The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-08
BROODED OVER FACT THAT
 FRIENDS HAD LOST MONEY
Doctors Did Everything In Their Power to Save the Sinking Man, But All to No AvaiI-WeI-
 Ions Makes Bond.

that length of time on artificial respira- { tion and oxygen, but 1t was impossible to save his life. MT. Forts office is room s37, First National bank building.
 When the deceased died his wife, his sister-in-law and his brother-in-lay, R. l.. Seals, were in the room. where the physi- clans had been at work on the uncon- scious man. Dawson never recovered 1 consciousness.
 Two theories as to the cause of death have been advanced, but it is generally believed that Mr. Dawson committed sul- eide by taking morphine or some other opiate. The physicians have not yet de- cided what poison was the cause of death. An autopsy will probably be held this morning at Lige Loys undertaking es- tablishment, where the remains were re- moved.
 Resulted From WelIons' Trouble.
 The act is believed to have resulted l from troubles which have grown out or the developments in the investigation Of the books of the White Commission com- pany.
 On last Friday night F. B. Wellons, un- til three weeks ago general manager or the company, was arrested on a charge of embezzlement of 5000 of the funds of the company.
 On Saturday the trial was held before Judge Feagin and MT. Dawson was the chief witness, introducing the books of the company which had been examined by an expert bookkeeper, as evidence that Wellons was short 5000. The defense of s.,,tx hearing, but made threats at the time that testimony would be introduced which would include others beside Welons in the shortage.
 The testimony in the case showed that T. D. Howard had bought several blocks of stock through the White Commission company from the O'Den Commission company, and that after these stocks had been sold by the latter company How ard had paid margins on them to Wellons as representative of the White company.
 Has Been Very Blue.
 Dawson has been very Respondent over the trouble, and his act is thought to be the result of breeding over the matter while sitting in Forts office yesterday afternoon. As yet it Is not known from where he obtained the poison, as it is thought he did not leave the office all day yesterday.
 It seems that Dawson felt keenly the financial troubles into which he had got ten his friends and himself and he brood ed over 1t. It Is said he had thought un- til two weeks ago that he would soon be a rich man and that his friends would be equally as rich, if not richer. The stock trading disappointments and the fact that he had secured all the cash possible on his securities so as to meet the claims of his friends and prevent their suffering through him, worried him considerably. lDawsons friends say he was under the impression that the entire matter was strengthened out but the Howard charges can up and the fact that these transac- tions did not appear in the books of the company added to his troubles
 Dawson was found unconscious by Will liam fort, L. c. Brinkmeyer and c. A. Koerner. Doctors Shropshire, Lowry, Hehin, the family physician, Mason and Love, were immediately summoned. They worked without cessation until Dawson died but to no avail.
 Mrs. Dawson and her sister were sent for and they remained in the adjoining room until the end came.
 William E. Fort, who is attorney for | Dawson and one of his warmest personal friends. made the following statement last night:
 Mir. Fort Makes Statement.
 MT. Dawson is one of the warmest hearted men in the city and believes in the loyalty of his friends. He Is of a confding nature and trusts any one. He had considerable money of friend of his | invested in this business and he was in- terested in the White Commission com pany only to the extent of acting as agent for his friend.
 MT Dawson believed that he had a business which would pay him we'll and also his friends, and he persuaded several of them to invest money in it, introducing them personally to F. B. Wellons. who was manager and had entire charge. Mir Dawson had every reason to believe that the business was making money as he was frequently assured by wellons that | there was plenty of money to meet all obligations and that there was con- siderable money in bank.
 Finally about two weeks ago he re- turned to Birmingham and found things | were different from what he thought them. It was a great shock to him, as he realized at once that he, as well as several of his friends. had lost heavily. He felt keenly the fact that he had been instrumental in getting these friends into the matter and that he was responsible | for the loss. =
 Was Greatly Worried.
 "one thing followed another and MT. Dawson was greatly worried. The trou- ble has preyed on his mind. Yesterday he went to my office early in the day 1 and said he would stay there until I came back from court. I went to the office