The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-07
BY HIS OWN HAND
JOHN SCRENEN, JR., ENDED HIS
LIFE WITH PISTOL.
G0ADED TO DESPERATION
BY WHAT SEEMED INEVITABLE
FINANCIAL RUIN.

Business with Him. His sentative
Nature Provoked the Deed-His Ir-
Irregularities and Financial Down
fall Attributed to His Friend and
Business Associate, IsMdore silver
berg-HOvv irregularities Were
Practiced.
Goaded TO desperation by impending
financial ruin, John Screven, Jr.,
one of the most prominent young bust
ness men OF Savannah, placed a pistol
to his temple and ended his life at
his home in the Meadows yesterday.
The rash act was the elimination
of developments which have been in
progress for several days, and which
began with the sudden disappearance
of Isadore Silverberg, "a stakeholder
and director in the Savannah Rice
Mills. of which Mr.. Screven was sec
rotary and treasurer and general man
ager. Mr. Silverberg's whereabouts are
unknown.
The motive for the deed is best in
dicated in the words of the dead man
himself who, but a few minutes be-
fore taking his life, confded to Mr..
Horace Rivers, with whom he was
driving TO his home Il have betrayed
the confidence of two good men, and
I am ruined. Silverberg has ruined
me-"
In speaking of the betrayal of
trust he had reference to certain ir-
Irregularities practiced by him. as man
ager of the mill, which, while not in
volving moral turpitude. were so ir-
regular as to prey upon his sensitive
nature, and which finally drove him
to the commission of the rash act
1t is not yet known to what extent
the mill company is involved, as its
officers decline to give out any state
ment until a thorough investigation
has been had committee, appoint
ed yesterday morning, is now engaged
in auditing Mr.. Silverberg's accounts.
Negotiated Rice Receipts.
The Irregularities consisted in the is
suing of special receipts for rice by
Mr.. Screven. as manager, to Mr.. Sill
verberg, senior member of the firm of
I. Siverberg & Co, which did an
extensive business with the rice mill
tiated at various banks, and for many
of them there is no rice at the mills
II is said by the officers that the rice
was removed, although Mr. Silverberg
did not surrender the receipt, as re-
uuired in the course of business.
Mr.. Screven had, it is said, for some
time been beset by financial difficult
no emerged
The outlook for the future was bright,
as the min was doing good business.
Recent events had blighted his hopes.
and driven him to desperation, and it
was while in the depths of despond-
ency that he determined to put an end
TO his life.
While rather uncommunicative, and
sorely distressed by his financial trou-
bles, Mr. Screven's demeanor was not
such as 10 induce the belief that he
contemplated taking his life. The last
conversation of any length which he
had with any one was with Mr.. Horace
Rivers, with whom he drove home to
dinner.
ConAded His Troubles.
Mr.. Screven dropped by the office of
Mr.. Rivers, as was his custom, and in
auired if he were ready to go to din
ner Mr.. Rivers told him he was, and
laughingly told him that if he would
give him the nickel which he intended
paying as car fare, he would let him
ride with him. Mr.. Screven in equal
good spirit replied that he thought he
had as much as a nickel, and that the
trade was a go.
Shortly after ne got in the buggy
Mr.. Screven confided to Mr.. Rivers his
financial embarrassment; told him of
the irregularities which had been prac-
ticed. of Silverberg's departure, and
ended by saying that he was mortified
to think that he had betrayed the con-
fidence of such good men. He told Mr.
Rivers, on reaching home, that as soon
as it was convenient he wanted to talk
to him for about ten minutes.
Mr. Rivers, who lives next door, as
sented saying that he would come over
as soon as he saw his wife. Mr.. Screw
en- went to his room, and, being very
warm, prepared for a bath. He had
taken off his top shirt, when Mr.. Riv-
ers came. Mrs Screven met him at the
door, and went up and told her hus-
band that he had come. She then re-
turned down stairs, and was talking
to Mr.. Rivers when two shots We're
heard
Wife Heard the Shots.
Mr. Rivers ran hurriedly up the
steps. to find the unfortunate man ly-
ing PROSTATE on the floor the blood
flowing from a wound in the temple,
and the instrument of death tightly
clutched in mis- right hand Death had
been instantaneous.
The news of the sudden death of Mr.
Screven was spread quickly, and with
in less than an hour the house was
filled with visitors, offering their SYM
pathies and services. Coroner Keller
viewed the remains, but decided that
an inquest was unnecessary
Shortly after the death of Mr.. Screw
en- a meeting of the officers of the
rice mill was held. 1t was impossible
for the officers to give any figures.
The books and accounts of Mr.. Silver
berg are being audited by a committee,
which is hUrrying TO complete the work
as soon as possible. II will probably be
several days before any definite idea
of the amount involved can be had.
Departure of SiIverberg.
When Mi. Silverberg left Savannah
it was with the aVowed intention of
going to his plantation on the Satilla
river. Investigation proved that he
was not there. The last seen of him.
so far as is known. was Saturday aft
ernoOn, June q, when he left one OF
his stores on Ogeechee creek. near Ow-
ems hack water about eight miles from