The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-09-20
THE WAGES OF SIN.
A Young Man Ends His Life Rath-
er than Face Charge.
WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING.
As an Officer Was About to Ar.
rest Him He Placed q Pis-
tol to His Breast
and Fired.

J. Horace Wood, aged seventeen.
shot and almost Instantly killed him
self Wednesday night at about S clock
in the Office Of r. e. Dun 4 Co., on
the second floor of the Exchange bank
building, Macon, Ga. The young man
chose death rather than the disgrace OF
arrest on the charge of stealing about
$40 worth Of postage stamps.
Wood vas formerly employed in the
Office, but was discharged early in Au,
gust, having worked for about five
months as clerk. Prior to his Discharge
the number of postage stamps used III
the Office had Increased to such an ex-
tent as to cause first surprise and then
suspicion on the part CT the local man
ager Mr.. Logan Douglas. Suspicion
pointed to young Wood but nothing
fixed upon him until last night.
After his discharge the stamps con-
tinued to disappear too rapidly to De
accounted for on the score Of letters
mailed. The watchmaD Of the bank,
Warren Mosely, was notified and last
night Mr.. Douglas himself decided to
watch fort thief.
He was seated at his desk Ia corner
of the Office without light and the out
er door locked when someone came up
the elevator and walked to the door,
called to ask if anyone wasin Mr.. Doug
las made no reply. The visitor then
Knocked and said that someone down
stairs wanted to see the chief clerk. He
received nc reply and Immediately al
forwards Mr.. Douglas heard a key turn
ed in the lock and Horace Wood enter
ed, passing through the railing and ap-
preaching the stamp drawer he saw Mr..
Douglas, who rose and said;
"Well, Horace | have you now.
Eyes, Mr.. Douglas, answered the
boy, you have me now.
Mr.. Douglas, troubled because Of the
discovery which be has more than halt
expected to make, asked Wood what he
out to do with him.
''I don't know he replied.
II have no right to ask favor Of you
but if you will overlook it and say moth
ing l will leave town tonight never to
return.
But Mr.. Douglas told him that he
must pay for the stamps he had alb
stracted and asked him if his father
would not pay for them, but to this
proposition the boy would not listen.
He said that he had rather die than
have his father know ANYTHING about
it.
AT this tiuo Mr.. Glenn Steed, the
lawyer who has offices nearby, appear
ed and Mr.. Dot: :Ias told him the dis
covery and asked VI. Steed to 50 to
the window and call policeman.
Mosely, the watchman, who says he
saw the young man so up the stairs vas,
however, in waiting AID entered the
Office. Mr.. Douglas told MN also, aud
together they talk the matter over
Finally Mr.. Dousias tod Mosely to
take Wood to the barracks and he would
meanwhile see what could be done
about it.
As Mosely approached Wood Grew a
pistol from his pocket and said:
"I'll be ID if you ever take me to
the barracks,
At the same time holdidg the weapon
in front of his breast and pointing to-
wards Mosely.
The watchman spoke gently to him,
edging up close. aud when within reach
tried to knock the pistol down. but as
be did so Wood turned the weapon on
himself and fred.
The ball entered about the region Of
the heart. Mosely seized him and
walked with him down the passage to-
wards the elevator. After few steps
the unfortunate youth tottered aud
sank in the officer arms, e1clalm'
ing: s.,,-, ,o,s
bye" L.,
The body was taken to Wood S under
taking establishment.
Young Wood was the son of Mr.. }.
". Wood, most respected man, who
is well known by the business men as
eminently trustworthy aud highly, re-
spectable. He has been employed by
the Central Railroad and now holds
position Of trust with the Blbb Manu-
featuring company. -,
The young man has been little wild
and since his discharge by the Dunn
company he has been out OF employ