The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-29
SUPPOSED TO HAVE suIcIDED.
COIOred Girl Drowned Herself Rather
Than Be Arrested.

AOiOFcu O1Fl
Than lie Arrested.
Fear of exposure and arrest is probably
what caused Sarah Flintroy, a mulatto
girl, II years of age, and a student in the
Beach Institute, at Price and Harris
streets, to jump from an embankment into
Wilmington river at Thunderbolt yester-
day and drown herself before boatmen and
others nearby could go to her rescue. She
was taken from the river within few
moments after she sunk the third time.
The mother of the girl, who was the
only one to accompany her to Thunder
bolt, does not believe the suicide theory,
but is of the impression her daughter was
standing too near the embankment and
when her hat was tilted off by the wind,
grabbed for it, and, losing her balance,
fell into the stream. She said that she
and her daughter left for Thunderbolt
about O'Clock The mother had been
feeling i'll and thought a trip there would
reinvigorate her. Not wanting to go
alone, she prevailed on her daughter to
go along.
This does not tally with developments.
which were made known by the police
after the drowning was reported,
about $3.50 o'clock. The drowned
girl was about 10 be brought into ac-
count for thefts committed at the insti-
tute and which had already been con-
fessed by her after a searching inquiry
by the city detectives. Some of the teach
ers connected with the institute called on
Chief McDermott recently and reported
that gold ring, a diamond ring and $40
had been stolen from their home adjoin-
ing the school, and that they desired to
have the matter investigated by the de-
tectives. Knowing an exposure of steal
ing on the part of one of the students
would not be pleasant, the teachers were
rather importunate in their request that
the matter be kept a secret. They also
said that in the event the guilty party
was found, 1t was not their intention to
prosecute the case, the only object being
to recover the property.
Detectives Shea and Scully went to the
school and naturally inquired first as to
who was or had been in position to take
the property. The officers were informed
that Sarah Flintroy was a domestic in
the house and did that work in payment
for her tuition. Considerable inquiries
were made by the detectives as to when
the girl had last been in the room from
which the things were taken and other
details which would give light on the sit
uation. 1t was decided to send for the
girl, who lived at No. 324 Price street, a
short distance from the school. On arriv-
ing she was closely questioned and for
over an hour maintained that she did not
take the things and had not seen them.
For time ii appeared as though she
was elinging to the right, but the doubt
was later cleared when she confessed the
theft, and said if permitted TO go home,
she would get the rings. She left and re-
turned in a few moments, bringing the
rings, which were turned over to the
owners She was told by the officers that
the $l5 would have 10 be produced, and
she was given until o'clock yesterday
TO get IL, being told by the officers they
would call again al that time. While the
teachers did not intend having her ar
rested, still the girl was left under the
impression that if the money was not
forthcoming she would be arrested and
Jailed.
What efforts she made in order to raise
the amount is not known because the
mother is supposed to know nothing of
the theft. From all that could be learned,
however, it is certain she was under a
cloud of apprehension, which was intensi-
fled as the time approached for the de-
tectlves to return. Their coming to her
meant arrest, which could only be averted
by replacing the money she admitted TAX
ing from the teachers home.
The trip TO Thunderbolt appears much
different under this state of facts than
the statement of the mother would indi-
cate. Concerning the trip and the drown
ing the mother said 10 a Morning News
reporter that she and the girl walked
around a considerable time a Thunder
bolt before going to the embankment. The
trouble it is believed, was talked over by
them, and means suggested to avoid what
was expected to follow. The mother said
the girl wandered to the embankment and
she herself remained some distance away.
1t was but a few feet to the water, and
supposing the stream was deep at that
point, she said she warned the girl to be
careful. Her head was turned and a
scream from the girl told that she had
either fallen or jumped over the bank.
The woman made a great deal of noise
and attracted several fishermen. BY the
time they arrived the girl had sunk the
third time, and they began dragging the
river The body was drawn up with a
hook and line by a negro woman. The
coroner was telephoned and sent the dead
wagon for the body.
That the girl suicided is almost beyond
doubt. Some of the teachers at the Reach
Institute were informed of the matter, and
stated they would have regretted the af-
fair even more had the girl not confessed.
The institute was founded by the Amer
lean Missionary Society, with headquar-
ters in New York, and is for the educa-
ton of the negro in the South. Other
schools for the same object are located in
other Southern cities.
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