The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-29
FEARED ARREST
Commits Suicide in Tragic Man.
ner With Razor.
WAS HOUNDED DOWN

BY Detectives, Who Searched His
House OH Last Tuesday-ln a
Note to His Wife Declared His
Innocence-Then Went Out and
Killed Himself on the Street.
A sad tragedy took place in Au-
gusta, Ga, on Wednesday evening,
when a man bounded down by de-
tectives took his own life.
Rendered desperate because suspi-
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 II 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 ct 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
corner 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,
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 Chronicle reporter the heart
broken widow, between sobes, told
why her husband ended his life:
''He was as innocent as a child"
said Mrs. Humphrey frantically, land
although three detectives came here
and searcehd our house, still they
found nothing that would implicate
my husband in that express car rob-
berry. He was the best of husbands
and every month he gave me all he
made He had worried about being
falsely charged SO much that he was
driven to frenzy, although | had no
idea that he contemplated 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 II o'clock he was
writing something in book Sud-
denly he got up. and tossing the
book into my lap, put on his rain
coat and left hurriedly, saying he
was going to use telephone. After
he had gotten out of the door l was
Mortified to find these words writ
ten in the book.
4 kill myself this night to keep
from going to Jail and save my wife
and little children from disgrace.
"Oh, God, I 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. 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 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 a little
girl year and half old, and our
other is a 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 at the Adam apple" in
twain, and slso his wind pipe. The
physicians assert that there would