Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-13
FORMER CITIZEN
TAKES OWN LIFE
G. S. Thomas Drinks Strychnine
Solution at Hotel in Spokane

Founder, together with William Dol
lar, of the Exchange bank OF Occur
|. d Alene, now the Exchange National
m bank, committed suicide Saturday
might at the Colonial hotel In Spo-
al kane by drinking a solution of strych-
= nine. Mr.. Thomas had gone to Spo-
kane Saturday afternoon and engaged
room at the hotel in the evening.
He retired early, and his act of sui
y eide was not discovered until yes
terday at noon.
Financial troubles, unhappy do
nestle relations and worry over the
Encouragement of sons mind, due to
Injuries received in the Great North
AZ ern wreck at Milan, Wash, are given
as causes for the bankers act of self
Q destruction. The institution of which
Thomas was cashier and a heavy
ri stockholder, like other banking insti-
buttons, felt the effect of the financial
WuGpIS6SlOn. MI. uHQ sue
n ceeded, however, in carrying this
IN safely through the panic, and in con-
q Bummating a sale of the institution
TO a company known as the Security
State bank of Newport. The sale had
Y been entirely completed, save for the
Is signing of some papers, and will not
9 be affected by Thomas death. The
bank was in a good condition, and
while during the crisis of the panic
Il had suspended payments, they had
, been resumed again at the first of
he year, and an examination of the
books of the bank disclosed no short
Il ge, but on the contrary developed
he fact that everything was correct
d md the institution sound. The new
company assumed control of the bank
his morning. Mr.. Thomas private
= ortune, aggregating something like
900 or $4,000, was, it is said,
n no way impaired, and he was in
crested in a number of business in
titutions in Newport.
Fred Stevens, the assistant cashier
pf the bank, was notified upon the
discovery of the suicide of Thomas.
md Immediately went to Spokane to
ook after the funeral. According to
statement given out by him, Thorn
s. death was due to his IVORY over
he banks condition, and 1t was his
h., nv
he shifting of the load he had car
led from his shoulders, BY the sale
f the institution caused him to suf-
err a collapse. The fact that his
Eife was separated from him most
f the time, and the fact that his
on, G. L. Thomas. 81 years of
ge. was under treatment in sani-
hrium in Spokane for the derange-
hent of his mind, occasiOned by in
lries received in the Milan railroad
reck, contributed TO the bankers
1T. Prior to engaging in the bank
G business with Mr.. Dollar of this
ty in 1901, Mr. Thomas had been
ngaged in business at Aberdeen,
Fash. His wife. it seems, was not
htisfied to live elsewhere. and dur
Mr.. Thomas residence in this
ty, as was the case after moving to
export. she spent most Of her time
Aberdeen. This. it is said. wOr-
ed and made him depressed and
espondent The accident to his son.
hich unbalanced his mind, occurred
bout two years ago, when Great
orthern train was ditched at Milan,
ash. Prior to this accident the
US mental faculties had been good.
ID the father. it is said, worried
nv much over his sons mental con-
lion.
Mr.. Thomas leaves. besides the
fe and soon. a daughter. ) years
age; a brother at Hatton. Wash;
b brothers and sister and mother
McCOrd. Mich. and a father at
Olson. Cal.
fir. Thomas was engaged in the
king business with Mr.. Dollar OF
city a little over year. suisse
mt to the severance of his con-
lion with the hank he went TO
mort and founded the bank there
rhich he was cashier at the time
is suicide. Mr.. Thomas was well
IN in the city and possessed
friends here who will grieve to
of his death.