The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-02
BY HIS OWN HAND
RUSH STAFFORD, FORMER POLICE
MAN, ENDED UNHAPPY LIFE.
ON BANKS OF MUSGRoVE.
TWO BULLET HOLES SHOW WEAP-
ON WAS HELD CLOSE.

Body Found by Boys Roaming
6ed-FOrmer Policeman Had Fired
Two shots, One Through His
Breast and the other Through the
Left TempIe-WeapOn Could Not
Be FOnnd-DespOndency Alleged
Cause of suicide-Inquest VIII
Probably BE Held.
Rush Stafford, a former member of
the Savannah police force, some time
yesterday placed a revolver to his
breast and then to his head and fired
in succession two shots that put an end
TO his life
The mans body was found at S
O'Clock in the afternoon by boy liv-
ing at the corner of Thirty-eighth and
Burroughs streets. 1t was lying on the
bank of Musgrove creek, west of the
city. Evidently the man had been dead
some hours.
The suicide theory is that Of the coro-
ner and police. An investigation as
thorough as circumstances permitted
was made yesterday afternoon by Cor
oner Keller and the police, and though
it left a number of things unexplain-
ed, it yet developed nothing that would
indicate Stafford met his death other
than by his own hand.
The wounds were in the center of the
breast, just missing the heart, and in
the right temple. Either wound prob
ably would have been mortal, but it
is the theory of the police that the
wound in the breast failed to accom-
plsh it's effect Immediately and that
Stafford then fred the second shot
that brought an end to all his suffer-
ings. Powder marks on his shirt and
on the skin around the wound in the
temple lend to the suicide theory con-
firmAtion almost or quite conclusive.
The Police Notified.
As soon as the boy and some of his
companions discovered the body lying
on Musgrove creek they hurried to
the city and notified the police. De-
tective Murphy and Patrolman Har-
per hurried to the scene.
The officers recognized the body as
that of Stafford. A cursory inspection
at first induced the conclusion that
the man had been murdered. This
opinion was strengthened by the fact
that the pistol with which death had
been inflicted, was nowhere to be
found. A further investigation, how
ever, led to the abandonment of this
theory and the substitution of that
founded on the belief that death had
been inflicted by his own hand. The
body was without hat or shoes and
these, too. could not be found.
Stafford left his home at 757 Thirty
fifth street at o'clock this morning,
going across the colored portion of
Laurel Grove Cemetery in the general
direction of the place where he was
afterwards found. with the bullet
wounds in his breast and head. He
had carefully shaved and dressed him
self and the indications all are that
he meditated self-destruction and went
about it cody and deliberately. So far
as can be learned from a time soon
after he left his house he was never
again seen alive.
Discharged from the Force.
Stafford leaves a wife and one child.
From June, $685. until last February
he was a member of the police force
having been then discharged by the
Mayor Since his dismissal he has en-
gagged in various employments. He was
As years old and was originally from
Brunswick. He also leaves one broth
er, David Stafford of Hinesville. and
a sister, Mrs. ]. b. Davis of Bruins
wick.
When Stafford's body was searched
by the police a flask of whisky was
found. That was all. There was no
letter or anything to explain the rea-
son for his rash and desperate act.
Coroner Keller made an investiga-
ton of the case and reached the same
conclusion as that entertained by the
police. 1t is probable that an inquest
will be held
In the past week Stafford has said
to several of his friends that he con-
templated suicide and stated he would
rather be dead than alive. The mans
misfortunes proved constantly upon
his mind and those who know. indie
pendently of the accepted facts that
give further color to the theory, are
altogether confident it was his own
hand that ended his life.
After the investigation the BODY was
removed to Staffords home. where it
now lies The funeral will be held at
O'Clock this afternoon at the house
and the interment in Laurel Grove
Cemetery.
A further search of the locality
where the man was found will be made
by the detectives to-day and it is
hoped to find the weapon and Stat
ford's hat and shoes. 1t is believed
the pistol, after the last shot was fired,
fell from Stafford's nerveless hand
into the waters of the canal