The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-09
A CORPSE IN THE BAY.
PITIABLB ENDING OF A ONCH
PROMISING CARRIER.

William A. Griffin of Atlanta Found
Dead at Brunswick-Suiclde Gem
orally Believed to Be the Explana-
ton Of His Death but Murder Sus-
pected by Some-Once Phenomen.
ally Successful.
BRUNSWICK, GA, Oct. S-Brunswick
was shocked to-day at noon when it becams
known that William A Griffin, who came
here on Sept. l6 from Atlanta, had been
found dead In the bay. There are sens
sational features to the case Griffin came
here representing the Manchester Land and
Improvement Company, stopped at the
Ocean hotel and lived very fast. He al.
tended the Catholic fair here and danced
late and afterward would go out on
general spree. He was last seen Thursday
night at IL o'clock, when Officer Thompson
carried him TO his hotel and put him tc
bed. The bed shows that he
didn't sleep In it. To-day at noon three
gentlemen standing on the Mallory
wharf saw body in the bay. It was towed
to the wharf and a coroner's inquest held.
but nothing developed. kilograms were
found from his firm In Atlanta asking him
not TO draw another draft, but to come to
Atlanta. The verdict OF the jury was that
ne was drowned accidentally, but they
know not how. DIR. J. A. Dunwody made
an examination OF the body and said there
were no marks of violence, though the body
WAS 30 badly decomposed that IL Ia hard to
say whether he was killed or not. Those
who know Griffin say he did not commit
suicide.
JEwELRY MISSING.
When last seen he wore a very expensive
ring and a costly secret order badge.
Neither of these were on the body when
found. Several Of his pockets were turned
His friends say he was either carried to ths
wharf and thrown in by toughs while be
was intoxicated, or that he was murdered
and then thrown in. The night he was last
seen the Mallory line steamer was standing
at the wharf aud there we're two lady pas
sengers aboard from Florida, with whom he
was acquainted. In the afternoon he had
been aboard the ship and drank bottle of
vine with them. Some think that he was at.
tempting 30 90 aboard the ship late at night,
when he slipped aud fell into the bay. The
steamer men say this was impossible, as a
big gang was at work loading the ship all
night. Suicide seems 10 be the general ver-
dict.
GRIFFTN's HISTORY.
Griffin was 35 years Of age. He was born
and reared at Selma, Ala. where he mar
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child years Of age. The marriage was not
q happy one. and Griffin was In trouble
more than once about his wife. The wife Is
now in Selma with her family. He moved
TO Atlanta about eight years ago and entered
the commission business, st which he made
quite a success. When he came to Bruins.
wick no was with the Manchester Land and
Improvement Company.
The remains were taken In charge by J.
b. McElveen, who has been a good friend
20 Griffin since he came here, and were
shipped TO Atlanta tonight. They will bs
Inferred there Griffin was well connected
and unusually bright.
FAMOUS AS AN INSURANCE AGENT.
For several years he was with the Mutual
Life Insurance Company, holding special
Office, and his friends claim that his salary
was $4,000 year. Recognizing his great
ability the company gave him Tennessee to
work, and there he made himself famous 10
Insurance. circles by accomplishing
the great feat OF writing Cole, the railroad
king. one policy for 800, 600, adding to this
during the year enough TO make his total
writings SS50,000. Such work from one
man was unprecedented and the company
placed detectives on his track to see II he
was not writing bad policies, but all were
good. Dazzled by his great success Griffin
began downward course and changed q
brilliant future TO one of trouble. He sepa-
rated from his wife and shot at a plumber
In Gainesville for alleged misconduct, but
after many months had passed they were
reconciled, only to part again. In Bruins
wick his struggle against drink ended.
With clothing In the pawnshop,
requests from his employers to return
home, board bills unpaid, and men who
were once friends looking away from him.
he realized that death was sweeter than life,
and with that idea in his mind, It is thought,
he ended an existence oncs so promising.