The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-23
BRIASFIELD'S BODY FOUND.
1T WAS LYING UNDER THE HOUSE
IN WHICH HE LIVED.

Offensive odOr Led to Its Detection.
Relief Is That He Fro1e 10 Death
as There Was No Evidence of Sui
cide-Evidenee shows He Was In
sHnc-Case of the Young Life In-
surnnce Cashier Who Disappeared
From Atlanta.
Atlanta, March 22-The body of Kelly
Brnslield. the cashier of the Manhattan
Life Insurance Company, who disappears
ed so completely on Dec. 29 last, was
found this morning under the house on
Cain street. where he lived up to the time
Of his disappearance. The body was irs
a horrible state of decay but stln recog-
nizabe
Two theories are advanced as to tho
cause of his DEATH the most prevalent be-
ing in accord with the verdict of the corr
oner's jury that he committed suicide.
while many believe that he went under
the house to hide from the officers and
was literally frozen to death.
In substantiation of this latter theory
1t is stated that there was no sign OF
poison or bottle found near the body and
the pistol found on him had not been dis
charged. The night and day of the dis
appearance were bitterly cold. Thera
was a rumor in circulation that Brins-
field had been seen to leave train near
Fort Mcpherson, and those who followed
up the rumor were nearly frozen while
searching the woods in the vicinity of the
post. 1t is said that Brinsfield had pre-
viously been under the house, alleging
that he wanted to locate wires for a
small battery, but in reality to locate ~
safe place 10 hide in case exposure came
to him before he was prepared for ii.
Believed He Was Insane.
Dr. w. c. Warren the physician who
attended Kelly Brinsheld in the sewers
illness he had prior to his disappearance,
says he is of the opinion that the mars
was insane when he hid himself.
"Brinsneld had a period of insanity once
before said DR. Warren. Il am sure he
was suffering from an attack when hS
crawled under his house 10 hide OF kill
himself"
The body was discovered by a little me-
gro kindlng vendor named John Clark
He was hired by the cook In the house
to so under the flooring in search Of the
odors which have been annoying the resi-
dents of the household for the past six
| weeks. He went down through the trap
door and on the supposition that he would
| find rat or dog, he began O careful
search of che space under the house. " mem
he came TO the body he ran out and CALI
| ed for help. A little negro girl, named
| Minnie Brogney, went back with him to
the spot where the body lay to make sure
that the boy was not mistaken. Them
they bo4h ran out and Informed the cook
of their discovery.
| TlnyeIa l.
ing the house at the time and he was
called In. He sent a telephone message
20 the police station for assistance When
the other officers arrived they hastily
made an opening and through it they
could see the body heavy chinchillm
overcoat was on IT, with the deep collar
turned up, the derby hat worn by Brins-
| field was lying near by, as IL it had rolled
! from his head when he lay down. He was
| lying with his face down, resting on his
arm
Caused by Cigarettes.
At the time the disappearance of Kelly
| Brinsfieid, his father, a highly respected
| Methodist minister of Toccoa, Ga, said
| that his son had been driven crazy bY
smoking cigarettes. Strangely coincidene
| with this declaration is the circumstances
that when found there was clutched in
his fingers a half smoked cigarette and
nearly a pack in his pocket.
| On the suspenders found on the dead
body there were two silver, handsomely
| carved buckles On one buckle the word
kelly" was engraved. On the other
| buckle was the name of his wife. Daisy
Rev. w. w. Brinsfeld, the father of the
| young man, was notified by wire of the
| discovery and arrived here tonight. He
! says there was no doubt of his sons un-
| balanced mind. During a visit his som
| had made to him in Toccoa, just prior
to his disappearance, he had noted the
| change in him. DR.. r. j. Bigham. tha
| presiding elder of the Atlanta district,
says he viewed the body early after it's
discovery and there was no evidence OF
| suicide. The pistol was loaded, not a
| chamber being discharged, and there was
| no sign of bottle or papers likely tn
| contain poisonous powders. The body
will be buried at Oakland Cemetery to-
morrow. !
wife Could Not See Him.
Mrs. Kelly Brinsheld, the young bride.
| ts employed In a local dry goods store-
/ She was notified of the discovery and
| asked to be allowed to see the body. This
request was refused, however, and she
went to her home. She has been living
| with her parents since her husband dis
! appeared. When Brnsheld disappeared
| the house he lived in was occupied jointly
! by himself and wife and Mr.. and Mrs
| Hugh Carter Since then Mr.. and Mrs.
| II. o. Wise have occupied the house witlI
| Mr.. and Mrs. Carter.
During the warm days of the past six
weeks the odors permeating the house
were so offensive that several Intellectual
| searches We're made TO discover the cause,
! but without avail until to-day.
Young Brlnsheld was short in his ac-
counts $1,000. He was bonded in a sure
| ty company for 5000. When found ho
had only $40 i'm change In his pocket,
and a receipt for $l5 house rent.
| 1t is generally thought he squandered
! the money in unfortunate speculation. He
| had only been married a few months