The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-05
WAS IT SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT7
GnAHAM's MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT
GAINESVILLE, FLA.

Son OF Bank President Kills Himself,
either by Design or Accident.
Brains Blown Out in lump.
There Was No Apparent Reason
for His If-Destruction-was En-
gagged to he Married TIA "a Charm-
Ing Young woman.
Gainesville, Fla, June 4.-This afternoon
George Graham, one OF the most proms-
ing young men Of this city and the eldest
son of Capt. James NJ Graham, president
of the First National Bank, shot and in
stant.y killed himself in his store in the
Brown House.
AT the above mentioned time several
gentlemen were sitting in front of the
Brown House, when they were suddenly
startled by. the report OF a gunshot.. Lee
Graham, brother OF the unfortunate young
man. was in the crowd. and the first to
reach the store. AS he pushed open tho
door and saw his brother lying with his
head in a pool Of blood. he exclaimed MY
God"
The other gentlemen. j. D. Strlngfellow,
W. J. Denby, Harry Hutchinson ana Or.
]. f. McKinsley Jr., followed Lee Graz
ham into the store. and there, lying upon
the floor, was the lifeless body of George
Graham
Near his side was a double-barreIed shot
gun with one loaded and one empty shell
In 1t. About two feet in front of the
body was the young mans brains in one
large lump, almost intact, as II had been
blown from his head The walls furni-
ture and bicycles close at hand were be-
spattered with blood, as also was the cell
ing.
Took Hts Brains out.
The charge from che gun entered the
right side of the head. just behind the ear,
tearing off the entire back right side Of
the head and blowing the brains COM
pletely out. The shoe on the right foot
was Off, but otherwise the body was not
disturbed
There are many rumors afioat as TO
whether the shooting was an accident or
suicide His friends are loath to believe
that he would have taken his own life.
They claim that there was no cause for
such deed, while many are Inclined 10
believe that In a spell OF temporary In
sanity he killed himself.
NO one possibly will ever know whether
or not 1t was an accident
Your correspondent called upon Lee
Graham. who stated that ne knew OF no
reason whatever why George should com
init suicide, and denied emphatcally that
such was the case. Several persons stated
that the unfortunate man had complained
of not being well this morning, and II was
rumored that he had been suffering from
Insomnia, and that during a spell of des-
pondency or temporary insanity killed him.
self. AZ any event. there are no facts to
show any cause whatever why he should
have killed himself.
Was Engaged to he Married.
Mr.. Graham was engaged to be married
10 Miss Dilie Duke, the accomplished
daughter OF Mr. and Mrs S. V. Duke and
at noon to-day took dinner al the home OF
his afiianced. Your correspondent inter-
viewed MIR. Duke, who stated that while
at his home Mr.. Graham acted naturally
and seemed the same as always The
marriage of Mr.. Graham and Miss Duke
was TO have taken place next month They
were devoted to each other, and naturally
the blow IL terrible one for the young
lady, who Is almost PROSTATE with grief
A letter was found lying on the desk In
the store addressed TO the father OF the
unfortunate young man, and this at first
created rumor that Il was from George
20 his father, and would explain every
thing, but the letter was found to be
from j. II. Alexander TO Capt Graham,
and was purely Of business nature.
The suppostlon by many Is that while
handling a gun, Mr.. Graham accidentally
shot himself
The body was taken In charge by DIR.
T. II. Thomas. undertaken, and prepared
for burial, after which II was taken to the
home Of the deceaseds father, from which
place the funeral will take place.
George Graham was one of the most
popular young men In Gainesville, and
was the senior member of the firm OF
Graham Bros, bicycle and furniture deal
ers. He was honored for his uprightness
Of character and sterling business quali-
ties. His death has cast a gloom over the
entire city, and the terrible manner In
which he came to his death fails like a se-
we're blow upon his f-iends while his rela-
tives are all but paraIyzed with grief.
--@-s~-s---
PARKEV's TERRIBLE FALL