The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-07
GAMBLING WAS HIS RUIN.
HARLEY WESTCOTT PREFERRED
DEATH TO A DISGRACED LIFE.

TO Button. Leaving Letters for
Capt. strObhar and Engineer Ber-
ry-Once Won ) 900 in One Night
at Craps. But soon Lost Ii AII-Had
Been in the Steamboat Business
Here Several Years and Was Well
known.
Overwhelmed with grief and shame at
having betrayed the confidence of those
who had trusted him and unwilling to
face them, Harley S Westcott sought re-
lief from the troubles which beset him
in a watery grave.
Westcott was the purser of he steam
er Doretta, which Plies tetween Savan-
nah and Beaufort. He left Savannah with
the steamer on its usual trip Monday
morning, but when the steamer arrived
at Button he had disappeared and there
was nothing to indicate what had become
of him until two letters were found one
addressed to the engineer Of the steamer,
and the other to Capt II. A Strobhar
agent at Savannah, which showed APP
parently that his intention had been to
take his own life
The letter to Capt. Strobhar revealed
the cause Of the young mans rash act
In this letter he stated that he had
sQuandered various sums of money be-
longing to other parties. Knowing the
young mans habits and his weaknesses,
Capt. Strobhar and the employees of the
Doretta had little difficulty in coming 10
the conclusion that Westcott had lost the
sums to which he referred in his letter
in the gambling houses in Savannah, and
ft,x To ebO
that this conclusion was correct The to-
tai amount however, was not large ana
Westcotts friends were at a loss to un-
derstand why he should have sought
death, as with an effort on his part he
would doubtless have been able to ar
range the matter and make the sums
good in a short time. This was not the
first time, unfortunately, that the young
man had implicated himself in this man
ner. and it is supposed that overcome by
dependency and a sense Of his own weak
ness, he decided to put himself out Of the
reach of temptation by putting an end to
his existence.
The letter to Capt Strobhar furnishes
Westcott's explanation:
Dear Capt: 1 have squandered S91.45
belonging to Mr.. c. b. Kirk, Sl4.70 of w.
J. Fripps. $475 of N. Lang's, and $500 of
Mr., Snyder's. and cannot bear to face II.
This makes a total of $l12,S7. When you
receive this. l will not be among the liv-
ing. May God have mercy upon my soul.
Harley s. Westcott.
Capt H. A. Strobhar, Savannah, Ga,
Aboard steamer Doretta, $4,000.
Up. S.-Just sixteen years ago to-day my
mother died. And to-day I depart.
Harley"
The letter to Engineer Theodore Berry
reads: Dear Chief-You will have to
look out for everything. Be sure to de-
liver the letter for Mrs Politzer, as it is
important. Look over the freight list and
you will find all there is TO collect, as
have marked everything l collected paid
You will find all money in locker in our
room. Deliver the letter you find there.
There Is a package Of zephyr on top of
desk should anyone call for it. Goodbye.
Capt. Strobhar will explain oil. Yours,
"Westcott."
Mr. Theo Berry Ten Capt Ike good
bye" This last l'ne was for Capt Isaac
Helmly of The Doretta.
Westcott appeared 90 be in his usual
good spirits when The steamer left Sa
vannah Monday morning and nothing
strange or unusual was noticed in his APP
pearance. He finished UP his work on the
steamers books for the trip and then went
TO his room, when he probably wrote The
letters which We're found later Some
young men, who were known TO WestcoU,
were playing cards in the steamers din
came through the room and slapped one
OF them Familiarity on the shoulder As
the party had some liquor the young man
thought that perhaps Westcott wanted a
drink, and following him out of the room
offered him one Westcolt declined the
offer, saying he did not care for anything
to drink, and then remarked that he was
going to his room TO lie down.
This was the last seen of him. The boat
at that time was in May river and not
far from WinstOn's landing Some time
previous to this Westcott had told Capt.
Helmly that he would have to stop a
Wnston's, as he had TWO passengers and
some packages for that pace. Westcott
did not make his appearance when the
landing was made AT WinstOn's, but moth
ing was thought of this at the time, as it
was supposed that he was asleep After
leaving Winston's the steward came TO
Capt Helmly and informed him mat he
could not find Westcort and that he did
not think he was on the boat. A thor
ough search was made of the boat without
any trace being discovered of WestcOtt.
The crew was al loss TO account for his
disappearance, as it was hardly thought
that he had committed suicide but they
knew that he could not have left the boat
at Winsion's without being seen, and thai
he could hardy have fallen overheard
without attracting attention.
Being only a short distance from Bluff
ten, Capt. Helmly proceed there and
unloaded his passengers and then imme-
diately turned back to make a search for
the missing purser The search was con-
tinued back as far al Winston's and be-
yond to Potato Island when il grew TOO
dark to make further search of any val
he. The beat returned to Button, where
Engineer Berry discovered the letter ad.
dressed TO h m in the desk used hy West
colt, the letter to Capt. Sro1har being
found later. This confirmed their fears
as to the disappearance of the missing
man.
The news Of Westcotts suicide was
great shock to the people OF the little
town Of Button, 10y whom he was well
liked. lie had been very obliging in the
matter Of carrying messages ard letters
and discharging errands for them. lie
was also some hing Of a ladies' man and
hadNa number Of friends there of both