Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-17
MYSTERY IN
SUICIDE ON
CARSL|F IS
Woman Tells of How She Plead
ed in Vain to Man Determined
to Die.

With the Identification of the hand
somely dressed woman who was with
Carl Davis, the Atlanta. Birmingham
and Atlantic agent of HARRISON. Ga,
just before his suicide on an Atlanta
bound train Sunday night, as Miss
Elizabeth Todd, well known member
of prominent family Of that city,
the mystery of the mans act was e.
vealed Monday in a remarkable story.
The young woman was on the train
with Davis from HARRISON to Senoia
on his ride to death. To her the
agent confided his determination to
kill himself, declaring that he could
not endure the difficulties into which
he had been plunged since his moth
er's death. and had decided to end 1t
all.
Miss Todd told the story of her har-
rowing experience with Davis at her
home in HARRISON. where she rested
nearly Frustrated, from the strain.
She declared that the agent had tod
her just before his departure Of his
suicidal intention, and that she had
ridden with him fOr six miles in an
effort to get him 20 abandon his plan,
without avail.
Abandons the Attempt.
Finally, as the train sped on, ne
pleaded with her to leave him that
she might not witness the act. Driven
nearly frantic by her failure to save
the mans life, Miss Todd finally aban-
doned her attempt at Senoia and re-
turned to her home.
Immediately following the report of
the suicide a search was made for
Miss Todd, who had been seen at the
station with Davis when he departed.
Upon her return to HARRISON she tolo
the story.
II had gone to the station to go to
Atlanta" she told the chief of po-
lice of HARRISON. by accident l met
Mr.. Davis and he told me he also
was going to Atlanta
I'VE chatted on the platform until
the train arrived. AS he helped me
up the steps he whispered to me: I
am going to kill myself
AT first l laughed at what !
thought was joke. Then he asked
me not to go on that train but to
leave him. Then felt that he spoke
seriously and looked at him. His
7 Ena
something was wrong.
II questioned him as we went into
the coach. He began pleading in
earnest with me not to go on that
train. I asked him then why he In
tended to kill himself.
1--we had more trouble than l can
stand, since my mother died. he said
I am going to end 1t all on this train.
and IL you stay on 1t you will be
witness to the killing
Pleadngs Are in Vain.
For the next fifteen minutes
pleaded with him. l was almost fran
tic. When the train slowed down for
Senoia Mr.. Davis almost lifted me
from my seat. telling me to get off.
l told him that l had no money to
return on, and he said that If l would
| saw that there was no more use
go he would furnish the ticket When
In my attempts gave up and left
the train
LAS he said goodbye. though, still
couldn't believe that he would do such
thing"
As soon as Miss Todd left the train
Davis went into the baggage car.
Here he accosted the negro porter,
asking him IL Conductor Lamar was
there. When the negro said no, he
asked:
Have you got a gun: want 10
kill q man." he asked the colored
man. The porter was scared and pre-
pared to depart.
Where does the conductor keep
his gum" Davis continued. The ne
gro, now thoroughly terrified. merely
pointed at a grip sitting on the floor
and fed to alarm the rest OF the
train crew.
An instant later shot rang out
and Lamar and the porter rushed
back to find Davis lying on the bag
gage car floor, a hole torn through
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