The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
Mysterious as Ever

trious as ever. spent the entire day
looking into the affair and confess to
being up against one of the most per-
picking problems in my experience as
coroner. However, l am positive that
it was not case of suicide
According to friends of the late Mr..
Gerrish yesterday the suicide theory is
untenable when it is considered that the
dead man was insured for $4,000. of which
s47, 900 would be nullfied by an act Of
self-destruction. The $4,000 life policy of
Mr.. Gerrish was not affected by his
death in whatever manner it may have
happened.
1t was stated at the j. b. Hayden
residence yesterday afternoon that Mrs.
Gerrish was showing slight Improvement
following the shock of the death of her
husband but was still under a physi-
clans care. A trained nurse was in at
tendance ..s,s.s
At police headquarters 1t was stated
last night that several detectives had
been detailed to Investigate the Gerrish
case in cooperation with Coroner Spain.
Chief Martin Eagan stated that he did
not credit the suicide theory.
From Detective w. II. Propst came the
most startling statement last night re-
garding the Gerrish death, which has
puzzled all the authorities for several
days. Mr.. Propst stated that the shoot
ing might have been done by a negro
burglar.
PrOpst's Theory
According to Detective Propst, Mr. Ger
IRISH, after holding a conversation with
Mrs. ]. b. Hayden on the ground floor.
rapidly mounted the stairs to his apart
ments. At the top of the stairs was
the bathroom with the door open and
1t is the theory of the officer that some
one. presumably negro sneak thief, was
in the bathroom. Officer Propst the
orizes further and states that Mr.. Ger
IRISH at once advanced into the bathroom
and was seized by the lapels of his coat
! with one hand by his assailant while
with the other hand the burglar reached
for the old pistol which was resting on
top of the toilet cabinet and shot him.
After the shooting, according to De-
tective Propst, the burglar pushed Ger
IRISH over on his back and ran into any
of the several rooms Immediately ada
cent and made his escape during the
excitement that followed. Detective
Propst averred that his theory appeared
very improbable considering the fact that
Mrs. Gerrish admits that she was in
the kitchen, six feet away, and in full
view of the bathroom. but that his the
DRY was far more creditable than the
view that Mr.. Gerrish committed sui
eide.
II do not think that Mr.. Gerrish COM
mitted suicide said Detective Propet,
as there was no possible motive for
his doing 80. He was in excellent finan-
cial shape, I understand; happy in his
home life his friends state. and his
movements last Thursday belle any in
| tention toward self-destruction. He came
home in a happy mood and had con-
versation with Mrs. J. b. Hayden, ac-
cording to that lady. In which he SYM
pathized with her on the tragic news
of her nephew's death at Panama. He
then mounted the stairs and in passing
the bathroom at the top stopped and en-
tered and-was shot. 1t Is my theory
that there was someone in that bath
room-presumably negro sneak thief
II certainly was not suicide
| The late Mr.. .Gerrish is survived by
his widow and son, Howard Gerrish. Of
Atlanta