The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-21
SUTTON LET OUT.
Auditor of Santa Fe Pacific Is
Displaced
Action of Officials Followed At
tempt at Suicide.
MANY RUMORS AFLOAT
Reported That Mr. Sutton Had
Lost Heavily in Stocks.
Fought Doctors Who Worked
to Save His Life.


tains the following.
G. S. sutton is no longer auditor OF the
Santa Fe lines in this jurisdiction. hav-
ing yesterday been succeeded by l.
Miller. who has been chief clerk in the
office for several years Mr. Miller is.
howeve-. acting but temporarily The
permanent appointee for the place will
not be announced for several days.
Mr.. Sutton tried to end his life by NOR
phine last Saturday night. That fact was
known to his friends several days ago.
They. however, hoped to keep the details
from the public In the expectation that
by d suppression OF the news Mr. Sutton
might be allowed to retain his position
There have been several stories afioat
upon the subject ever since Monday. near
~ all retailed by AIR Sutton's neighbors
out on West Twenty-third street. where
the late auditor Of the Santa Fe resides.
and some Of this gossip has reached Santa
Fe headquarters in Chicago and has been
flashed back by wire to Los Angeles.
One story from this source is that the
company's late auditor of its western
lines has been speculating in Wall street
and that he Is snort IN his accounts, and
being unable to conceal the facts any
longer he had decided in desperation 10
This story was positively denied at
Santa Fe headquarters in this city to-
day. as was also the further statement
that Mr. Sutton owed his forced resigna-
tion 10 the fact that he had permitted
been paid. to slip through his office
It is further denied here that Mr.. Sut-
ton has been relieved because of any
thing wrong in the conduct of his office
and as proof of this denial it is positively
stated that Mr. Sutton was not relieved
from duty until late yesterday. when tel
egraphic orders reached here from Chi
cago. suspending the late auditor, and
turning his Office over to L Miller, his
late chief clerk
1t is pointed out in proof Of these de-
mails that the cOmDany's auditor does
not personally handle any funds of the
company, so that he could not possibly
been dismissed is. however. conceded. as
is also the fact that his experience since
last Saturday night is the result of de-
is insisted, because Of domestic dlficuI-
ties. and for no other reason
Santa Fe lines is in San Francisco and
all Information was positively refused
ferday from his office. Chief Clerk Fred
B. Henderson insisting that he was un-
authorized to discuss the matter from
any standpoint and deploring the fact
nate circumstances had to be made
public at all. Mr. Henderson did say
emDhatically that the late auditor was
not short In his accounts, and he also
took occasion to deny the rumors that
Mr. Sutton had been caught in the re-
cent Wall street squeeze: that any Off
GERS OF the system are on their way to
books. or that he is no longer in the
companys employ because of any of
these alleged facts The official state
nents appear to be borne out by the
facts. for Mr. Sutton was not relieved
from the duties Of his present position
until yesterday. four days after his un-
successful attempt upon his life He
could not. therefore. have tried to com
NIT suicide because of reason which did
not then exist
c. H. Whitehead. general auditor of the
Los Angeles. He is due here tomorrow
and is coming alone 1t is admitted thai
his visit is in connection with the retire
ment of Mr. Sutton from the cOmDanvfs e
employ. but his overhalilins- of the hooks
of the latter is stated to be customary
proceeding. always incidental uDon such
a change as the one that has just been
It is stated that Mr. Sutton was dronDed
in view of his attempt at self-eestruction,
his usefulness a S a Santa Fe emplOye had
Tor the time being. ended.
The domestic difficulties between the
Suttons are said to have originated at To-
peka which was the husband's sfation
before he was promoted TO the Los An
separafed and Mr. sutton Who W.. 1,esr.2,
fond OF his wife. is stated to have brooded
over his troubles until he became convict
ed that life no longer had anv attra actfons
Tor hlm He was reported as being out
Charles S Sutton is a native of Cam
bridge. England. and began his railroad
career as a messenger boy with the New
entered the service OF the Santa Fe in
lsso as chief cleglS of disbursements. He
1ater went 70 the New York and New
the Santa F'e and California When that
me consolidated with the Santa Fe
1re.sht receipts He was promoted to
Sniet auditor Of the company's western
now assistant general auditor of the
whole Santa Fee system
The Los Angeles Times saws.
p sutton. auditor Of the Santa Fe
railroad lines west Of Alhuullerol1a IL y +
MS nome at Iwenty-third street recover
ing from an overdose of morphine taken
Sunday evening
DIT. Fred r. sutton assistant surgeon
OF Inc santa F'e. with others worked
from Z p m to daylight next morning To
save the life Of the auditor The doctor
and the auditor, though Of the same
naEe, are not relatives
since Monday morning there were rti-
norS on the street that a prominent btlSf-
had attempted suicide and had fought
Vigorously against all efforts to save his
His associates in the Santa Fe Offices
a.! te1use to discuss the unfortunate ar
Iair- and they viii not admit that thew
know anything of the facts They srea k
in the highest terms OF the auditor 81
eil nope that his close approach to death s
door Will deter him from any subseouanr
mistake OF this character"
The report current in Topeka Is 70 +ba
effect that in the permanent retirement
Fe-Pacifc. J. s. Jennings. auditor ~ fbe
Colorado. Gulf & Santa Fe will succeed
Mr. Sutton at Los Angeles and thaf 4
itor Of disburseue nts at Topeka will sllc-
coed Mr.. Jennings at Galveston
In the general ofnces OF the Santa Fe
here but little is known Of the atteunpt
Of G. s. Sutton to commit suicide. be-
yond what is contained in the newspa-
per reports. 1t Is admitted that the
business of his department is now in
the hands of his chief clerk and that j
Nv Whitehead, the general auditor. is
on his way from Chicago to Los An
geles-
Since the attempt at self-destructfon
as at first reported, rumors have been
xa1e concerning previous attempts made