The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-11-03

Following the posting on the doors
of the Merchants Bank Wednesday
evening of a notice stating that the
bank would be closed and its affairs
placed in charge of the state banking
examiner, Eugene E, Rosborough, age
As, vice-president and director of
that institution, committed suicide,
shortly after eight o'clock yesterday
morning, at his home, III the Broad
way apartments.
He had placed 32-caliber pistol to
his head and sent the stell-jacketed
bullet through his brain. The exact
time that Mr.. Rosborough shot him
self is not known, but it is thought
to have been about 8:15. re died in
less than half an hour otter he was
found.
Mr.. William H. Sherman, cashier of
the Merchants Bank, had telephoned
Mr.. Rosborough earlier in the morn
ing and asked that he meet him and
go with him to the bank. Mr.. Ros-
borough replied that he would not
be ready to go to the bank and asked
Mr.. Sherman to come to his apart
ment, that he had some information
ne wanted him to have.
Mr.. Sherman about S:15 rang the
bell of Mr.. Rosborough's apartment,
and was admitted by member of the
family. He then went to Mr.. Rosbor-
ough's room and upon entering found
him lying on the bed in pool of
blood with a pistol grasped in his
right hand Seeing that Mr.. Rosbor-
ough was not dead, Mr.. Sherman at
once telephoned several doctors and
also the dying mans brother-in-law,
Inman Curry.
Mr.. Curry was the first to arrive,
and at that time Mr. Rosborough was
still alive but unconscious. DR.. R. l.
Bryson, the first of the doctors to ar
rive, pronounced Mr.. Rosborough
dead upon his arrival. few minutes
after the arrival Of Mr.. Curry.
Mr.. Rosborough was expected for
breakfast, which meal was upon the
table waiting for him and his wife
and son were in the next room when
the tragedy occurred. The fact that
neither heard the shot is accounted
for by the statement made that the
apartment has sound-proof walls and
ceiling. It is also thought likely that
the shot was fired at the same mo-
ment that Mr.. Sherman was admitted
to the apartment, his arrival having
called the members of the family to
the other side of the apartment.
The nature of the wound inflicted
shows that the pistol was held close
to the temple on the right side and
discharged, the bullet coming out at
the left temple The pistol, a. Colt
.32 automatic was clasped tightly in
the right hand of Mr.. Rosborough
when Mr.. Curry arrived and it was
he who took it away from his grasp
while he was yet alive.
Coroner R. E. Elliott announced
that he could see no need for an in
quest, as the case was purely one of
suicide and no inquest was held.
Confession to a Shortage.
Upon the bureau in Mr.. Rosbor-
ough's room were found five notes.
One note was to William H. Sherman,
one to Inman Curry, the third to L.
l.. Notes, manager of the Augusta
Motor Sales Company, which was
owned by Mr.. Rosborough and the
two other notes were addressed to his
wife. In all of the notes were mes
sages to his son.
The note to Mr.. Sherman was con-
cerning the condition of the affairs at
the Merchants Bank, and in it Mr..
Rosborough admitted guilt for a
shortage of $4,000, and stated that
his operations had existed through
period of fifteen years.
The notes to his wife were purely
personal and confidential and the note
to Mr.. Curry dealt with settlement Of
his estate and other such matters. The
note to Mr.. Notes was regarding his
business All of the notes were turn
ed over to the coroner for his infor-
nation and later were rendered the
directors of the Merchants Bank for
their information, it being the desire
of the family that bank officials and
proper authorities have all the infor-
nation in their possession.
It was learned on good authority
that, in his note to his wife, Mr.. Ros-
borough stated that he was leaving
$4,000 insurance and requested that,
,f+or ~, r;no funeral oynenSpS and de-