The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-09
The When
SHOT OFF HIS OWN HEAD
SENSATIONAL SUICIDE OF 4 SAVINGS
BANK TREASURER.
George j. Marsh Kills Himself After
RObbinE Other People OF PrOba-
bly, Over 100000.

GLOUCESTER, Mass, Oct. Sat noon
to-day notice was posted on the doors
of the Cape Ann Savings Bank, stating that
the institution had been closed. Immedi-
ately came the shocking news that George
j. Marsh, for more than a quarter of
century the trusted treasurer of the bank
as well as treasurer and trustee for num-
erous large corporations and estates had
shot himself at his summer home at An
nisquam.
Late tonight the bank officials stated
that after hurried examination no short
age could be found in Mr.. Marsns accounts
with the institution, although the securities
of the bank in Boston have not been ex-
amined. The trustees of the Gilbert Hos
pital corporation, however, have a different
story to tell. 1t appears from their state
ment that three months ago the trustees
discovered Mr.. Marsh was insolvent had
been specializing heavily and had lost con-
siderable money. They called him to
produce the securities of the corporation
and to-day set as the time when they
should be turned over. The trustees of the
corporation also directors of the bank
and the first intimation they had of any
wrong was q note which Vice President
Cunningham received upon entering the
bank this morning. The note was from Mr..
Marsh and stated that his (Marsh's) dead
body would be found in the cellar of his
summer home at Annisquam.
Two messengers were at once dispatched
to Annisquam, six miles distant, and when
they arrived at the house Mr. Marsh was
story. The captain of his yacht, who is
also jantor of the bank was in the house,
and, being. informed of the contemplated
suicide of his employer, went up stairs to
prevent 1t. For some reason he came down
again Immediately and sent a messenger
to Gloucester but when he returned he
found Marsh lying on the floor with q
carbine in one hand and a. revolver in the
other. The top of his head was blown off,
while table note saying IF
any one thinks this is "a cowardly act let
him try it,
Marsh, who was a bachelor, lived the life
of recluse for many years. His home is
on the extreme point of rocks, almost i'll
accessible except by a narrow path, while
there were no living rooms on the ground
floor. 1t is known that he very in
temperate, and during the past years had
lost large sums in speculation, neverthe
less having full run of the bank, attend
ing to all investments as well as those OF
the numerous corporations and estates
with which he was connected. He was
treasurer of the Cape Ann Savings Bank,
of the Gilbert Home Corporation, Of the
Gilbert Hospital Corporation, and trustee
of the Gilbert Charity Fund, the Gilbert
estate, the Hough estate, the George H.
Rogers estate, the Fuller-Davis estate, the
estate of Sarah M. Johnson and the Hill
dreth estate.
One of his bondsmen stated tonight that
Marshs bond to the Gilbert Hospital would
probably cover the shortage, but it is ru-
mored that his peculation from the other
estates will be more than S100, 000 the Hill
dreth estate being the principal sufferer.
The savings bank commissioners closed
their examinations of the books of Cape
Ann Savings Bank and reported that the
funds of the bank were intact. The de-
posits amounted to So 300, 217.S7 and the
guarantee fund is $4,000. The directors
state if there is run the bank they
will take advantage of the sixty-day
clause.