FRIDAY FINDS ~ Newspaper article for death/possible suicide of Ralph Gillespie Forsyth ~ 1952

RALPH FORSYTH PLUNGES TO HIS DEATH, DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8 MAR 1952, PAGE 3

With the recent release of Detroit Free Press online access, I have been finding a LOT of articles about my family.
 
Some of the items I find are marriage license application notices, wedding announcement and death notices and obituaries.

However, a few other items I have located are less “routine.” 
Today I am writing about Ralph Gillespie Forsyth, my first cousin twice removed.
 
Ralph is the son of James Ferris Forsyth and Louise Gillespie, my great granduncle and aunt on my maternal side.  Ralph was born 10 Aug 1896 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.  He was the third child and second son born to James & Louise.  On 6 June 1917 he married Katherine Martz (1895-1940), in Detroit, Michigan.  From all records I have found, Ralph and his wife, Katherine, lived in Detroit all their lives.

 (CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

BIRTH RECORD - RALPH FORSYTH - 10 Aug 1896, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Here is a record of the marriage of Ralph to Katherine Martz.

MARRIAGE RECORD - RALPH FORSYTH TO KATHERINE MARTZ ON 6 Jun 1917, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Ralph & Katherine Forsyth had one child that I am aware of.  A daughter named Anne Gillespie Forsyth, born 19 Aug 1919 in Michigan.

I have located both draft registration cards for Ralph.

WORLD WAR I DRAFT REGISTRATION FOR RALPH GILLESPIE FORSYTH - 1917

WORLD WAR II DRAFT REGISTRATION FOR RALPH GILLESPIE FORSYTH - 1942

Sadly, on 21 Sep 1940 Ralph’s wife Katherine died.  She was only 45 years old.  Here is her obituary, from the Detroit Free Press, 26 Sep 1940, page 22.

OBITUARY FOR KATHRYNE MARTZ FORSYTH - DETROIT FREE PRESS 26 Sep 1940, page 22

  
It sounds like Ralph was dealing with some depression in 1952, when he died.  Did he jump or did he fall?

The news article is a little difficult to read when you enlarge it.

Here is the transcription:

“The career of a successful manufacturer’s agent ended early Friday in a plunge from the ninth floor of the Whittier Hotel, 415 Burns.  The pajama-clad body of Ralph Forsyth, 55, was found on a second-floor ledge facing the Detroit River at 6 a.m.  He was employee by Butler Paper Co., 851 Porter.
The Window from which Forsyth fell or jumped, police said, was 100 feet down a corridor from his room on the ninth floor.
Dr. Edward Sage, hotel physician and friend of the dead man, said he had been treating Forsyth for a “nervous condition” recently.  He said Forsyth sometimes became despondent.
Forsyth’s room was orderly and he had been at work Thursday, police said.
A sister living in Detroit and a daughter, Anna, believed living in Grand Rapids, are being sought.  Forsyth had lived in the apartment hotel four years.  He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and Detroit Boat Club.”

Sometimes we find some very sad information about our family.  This was certainly one of those times.

Have you found similar sorts of stories about your family.  If so, please share them here in a comment or on your own blog.

PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

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