The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-07-16
IDENTITY OF THE
Suicide REVEALED.
VICTIM WAS PRIVATE MATTON OF
FORT SCREVEN.
Ills MCssmato Hero Yesterday-Tho Sad
Story of tho Young GcorglRn's
Lifo He Came Awayto
XIII Himself.
Estate, 18th

company is stationed at Fort Scroven,
on Tybee Island, near Savannah. Ho
was 20 years old, and had been in
tho army 10 months.
Yesterday morning M. G. Sutton
came up from Savannah and idonti-.
fed the deceased by means of u post
norton photograph.
Mr.. Sutton, who was q messmato
of Private Mattox, brought with him
the following letter, which he pre-
sented to the proper authorities:
Savannah, Ga, July II.
Mr.. j. p. Foulk, Columbia, S. G.
Dear Sir: The bearer hereof, Mr..
M. 9. Sutton, goes to your city for
the purpose of soeing the photo.
: graph, and if necessary tho dead body
Of the young man who committed
suicide at your hotel on Tuesday
morning. The description given fits
the description of our brother, Mr..
Eldon Mattox, who disappeared
from Fort Screven. Mr. Sutton goes
for tho purpose of identifying the
photograph and the body. 1t is so
nell. Of us can possibly yet off,
and he has kindly consented to 90
for us. Mr.. Sutton is friend Of
ours and will be able to identify the
body at once, they having been close
friends and associates for some time.
We understand that the young
man loft small sum of money. In
tho event that Identification proves
to be that of Eldon Mattox, you will
please deduct whatever sum Is due
you out of the money loft and pay
balance to Mr.. Sutton.
Sankey Iattox,
Daisy, Ga.
l.. M. Mattox,
Riggton, Ga.
The supervisor deducted tho cost
of the burial and the photograph
from the SIS found on the body and
turned the remainder over to Private
Sutton, who will give it to the family
Of the dead man.
MIR. Sutton, in On interview before
his return to Savannah yesterday
morning, was able to tell somo de-
tails of his comrades life which may
in measure explain it's sad end.
It seems that for some time the
mon in tho company had noticed Mr..
Mr.. Mattox's morose frame of mind,
and were not little worried as to
the. possible outcome. Only his
messmate, however, know the dark
forebodings which he had in regard
to his future, and which at length 80
unbalanced his reason as to make
him resort to suicide.
A severe pain in the head had
boon troubling the deceased for q
long time. It is not known when he
began to suffer from this, but certain
ly ever since his enlistment nearly two
years ago.
These pains occurred only at inter-
walls, but of late had been especially
frequent. They alwsys depresse d
their victim greatly.
Several times during the past
month he told Mr.. Sutton he was
afraid he wouldn't live very long.
Last week he was talking to his mess
nate and was more despondent than
usual saying(bese pains in his head
wore getting %u-se and worse and he
knew he would die soon.
All this had made his comrades
especially watchful of him.
The last seen of him was on Sun
day about noon. Several remember
talking with him and he did not
seem out Of sorts.
That night he was not at taps and
straightway the company became
alarmed, recalling the trend the
young mans mind had taken of late.
Mr.. Sutton said that the other day
MIR. Mattox was reading n book in
which was the story of a suicide. He
made this remark on finishing the
story: .t
"If / were gong to commit suicide,