The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-02

Quitman, Ga, Oct. Ito Chief of
Police, Savannah, Ga.-Seeing the fire.
quent illusions i'm the Morning News
regarding MIR. GriGin's valet, this is to
advise that the negro reached
Quitman from Savannah last Satur-
may night and is still here.
(Signed) j. III. Wade.
With the receipt of the above tele-
gram by the superintendent of police
yesterday considerable light was
thrown on the mysterious disappear
ance of E. H. Griffin from his room in
the Pulaski House late last Sunday
night.
statement from Bailey Harvey,
Mr.. Griffin's valet, reduces the innum-
cradle number of theories practically to
two. With Harvey turning up in Quit
man Saturday night only two reason
able theories are left-suicide or a well
laid plan to leave for parts unknown.
1t had been established by the Morn
ing News that Griffin came to Savan-
nah without crutches and now his valet
makes the statement that he did not
really need them.
Harvey makes other statements that
tend to clarity the mystery surround
ing the disappearance of the hat
drummer, and it is believed now that
the matter will be solved within a day
or two. Mr.. R. A. Griffin of Quitman,
a brother of the missing man, arrived
in Savannah last night and took up
the search himself.
Brother Is Puzzled.
Il am utterly at loss to account for
my brothers disappearance" said Mr.
Griffin last night in the Morning News
office. Il don't see how he could have
gotten out of Savannah with the small
amount of money he must have had
1t is quite possible that he had only a
very small sum- but l have figured it
out that he could not have had over
$25 inS any event
1T is my purpose to make every eff
fort to find him. If he We're still alive
it looks to me like he would have
communicated with me in some way.
/ fear that he may have met with
foul play He could have gotten out
of the hotel without his crutches,
though why he left 1 cannot under
stand.
THE disappearance is a very great
mystery to me. The idea that he want
ed to end his life is out of the ques-
Vannah, he could by now have made
himself known I shall do everything
in my power TO locate my brother"
What Use Were Crutchess
Since it has been established that it
was not necessary for Mr.. Griffin to
use crutches there are many who be-
lieve he simply desired to get out of
the way and thought it a good idea to
envelope his disappearance in mystery.
IT,. 4.
ably left the money at the hotel for
his wife.
On the other hand those who con-
tend for the suicide theory argue that
IL he had intended to leave his family
he would never have left them any
money. They are wont to believe that
he grew tired of life and simply de-
sired to shuttle off this mortal coil. AS
evidence of his intentions in this direc-
tion they point to the fact that he
stated to the man from whom he pur-
chased the third revolver that it was
his intsntion TO kill himself 1t was
stated, too, that he told others he in
tended to take his own life.
Was Very Sick Man.
1t is known that Griffin was an i'll
man on Thursday night when he was
seen in Knights Pharmacy by DR..
Walter Norton. He had a high fever
at that time and endeavored to pur-
chase two revolvers from the drug
clerk on duty. His subsequent con-
duct, however, indicated that he was
perfectly rational
AS has been stated in the Morning
News, the last seen of Griffin was late
Sunday night when he was going up
in the elevator at the Pulaski House
TO his room. He had his crutches at
that time, and, seemingly, it was with
the greatest difficulty that he walked.
The suicide theorists say he may have
become delirious after reaching his
room, and, without his crutches, wan
dered from-the hotel unobserved. A
score of things could have happened
after he reached the street.
where Could Body he.
Although the third pistol purchased
by Griffin has never been located it is
contended that if he shot himself his
decomposed body would have been
found before this time. 1t is not be-
lieved that he could remain i'm the city
for a week, either dead or alive, with
out his whereabouts being discovered.
Those who hold to the suicide the
ory however, say he may have wan
dered to the river and either jumped
or fallen overheard. They contend
that his body might be caught under
some of the vessels i'm port, or may
have fioated down the river on a night
tue NlluOuL DtlHk Ht6il lHey say IL
he is dead he is probably in the water,
and do not take to the idea that he
may have shot himself. Certainly he
lie not being held for ransom.
Al the Railroad stations.
Inquiry at the railroad stations fails
20 reveal any clue that would lead to
the belief that Griffin left the city Of
his own accord. No man answering
hts description has been noticed at
either of the stations, or on the
.Tvharves, so far as can be learned.
A travelling man reported yesterday
morning TO the Morning News that on
last Monday morning he saw a man
at the railroad station in Jacksonville
who answered the description of Grit
fin. But a search of Jacksonville fails
TO locate him there, and his where
abouts are as puzzling as they were
on the morning after his disappear
ance. While the discovery of his valet
throws considerable light on the situa-
tion It by no means solves the problem,
and the drummer continues TO be the
Mysterious Mr.. Griffin"
Were Going 10 Alabama.
The following special 10 the Morn
ing News from Quitman was received
last night:
BAILEY Harvey. the valet OF y. ".
Grimm, who disappeared I'm Savannah,
was seen this afternoon and states he
left Savannah Saturday afternoon at
NtHH %