Worcester daily spy., 1851-08-09
Suicide i'm Webster.

Suicide in Webster.
! EpIToRs OF THE SPY:-On Thursday morning,
the body of man was found in the channel of French
River, short distance from the depot, and about one
hundred yards above Fenners dam. The body was
readily identified by fieads and acquaintances of
tae deceased. He was named Ralph Whitehead, an
Englishman by BIRTH 3S years Of age and unmarried.
He had been operative in a mill at Thompson,
Conn.,. and had lost time, from inemperance or
illness, that he had accumulated upwards of 5000.
No indications of insanity observed until after his
return from visit to Boston, which was on Saturday,
July 26;h. He worked as usual on the Monday follow
ing, and on Tuesday left the mill, and told the clerk Re
had done work. He then proceeded to arrange his
affairs, he placed his money, Watches and note for
$50 in the hands of friends, with directions for their
dspostion in he was not heard of in three months
He intimated his intention to commit suicide. On FRI
day, while walking up to this place, he encountered
man named Russell Emerson, and after some parey re-
quested Emerson TO kill him, and at the same time
handed him his pocket book to bind the bargain. The
story may perhaps be best told in the words of Emerson
who was witness before the jury of inquest. "He
wanted should kill him, and hung on hard; said he
wanted to die, and must die. told him, had lust as
lief Kill him as not. He .hen wanted to know how
would kill him. told him to strip, and l wouId drag
him through patch of thstles! l thought that
should scare him out of his notion, but, d-n him. he
was spunky and off with his coat and told me to do as
agreed. found couldn't scare him that way for he
seemed bent on being killed. Emerson and the de-
ceased came up to Webster and took dinner at Fenners
village, and there the conversation and the bargain
was repeated. Emerson returned home to Woodstock
IN the afternoon, and the deceased remained till even-
ing. in the company ofan intimate friend named Tongue
Whitehead told Tongue OF the disposition of his
property, and enoined upon him see that his wishes
were carried out. The of the insane man
varied, now weeping at the nearness Of his doom,
and now furiousy determined to die. Tongue used
every effort 10 make the man remain over night with
him, but persuasion vain. He then tried stern
language and force, but the deceased turned upon him
in fury, and swore that if interrupted he would make
trouble. The deceased, at this time, (Friday night
told Tongue that he had made bargain with Emerson
to kill him, that Emerson had his pocket book, and
was to meet him that night and kill him. As the de-
ceased broke away he exclaimed that his time had
and he must 60. He stated down the railroad track
and was never seen afterwards alive.
/ HousS
of Emerson to hear Of the whereabouts OF his friend
The neighborhood searched, but nothing was found
which would give any clue TO the mystery. Emerson
spoke Of his conversation with deceased and produced
the pocket book, which, with its contents he handed
to Tongue. Thus the matter rested until the acciden
tai draining Of Fenners Pond revealed his body which
had lodged against pile of brush as it foated down
stream. The head of the deceased was much bruised
AID when the report of his bargain with Emerson was
first heard, it feared that murder had been COM
mtted. But the deceased, at the probable time of
his death, had not penny in his pocket and he had
enemy the world, motive could have exist
ed for the commission of the crime. The bruises and
cuts probably caused by the projecting panks o.
the bridge from which it is supposed he flung himself
headlong. Rum and bad company, in Boston, probabl,
were the causes Of his insanity.
The inquest held under the warrant of E
Rogers, Esq, there being in town. Yer
dict-sucide by drowning.
Truly yours, DANIEL BOONE.
A. Oh