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CASHIER OF CLOSED BYRON BANK DROWNED IN ROCK RIVER Tragedy followed in the wake of the financial difficulties of Byron State Bank Saturday when Wray Barrick, its cashier since its organization, succumbed the doubie strain of prolonged health and this business perplexity much to the distress of his family his many friends the community. Mr. Barrick left his home at early hour Saturday morning unbeknown to his family. When he did not return at the noon hour, quiet search instigated for him until the early evening his hat was found the river bank near the on foot of Lafayette street. Then the suspicion of his intention to take life became almost certainty and officials and the public called to aid in the search for upon him which culminated in the finding of his body in shallow water near the north bank of the river, nearly mile below the point where his hat had been found, at early hour Saturday morning. Coroner Akins of Forreston apprised the death and was vened an inquest the Gill undertaking parlors Sunday afternoon which the following facts brought out, after hearing the testiof Fred Heimert, Earl mony Sherman, Chas. Linn, his brotherin-law who lives at the Barrick home, Robert Kennedy, and Barrick, brother. Mr. Barrick arose and dressed unusually early hour Saturday being informed of morning. Upon the time by his wife he undressed retired again, but when Mrs. Barrick awoke about o'clock she found that he had left the house. unduly alarmed until She was failed to return at noon. Then she called upon her brother, Charles Linn, his brother, Barrick, and Ralph Hess, neighbor, to make for him. As this disclosed inquiry nothing, trip made to his farm below Byron and careful search of the home premises made but without avail. The river bank next investiwas and there Mr. Hess found gated carefully hung upon stake the clam operated by Peter camp Lockwood this summer, and two in the mud the river's footprints careful search of the adjaedge. revealed no further cent territory clews, searching parties, headed the sheriff's force and aided the from the Winnebago equipment sheriff, The river county shoreline were searched until and the then taken up again midnight, morning. fell early Sunday the lot of the brother, in company with Raymond Kanode and Robert to locate the body from Kennedy, the shore. had lodged in the shallows about ten feet out in the It removed by the stream. was which near at hand. The boats were further showed that Mr. testimony Barrick's health precarious, due slight stroke suffered some time and heart ailment, but that in of this and his business spite verses he had appeared unduly in his home to his despondent or friends. The coroner's jury returned of death due drowning, but dict than his without other responsibility own. D. Barrick the second Wray child of Daniel and Margaret Wray Barrick, who were pioneer settlers the Middle Creek district, coming here from Perry County, Pennsylvania. He was born at the farm northwest of Byron March 1877. He was graduated from Byron high school with the class of 1896, then attended business college in Rockfor position that ford to prepare had been offered him in the Byron Bank. He began his banking career with this institution 1900. His in this line of work was capability and he rose to the soon apparent head the business, then was in with the strumental merging Farmers and Merchants Bank form Byron State Bank, of 1924 to which was made cashier. During this period of service to the long public responsible position, had always met the difficult situwhich he naturally had face ations manner that was had the confidence of and circle of friends and patrons large banks. That he felt deeply hardships that he feared people in the of bank, the that can advanced