The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-20
DESPONDENT MAN
DROWNED IN RIVER
7. C. MANNING. OF BRUNSWICK
MADE ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE HE
PLUNGED INTO WATER.


10 Re Forwarded to Wife and HO-
tel ProprictOr-Wns Commercial
Agent of Atlantic and Birming-
ham RAILWAY. and Lost Position
some Days Ago.
Suffering under the mental burden
of domestic and business troubles, T.
c. Manning. until quite recently com
mercial agent OF the Atlantic and
Birmingham Railway with headquar-
ters at Brunswick, Ga, committed
suicide yesterday afternoon by jump
ing into the Savannah river at the
foot of Abercorn street from the deck
of the river steamer Louise.
Every detail of the plan for self-de-
struction was arranged with care
and forethought that suggested it
had long been meditated. With the
same care with which he penned tele-
grams to his wife and friend in Bruins
wick, where he had been living for
the last two years, he folded his coat
and trousers neatly and laid them on
"a shelf just before he took the fatal
plunge into the river.
Went About II systematically.
In preparing for the last act of his
aife, Mr.. Manning followed the instinct
of his long training in railway work,
using perfect system, even TO the min
utest details. Saturday one week ago
he left Brunswick and went to Jack
sonville. He told no one in Brunswick
of his intended departure On Sept.
Is official announcement was made by
the authorities of the Atlantic and
Birmingham Railway that the position
formerly held by Mr.. Manning would
be filled by Mr.. J. c. Ligeour.
After this announcement it was sup
posed that Mr.. Manning left Bruins
wick in search of employment. Last
Tuesday he came to Savannah Sat
urday he registered at the Marshall
House under the name of II. c. Logan.
He assigned as his place of residence
Savannah. The name was written in u
disguised hand with a blue pencil. The
same pencil was used later i'm affixing
directions for the forwarding of one
of the kilograms found in his pocket.
He paid for his room and had his one
piece of baggage taken down into the
office. Late Sunday afternoon he again
went to the hotel and was assigned to
room II. He again used the fictitious
name.
Several local railroad officials remem-
Der having seen Mr.. Manning during
the morning. Shortly after l o'clock
he went to a telegraph office and wrote
out several messages Two of these
he started to offer al the window,
out changed his mind and walked out
of the office. At 8 o'clock he went
back to the Office and rewrote several
messages. After that his presence was
not accounted for until he was seen at
the docks at the foot of Abercorn street
about o'clock. He engaged in con-
Versation with some negro dock hands
and did not appear to be at all excited,
nor was he under the influence of in
toXicants.
Capt. Daniels Spoke TO Him.
Shortly after A o'clock Capt. Ed F.
Daniels of the steamer Louise went to
his vessel and noticed Mr. Manning
seated in a chair near the gang plank.
He knew him, and spoke to him.
Il intended stopping and talking
with him a moment" said Capt. Dan
iels, but one of my men told me about
a razor that some one had stolen, and
1 was worried about it and went up
stairs to search for it. l sat down
letter. / suppose it was three-quarters
of an hour later when a negro boy
came running up the stairway and
told me that a man had jumped over
board and drowned. l rushed down
stairs and found his clothing and other
effects that l now have"
This was all that Capt. Daniels knew
about the suicide. Several negro boys
who were playing around the decks of
the boat said they saw Mr.. Manning
DO aboard and walk behind the bar
counter. They supposed he had bust
ness there, and when they noticed him
taking off his clothes they thought he
was preparing to put on some old ones.
In few moments he walked to the
edge of the deck and sprang over
board. only a few rising bubbles mark
ing the place where he had gone down.
lie Had ON New Clothes.
When he went to the dock Mr.. Man
ming was dressed in a new suit Of
clothes, a new hat and new shoes. All
of these he took off. and when he
sprang into the water he was only
dressed in his underclothes.
In the rear end of the Louise there
is a small bar counter used for serving
refreshments. While the boat is i'm
dock this counter is not used. 1t was
behind this that Mr.. Manning went.
When his clothes were discovered b.
Capt. Daniels his trousers were care
fully folded underneath his coat, and
his hat was laid on the top of the
bundle.
After waiting some time to see if the
body would not rise Capt. Daniels took
the clothing into his Office and exam
ined the pockets. In the inside coat
pocket he found a leather card case
with a large number of railroad passes
in it bearing Mr.. Manning's name, an
Elk's card. certifying that he was a
member Of the Brunswick lodge, a
pawn ticket for a diamond ring which
was put i'm pawn at Muhlberg's pawn
shop on Sept 10. for $50. two tele-
grams. a short note OF instructions
written on a telegraph blank and q
diamond scarf pin. The kilograms and
note of instruction We're pinned to a
dollar bill. which. according to thu
note. was TO be used i'm paying for the
kilograms which the suicide wanted
sent.
In addition a handsome gold watch
and fob with the Elks' insignia. cents
in money a piece Of tobacco and a
small pocket knife were found.
Lust Message 10 wife.
one Of the kilograms pinned 10 tn,
dollar bill was 10 Mr. Mannngs wifi,
and the other 10 che proprietor OF IN,
hotel whore he and his wife ant
daughter had lived in Brunswick. Tn,
telegram 90 tho wife might bee con
strued two ways II read as follows
Mrs Pauline Manning. care Ogle
thorpe Hotel. Brunswick. Ca. Coul,