The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-18
G.. Brooks Huff
Commits Suicide
Former Resident of Sumter
Shot Himself This Morning
at Home of Relative Near
Fountain Inn

\ telegram was received Friday
morning from Fountain Inn stating
that Mr.. c. Brooks Huff committed
suicide about s o'clock this morn
ing by shooting himself through
the head with a revolver at the
home of a relative. near Fountain
Inn. Mr. HUFF was & resident of
Sumter for several yearS having
left here only about two weeks ago,
since which time he aad his wife
had been visiting relatives near
Fountain Inn, which p!ace was
their former home.
Until September 1st Mrs Huff
was in the employ of the Sumter
Trust Company. and prior to be-
coming connected With that COR
poraticn some three or four years
ago he was for a time employed
by the City National Bank. Mr..
Huff was also interested in the
Eastern Carolina Motor Co.
The suicide was, presumably the
result Of the discovery Thursday
by the officers Of tn S.'1nter Trust
Company that shortage of $4,000
existed in the accounts Of Mr..
Huff, which had been covered dur
ing his connection With the trust
company by the manipulation of
books and which was not brought
to light until yesterday morning.
AS soon as the shortage was dis
covered Mr.. Huff was communicated
with by long distance telephone and
asked for an explanation Of the
fact that two records Of account
We're missing. He said that the
records We're in the ledger in the
proper place. When told that the
sheets could not be found, he in
sisted that they were in the
ledger and that he would be in
Sumter tomorrow night''-Friday
to get the matter straight. He
then hung up the telephone and
no further communication could
be obtained with him. The short
age was reported Immediately to
State Bank Examiner Craig, and he
came to Sumter last night and held
a conference with the officers of
the Trust Company. In view q the
fact that Mr.. Huff stated positively
that the records We're in the proper
ledger, when he left the company
September 1st, and that he Would
come to Sumter Immediately to get
the matter straightened out, it
was deemed inadviSable TO have
q warrant issued. before he had had
the time asked for TO make expla-
nation. but it was decided TO send
a Trustworthy representative to
Fountain Inn to see Mr.. Huff and
TO keep in touch. with him until
he came to Sumter, or made some
other move.
Mr.. J. II. Forbes, representing
the Sumter Trust Company, left
Thursday night by automobile and
arrived in Fountain Inn early this
morning. Proceeding to the place
where Mr.. Huff was staying about
S O'Clock, he asked for Mr.. Huff.
He was told that Mr.. Huff was
dressing and would be out within a
few minutes. a few moments la
ter, While he was waiting for Mr..
Huff to make his appearance, he
was informed that Mr. Huff had
shot himself. None Of the details
have been learned. the bare facts
having be received in telegram
sent immediately after the suicide.
A statement by the officers and
directors OF the Sumter Trust Com
pany is published elsewhere in the
form of an advertisement. The
Trust Company Will not be crippled
by the shortage, as it is fully pro-
tected by surety company bond,
and has large reserves and unin-
paired resources that the COM
paratively small shortage does not
affect.
Works OF Art Restored to ltaly.