TO-DAY made an as
signment to Samuel Johnson, OF HoVey a.
Co. The announcement of the assignment
created great surprise, as Mr.. Payson had
been considered one OF the wealthiest men
| in Boston. His financial difficulty, 1T is
stated, has been caused by Endorsement of
paper OF the Indian Orchard Mills, which
are equitably owned by himself and
family.
william Gray, DR., whose dead body
was found this morning, was treasurer
OF these mills, and Mr.. Payson's assign
ment is a natural sequel of Gray's heavy
delalcatIon. MIR. Pay son Is a man OF the
highest standing, and his situation elicIts
sympathy from every quarter.
POSSIBLY ONLY TEMPORARY.
1t is thought by many that mis- difficult
ties will prove to be only OF a temporary
| nature. Payson is 70 years old and is
! now proprietor OF the Derry woollen mills
at CUFFS Falls, n. H., and President Of
| the City National Bank OF Boston. He
started in business with A. e.. Peck &
Co., importers and jobbers in dry goods,
and subsequently became connected with
the firm OF j. G.. Howe & Co., commission
merchants. He amassed a fortune and
retired from business some years ago.
! Samuel Johnson, the assignee, is not in
town. and MIR. PaysOn is also out of the
city, and neither of them can be seen at
present. Mr.. Payson has rendered his
resign alton as President OF the City Ma
tional Bank and it will be acted upon by
the directors at their meeting tomorrow.
| His liabilities are estimated at about
$350,000.
! PAYsoN'S EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Payson stated this morning that he
thought he had ample funds to pay every
item OF his Indebtedness in full, but that
his affairs were in such condition that
his property could not be realized upon
at decent value at forced
sale, so be believed it to be for the
| best interests OF every one for him to
make an assignment. His failure is due
to the shrinkage in the value of the shares
! OF the Indian Orchard Mills. Mr.. Payson
Ii largely interested IN the Hall0wel Man
ufacturing Company OF HallOwell, Me.
IN THE HANDS OF A TRUSTEE
BALTIMORE, Aug. 18.-Andrew War
ner, manufacturer of silverware and Jew
eler, made an assignment to-day TO A. +.
| Wilcox tor the benefit of his cred tors.
The bond of his trustee is S30.000 The
house was established in 1911 by Mr.. w ar
ner's father.