The Detroit times., 1909-01-04
H. c. POTTER. JR..
SHOOTS HIMSELF
DEAD IN HOME
(Coutinued from Page One.>

an early hour In the morning
with gas escaping from small
pilot light. The circumstances gave
rise to the story that he had attempt
ed suicide, but this was denied. His
recovery nom the effects of the gas
was slow, and he had been greatly
troubled recently from insomnia.
The news OF Mr.. Potter's sudden
Criswold ct, and In banking circles,
where he Is well known.
Finances In Excellent Shape.
"This Is a great shock to me-" said
George II. Russell, president OF the
Peoples State Savings bank. 81 can
imagine no reason for his act. other
than his continued ill-health and de-
preston. His finances were in excel
lent shape. There has been nothing
serious To worry him for long time.
His private finances were In excellent
shape, as far as I knew. He had
few loans out, but these were amply
protected, and the concerns he was
interested In are prosperous. He was
heavily interested IN Saginaw coal
lands, bu- he never gave me any hint
that everything was not right. He was
proud and very sensitive, and the fact
that he could not put in his full time
at the bank worried him. He would
come in the morning, seemingly az
well as e1er, but before noon he would
be shaking and nervous SO that he
would have to go home.
II would think that Mr.. Potter was
worth about $780, 900. and he carried
insurance OF $4,000. He lost some
money last year in closing up his
brothers estate, but the amount was
not large and did not worry him.
II know that he had nothing to
worry about at the bank, and | am
also positive that his private affairs
were In such condition that he had no
occasion to worry. The city loses a
fine business man. and the bank al
able flnancIer by Mr.. Potter's death"
Mr.. Potter's Career.
Henry G. Potter was born in New
Utrecht. N. Y, Nov. IL, 1857. the son
Of Henry Camp and Sarah Potter.
With his parents, he moved to Sag
inaw and was educated In the public
schools Of that city and the Highland
military academy OF Worcester, Mass.
III 1909, HG Wdb IlldTIIcu Ill SludW
to Miss Bertha Hamilton, who after
wards died. He was married the sec
ond time to Mrs. Madeline Lockett
Bedloe. OF Montclair. N. j. Besides his
wife, he Is survived by three sons.
John II. Potter. about 20 years OF
age. who Is attending Yale; Rowland
b. Potter. who Is attending a prepare
tory school In Hotchkiss, Lakeville,
Conn; and Stephen Potter, student
in the Detroit University school, be-
sides two stepchlldren, Miss Beatrice
Bedloe. attending the Detroit Home
and Day school, and Eliot Bedloe. at
tending the ID. u. S.
Mr.. Potter began his active career
as clerk in the general passenger
department and continued In the gen.
eral managers office Of the Pere Mar
quette railway In Saginaw, from 1875
to 1881. In 1881. he became secretary
Of the road and In 1884 was chosen
secretary-treasurer, continuing In
that capacity until 1900. In that year.
he became comptroller, but severed his
connections with the road. soon after
ward and became member OF the
board of directors of the State Saw
ings bank of Detroit. When this in
stitution merged with the Peoples
Savings bank. Mr.. Potter became vice
president OF the merged concern,
which position he held at his death.
Mr.. Potter was also president OF the
First Commercial & Savings bank OF
Wyandotte, and was interested In the
Pero Marquette Coal company, Of Sag
NAV and other coal companies the
Packard Electric company. Ltd, of st.
GATHERINGS, Ont; director and mem.
Der OF the executive committee OF the
Security Trust company of Detroit;
director OF the Great Lakes Engineer.
ing works, the Home Telephone com
pany. of Detroit: the Olds Motor
works and the Odds Gas Power com
pany. both OF Lansing and the Farm
ers' Handy Wagon company OF Sagl-
naw
For some time he had been a mem
Der OF the Detroit Board OF Commerce,
and OF the Detroit, Country and the
Yondotega clubs. In politics he was
a Republican, and he attended Christ
Episcopal church.