Edgefield Advertiser

OUSTED MAYOR KILLS HIMSELF

Paul C. Barth, of Louisville, Ends Life in Private Office of Utica Lime Company, of Which He Was General Manager.

Louisville, Ky., Special.—Paul C. Barth, for a year and a half Mayor of Louisville, and ousted recently by the decision of the Court of Appeals, shot and killed himself Wednesday.

Mr. Barth ended his life in his private office at the headquarters of the Utica Lime Company, of which he was general manager. The shot was heard by his business associates, who rushed into the room to find Mr. Barth unconscious on the floor, with a bullet hole in his head. He never recovered consciousness and died about 1 o'clock. Mr. Barth was a man of means and was president of the board of aldermen for several years. It was Mr. Barth who welcomed to Louisville President Roosevelt when on his Southwestern tour two years ago. The cause of the suicide is unknown.

Since the ousting of Mr. Barth's administration by mandate of the Court of Appeals two months ago, the acts of the officials during his term have been subjected to severe scrutiny by the officials who came in with Mayor Bingham, appointed by Governor Beckham. Nothing was found that reflected any discredit on Mr. Barth personally, but the methods of conducting some of the city institutions have been under fire both in official reports and in the press. Mr. Barth was very sensitive to criticism and his friends at times remarked that the condition of affairs seemed to gall him. However, he gave no evidence that he was in any danger to break down, physically or mentally, and since the ousting had been conducting his business affairs as usual.