The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-06-03
ROBBERY CAUSES SUICIDE.

kUbHEkI tAUSES SUlClDE.
GEORGE p. HUMPHREY CUTS HIS
THROAT WITH RAZOR.
Was Suspected of Completely in Ex-
press Robbery, and His Home
Searched.
A sad tragedy took place in Au-
gusta, Ca, on Wednesday evening,
when a man bounded down by de-
tectives, took his own life.
Rendered desperate because suspl-
cion was rested against him in con-
nection with the sensational robbery
of the Southern Express Company S
car on the Charleston division of the
Southern Railway recently, says the
Augusta Chronicle, George P. Hum
phrey, a baggage master on that
road, slashed his throat with a ra-
zor Wednesday night at IL o'clock,
at the corner of Houston and Ellis
streets, and died an hour later at
the City Hospital. Humphrey never
spoke after the cutting.
When the razor cut his head al
most half off, Evander Humphrey,
his brother, was at the corner OF
Greene and Houston streets, run
ming to overtake him, as George
Humphreys wife had sent him to
overtake her husband in order to
prevent him from taking his life.
Evander Humphrey arrived almost
in time to catch the PROSTATE form
of his brother as he fell to the
ground.
The brother cried out in loud
voice, Mortified at the sight of George
Humphrey dying on the street at his
feet. D. F. Meredith, who lives at
131 Ellis street, rushed to the cor
ner and the brother Of the dying man
and Meredith carried him to the
store of Mr.. w. H. Broadwater, at
the corner of Houston and Ellis
streets, where the hospital ambu-
lance was telephoned for.
The lightning flashed and rain fell
in torrents while Humphrey was be-
ing carried into the piazza.
Just prior to ending his life, Hum
phrey took a drink of whiskey from
a pint bottle. After laying it down,
he drew his razor, and slashed at his
throat.
Lieutenant Britt, of the police de-
partment, as soon as notified OF the
act, sent Station Guard Tom Will
liams to the point where the killing
occurred, ordered the ambulance to
get there as quickly as possible.
Humphrey died at the hospital at
midnight. Coroner w. A. Ramsey
was notified at once and he permit
ted the body to be taken to Wilson's
undertaking establishment and he
will make an investigation Of the
affair.
To a reporter the heart-broken
widow, between sobs, told why her
husband ended his life:
HE was as innocent as a child" I"
said Mrs. Humphrey frantically,
"and although three detectives came
here and searched our house, still
they found nothing that would i'm
plicate my husband in that express
car robbery. He was the best of
husbands and every month he gave
me all he made. He had worried
about being falsely charged 80 much
that he was driven to frenzy, al
though I had no idea that he con-
templated killing himself. He told
me over and over again that he was
innocent.
Tonight we had been sitting
down talking just after he came
from his work, and about IL o'clock
he was writing something in book.
Suddenly he got up, and tossing the
book into my lap, put on his rain
coat and left hurriedly, saying ne
was going to use telephone. After
he had gotten out of the door I was
Mortified to find these words written
in the book:
"'I kill myself this night to keep
from going to Jail and save my wife
and little children from disgrace
"Oh, God! 1 cried, and called for
Georges brother to follow him at
once. He ran out as quickly as pos
sible, but failed to reach him before
he had cut his throat. I ran to where
my husband lay on the piazza of Mrs.
Broadwater's store and he tried to
kiss me and talk to me, although he
could not speak.
There was never a more devoted
husband and father than George, and
we had lived so happily together ever
since our marriage three years ago.
We have two, children, one little
girl a year and a half. old, and our
other is baby boy, that was born
in March,"
Mrs. Humphrey was formerly Miss
Kate Speering, and many Of the peo-
pie who live in the neighborhood OF
the couple say that they were very
much devoted to each other.
Humphrey cut what is commonly
known as the Adams apple" in
twain, and also his wind pipe. The
physicians assert that there would
have been no chance to save his life
had he received surgical attention
Immediately after he cut himself.
Humphrey had been working for
the Southern Railway for six years,
ond hoo hoop no ooo oo noefor m tho