The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-22
Evaded His Nurse and Was Soon Found in His
Last Agony.
CORONER'S JURY CALLED IT SUICIDE
Tragic End to Financial Career that Was Long Enenty
SucceSSful-Deed Was Done at the Handsome Col
lege Street Home of the Bankrupt Banker.
RumOrS Rife in Macon.

Macon. May 21-Robert H. Plant,
,,resident of the First National Bank
and owner of the I. c. Plants Son
Rank. both recently placed in the
hands of receivers, committed suicide
on the back porch of his beautiful
home on College street at about 8
o'clock to-day. He had been i'll for
two months and the collapse of his
financial institutions, the oldest in the
city, came in the meantime.
He had told his nurse he wished to
lie down. Twenty minutes later he
asked to be assisted to the bath room.
This she did and waited fifteen min
utes on the outside. She then heard
pistol shot. She rushed in and he was
not visible. The bath room had two
doors, one opening upon the porch.
There she found the capitalist with
3s-caliber pistol in his hand, speech
less.
The death was practically instanta-
neous. The bullet had passed through
the right temple and out of the left,
fattening itself upon the WALL The
coroner was at once summoned and
upon the testimony of the nurse and
of a physician verdict of death by
his own hands was rendered.
RumOrs on the Streets.
Those who have known him through
life would have picked Bob Plant
as the last man to fill a suicides grave.
Known extensively in the financial
world and generally accredited as
man of prudence and caution, the fail
ure of his banks, one national bank,
the other a private institution, was a
surprise when announced Monday last
At that time Mr.. Plant was at his
home, ILL., and for over a month he had
been confined there.
The failures at first were accepted
somewhat placidly by the public, but
as development after development came
dissatisfaction increased, until kind
words about Mr.. Plant and his busi-
ness methods were extremely few and
far between. Then quickly words Of
condemnation began. Rapidly the CEN
sure grew, until mass meetings were
contemplated and practically agreed up
on, but these were cut short by rumors
Members of Mr.. Plants family,
knowing his sensitive nature, had
been keeping a close and careful watch
upon him. More than once his apart
ments had been thoroughly searched
in order to prevent the possible pres
ence of anything that might bring
about death. Attendants were with
him constantly.
There have been no developments in
the banking matters during the day
except such as the death of Mr.. Plant
could bring about. His death makes
available Immediately $75O,0OO. This
enhances his assets to that amount
and brings to the creditors of his bank
money to which they are entitled.
Letters written within the last three
days indicate that Mr.. Plant despaired
Of being able to leave his bed in time
70 repair his fortunes. He had ex-
pressed entire approval of the employ
ment of expert accountants by the re-
ceyer.
Mr.. Plant leaves a wife and nine
Children.
Wallace E. McCaw, president of the
NeCaw Manufacturing Company, and
a. FELTON, Hatcher, prominent attor-
Nsy' are s7in-law.
The maiden name Of Mrs. Plant was
Ross.
Inc Plant banking institutions are
We Oldest in the city. They were closed
~s' Monday. The receiver of the prl-
a'e institution has reported defeit
" over $4,000. The national bank ex-
SINNER has as yet made no report as
" mo First National Banks affalrs.
Mr. Plant, IN addition to being iden-