The sun., 1896-10-09
SUICIDE CLOSES A BANK.
TREASURER MARSH OF GLoUCEs-
TER, MASS, KILLS HIMSELF.

He Had Lost His Fortune aud Trust Funds
In Speculation and Was Unable to Pnoo
ShortaEe-IAis Resignation Had Re,,
Asked for and He Shot Himself Dena.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Oct. S,-Shortly before IL
O'Clock this forenoon the curtains OF tho Cane
Ann Savings Bank were down. tho door locked.
and notice posted, saying: Bank closed
balance of tho day"
This caused cons sderab bio inq uiry. The officials
Of the bank gathered and went into the rear
room, and tho closing of the bank in business
hours was discussed. The mystery continued
until after O'Clock, when tho fact could no
longer be kept secret that the Treasurer of
the bank. George J. Marsh. had shot himself
John Strum janitor Of the bank. engaged
Charles 4. Sawyer to assist him In hauling up
yacht on Mr.. Marsh's place. About 1915,
while working abont the premises Mr.. Marsh
was seen about there. and his footsteps heard 90
he paced up and down inside tho house. Hav-
ing completed thoir work. Sawyer proceeded
directly up tho street. Mr.. Strum went with
him. but when he reached the summer house
left for the purpose OF doing some errand.
Strum entered the house, and had occasion to
visit the collier. He had hardly got down stairs
when he saw. lying on the floor, Mr.. Marsh
dehd; alongside OF him was gun.
MIR. Marsh had agreed to attend n meeting of
the trustees OF the savings bank this forenoon.
When the trustees met n letter was found in his
handwriting directed to Sylvester Cunning CHAM,
saying that his body would be found In the
cellar at his summer house Mt Annisquam
w. Wallace Cook was at once sent TO Annis.
guam to verify the contents of the letter, and on
arriving there. 1t Is said, found Mr.. Marsh
pacing the floor of his house. Having seen Mr.
Strum about the house. Mr.. Cook called to him
to keep an eye on Mr.. Marsh while he returned
to Gloucester. Mr.. Strum was not informed OF
the letter, and Mr.. Marsh requested him to go
to the village on some errand, and on his return
he found Mr.. Marsh dead.
Tho Bank Commissioners, it Is said made an
examination OF the bank yesterday. and It Is all
right beyond question. 1t is also said that tho
commissioners were summoned by telegraph
this afternoon, but nothing to corroborate could
be learned. The bank Is considered one Of the
strongest financial institutions in the State, az
1t has over S3,000.00O on deposit. Mr. Marsh,
who had been Treasurer for nearly thirty yeara,
was considered \ very shrewd manager.
IL Is learned however, that the Savings Bank
Examiners q week ago advised the trustees to
ask for Mr.. Marsh's resignation as Treasurer.
and that the meeting to-day was for the purpose
OF accepting IL. Mr.. Marsh is said to have been
heavily interested in the stock market. and to
have lost most of his fortune. The Savings
Bank Commissioners tonight announced that
not dollar Of the bank funds has been touched.
Last night trustees OF various trust funds
met and Mr.. Marsh. their Treasurer was un-
able to produce those funds. The shortage in
those funds Is now estimated at $3.50, 600,
which, besides his private fortune of 500, 900,
has been sunk In stock speculation. He was hit
especially hard br AuGusts money stringency.