The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-15
HlSLIFE NOT WORTHLIVING
Death Ends the Troubles Of UnfOTtu-
nate Henry Rich.

Loss Of His Property and Unhappy
Marriages Drove Him to the Rash
Deed From Which He Died - The
Career of the Suicide-His Unfortu-
nate Matrimonial Entanglements.
Henry Rich died shortly after 6 o'clock
yesterday morning. He had taken no
nourishment since his effort to cut his
throat Monday morning, and having lost
a good deal of blood from his wounds it
was not possible that he should survive
very long.
Rich was evidently well satisfied to die.
He had lost all his money, was helpless
paralytic, his life was unhappy, and he
felt that he had nothing to live for. He
had made few friends in the days of his
health and prosperity, and his relatives
were estranged from him. A helpless
paralytic, without money and without
friends, with no prospect but that of be-
ing dependent upon charity in his old
age, he could hardly be blamed for de-
string to end his life.
wELL-KNOwN FIGURE.
Rich was a well known figure in Savan-
nah and was frequently seen being
wheeled along the streets in his roller
chair. He had been entirely helpless for
y
yet retaining all the faculties of the mind
and its human interests and passions.
He had little colored square of card
board containing the letters of the alpha
bet on which he spelled out words, and
this was his only means of making his
wants known.
He came to Savannah shortly after the
war and engaged in the dry goods bust
ness near the market with Mr. Morrison,
under the firm name of Morrison g. Rich.
The firm was very successful and Mr..
Rich accumulated fortune Of between
$4,000 and $4,000 About twelve years
agohe suffered stroke of paralysis, which
partially disabled him. This was fol-
lowed two years later by another stroke,
which left him in the condition in which
he has existed ever since.
A SUCCESSFUL BACHELOR.
During his business career Rich had re-
NAMED bachelor, but after his affection
he developed a penchant for marrying,
which was the cause of much of his sub
sequent trouble His first wife was a
homely little woman, but she was faithful
to linn and their married life appeared to
be happy. After several years of welded
life Mrs. Rich died, leaving her husband
with two little children, one of them a
baby girl The old man was almost crazed
with his loss and in his desperation at
tempted to kill himself by cutting his
throat. His injuries were only slight,
however, and he was on the road to re-
covery when he repeated the attempt a
few weeks later. He was again unsuc-
cessful. After his second attempt failed
he reconsidered his determination and
decided to get married ag ain. An
advertisement for a wife was in
serted in the MORNING News.
MARRIED HIS NURSE.
l.
mediately Forthcoming, however, and
after few weeks white nurse was Sc
cured who agreed to take care of the old
man. The nurse was poor woman with
two children by a former husband to sup
port, and after a short term of service
she decided to marry her patient to Sc
cure home for herself and her children.
The old man seemed very much delighted
with his second wife and supplied her
literally with money and clothing.
A few months after the marriage a DR..
Edwards, a travelling specialist of the
faith healing order, put IN his appearance
and secured room in the house. The
doctor and Mrs. Rich soon became very
friendly and the result was that the two
eloped together one Saturday night, leav-
ing the paralytic to look out for himself
The old man was very much broken up by
his wife's elopment, but he did not at
tempt to commit suicide.
He was determined to have the clippers
caught and punished, and advertised a
reward for their apprehension. Nothing
was ever heard from them, however. The
old man set about getting him another
wife, but there were no candidates for
the vacant position, and he was compelled
to remain Wireless for nearly year.
CRAzED BY SPECULATION.
OF recent years the old man appeared
IN ha nnCeaccp6 ~ n MANN fO1, 10
He speculated chiehyin New York stocks,
dealing through local brokers. He occa-
Sionally won, but more often lost. He is
said to have lost 81 900 in one year. He
continued his speculation until the whole
of his fortune was gone and at the time
of his death he was probably not worth
over 500.
Rich married again about three months
ago. Whether his suicide was prompted
by his wife's ill treatment or the loss OF
his fortune, is question that is unde-
cided. Perhaps both had something to
do with it. To q MORNING News report
er, who called TO see him Monday after
his wounds had been bound up by DR.. w
Z. Norton, Rich declared by means of his
cardboard alphabet and by signs, that
his wife had caused him to make the at
tempt upon his life. He said that she had
beaten and abused him.
LAID IT ON HIS WIFE.
He continually pointed and looked at
his wife while being questioned as to his
reasons for the attempt. She declared,
however, that the loss of all his money in
speculation was the cause that prompted
him to the deed. A 9-year-old son of the
deceased is now at the Bethesda orphan
age, where he was placed after the death
of his mother. his fathers first wife.
The baby girl left by his mother died a
few daVS after her death
The deceased was member of Joseph
lodge, B'Nai Birth and of Zerubbabel
lodge of Masons. The funeral will take
place this morning at 10 o'clock from the
residence No. A jefferson street. The in
terment will be at Laurel Grove Gene
terry
All who are exposed 10 the weather should
keep DR.. Bulls Cough Syrup handy.--a6.
Have You