The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-28
SHIPS OFFICERS
SURE OF SUICIDE,
Declare No Other Theory of Dis
appearance of Bank Presi-
dent Is Tenable.
HIS CONDUCT CAUSED REMARK.
Paced the Deck, Talked to Him
self and Refused Food-His
Travelling Companion Re-
fuses to Discuss Case.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Galveston, Tex, Dec. 27.-That Granville
". Garth, president of the Mechanics Ma
tional Bank of New York. committed sui
eide by jumping from the saloon deck of
the steamer Denver on the night of De-
cember % is the firm belief Of Captain
Evans and his officers.
Captain Evans says it was impossible
for Mr.. Garth to have gone below and con-
caaled himself in the hold of the vessel
Considering the mans depressed condi-
ton when he boarded the Denver at New
York and his peculiar actions up to the
time of his sudden disappearance, no other
conclusion is possible. they say, than that
he committed suicide.
Thomas Lawson. with whom it was
stated Mr.. Garth was travelling. and the
only person with whom he seemed at all
familiar, was seen tonight. He represents
Blair Brothers, bankers, of New York,
and owners of the Thurber coal mines on
the Texas Pacific. When asked for infor-
nation concerning Mr.. Garth, Mr.. Lawson
biuntly said he had nothing to say. Asked
If Mr.. Garth was not travelling with him,
he said NO" that he had met Mr.. Garth
as he had met other passengers on the
Denver and did not know him before he
became passenger on the steamer.
AS to Mr.. Garths mental condition Mr..
Lawson refused to speak, and as to his
conduct on the vessel he referred to tie
officers of the Denver.
When asked if he had not sent and re-
ceiyed kilograms concerning Mr.. Garth s
sudden disappearance, he replied ne mad
notified his Iawson's) house, but the
kilograms were of a private nature and
did not concern the press or public, which
slreacy had all the information necessary.
He declined to say anything more
SAULBURG'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Saulburg. who worked his way out
IN the stewards department of the Den
yer. when asked for a statement, said:
Mr.. Garth remained very much to
himself after leaving New York. and un-
til the vessel touched at Key West and
took but very little food and this only
after the other passengers had retired
from the dining saloon. He drank no in
toxicating liquors. His only sumulant
touched at Key West, Mr.. Garth, accom-
panied by Mr.. Lawson. disenbarked and
took a short walk uptown.
After leaving Key West, Mr.. Garth
continually walked the saloon deck alone
in apparently very nervous condition His
myers were continually twitching and he
was often heard talking aloud to himself.
food.
.s"on Christmas Eve night the officers
put up the chains separating the steerage
ing the rafting of the chains, excitedly
exclaimed, They are going to put me in
irons My por fatheri' Chief Steward
johnson approached him and asked him
if he would not have something to eat, as
he needed food. Oysters were ordered.
out when prepared were declined by Mr..
Garth, who said he was in no humor to
eat and refused stimulants of all kinds.
Christmas, Mr.. Garth paced the deck
all day in the same nervous condition
with dazed look but did not seem to
NOTICE anybody. He declined nourishment
of every description.
The last time 1 saw Mr.. Garth was
when the second bell rang for dinner,
about $50 p. m. He walked slowly to the
walked aft into the darkness That was
the last time saw him, but some of the
crew claim to have seen him at $50 p. m.
i was sitting on the deck at 8 O'Clock
when the captains messenger rushed by
and asked IL had seen anything of Mr..
Garth. i answered in the negative The
search was kept up for a couple of hours,
Dlit AR. Iarth was not found.
Mr. Lawson said that Mr.. Garth had
given him 500 in wallet during the aft
srnoon OF the day of his disappearance,
Dut he had returned it to him / am con-
iident that Mr.. Garth committed suicide.
be was man about Sc years old. weighed
about 100 pounds. had a black mustache,
pack hair, blue eyes and was nearly 6
Of wealth. and was very liberal in his
TIPS to the walters, frequently giving them
and even $40. and never deigning to
Chief Steward johnson corroborates
Saulburg's statement and Is also firmly
OF the belief that Garth committed suicide.
AS Tar as 1. has been possible to ascer-
tam, no one except Larson has received
any kilograms relating to Mr.. Garth, and
Larson positively declines to disclose their
contents: Captain Evans. when asked
replied they were held subject to the or.
Gers OF Mr.. Lawson.
URGED TO TAKE VACATION.
New York, Dec. 2.-Referring to the
disappearance from the steamer Denver,
on her way to Galveston, of Granville w.
Garth, president of the Mechanics Ma
tlona! Bank OF this city, Albert A. Orr,
wee president o. the bank, said to-day
far from well. and within the past few
weeks had seemed to be on the verge of
mental prostration.
For this reason the Board of Directors
passed on December IA a resolution ur-
cling Mr.. Garth to take vacation of four
months. To this Mr.. Garth assented, and
sailed with companion on the Denver,
December 10. The bank had continued to
prosper under Mr.. Garth's management,
Mr.. Orr said, and his death was solely
que 20 mental anxiety of purely pdGson-
In their home. No. 15s West Fffty-sev-
enth street, Horace e. Garth and his wife
father and mother OF Granville W. Garth
Gulf OF Mexico. are lying both SO III thai
no word Of their sons fate has been told
to them. Mr.. Garth Is an aged man, bro
ken by the knowledge of his sons domes
ito troubles. 1t Is quite probable that
neither father nor mother will rally, and
as they are constantly sinking. they may
die without knowing Of the loss they have
sustained.
In her apartments In the Navarro, Mrs
Granville w. Garth, who has been so sud.
denly widowed. Is also in precarious con
dition. She was told of the death of hel
husband, and. though she bore up braveiy
for few hours, the tax upon her nerves
became too great for her to bear. There
and II Is feared that she will have a lont
and severe Illness.