The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-24

AN OLD MINERS SUICIDE.-Forty years ago
John Armstrong, of England, was brought to
this country by the Matteawan Manufactur-
ing Company N. Y, to superintend their
works. He was and always has been bach
elor, the lobe of his early days having been
separated from him through misunder-
standing. When he reached the place he act
ed also as draughtsman and bookkeeper for
the company, also attending to his duty faith
fully and commanding esteem from his en-
ployers. He was possessed of rare intellect
and was great admirer of machinery and
philosophical works. His habits were of a very
eccentric character. kFor twenty years he ig-
nored friends, believing only in one man, Mr..
John Rothery, proprietor of the File Works
at Matteawan. His friendship for him was OF
that kind which binds one man to another in
adversely and misfortune. A few weeks ago
he had conversation with Mr.. Rothery, dur
ing which he stated that he was tired of life,
and sometimes thought that when next his
friend called he would not be found salive.-
Then it was concluded that he was laboring
under temporary alteration of mind.
Monday morning at eight o'clock, Mr..
RotheIy called to see him at his rooms, over
Mr.. Davis's store. His apartments consisted
OF two rooms, which it is alleged that no one
but the deceased and Mr.. Rothery had enter
ed for'twenty years. When Mr.. Rothery en-
tered them on Monday he found deceased in
bed, and after a few minutes talk left him to
attend to some business. At nine A. NJ. per-
sous in the vicinity heard the report of pis-
tol, but paid little attention to it, as the boys
in the nelghborhood are in the habit of firing
am IT,
visited his friend.
A horrible sight met his view. Mr.. Arm
strong lay dead in the room below his sleep
ing room, on bundle of shavings which had
been placed upon two benches, apparently by
deceased. One side of his face was blown
entirely away, and portion of the skull and
teeth were found lying several feet from the
BODY. The floor, shavings and benches were
saturated with blood and the wall and ceiling
6esmeared with blood and brains. Near the
body lay single barrelled pistol which had
been discharged and which in dumb way
told the terrible story. The thumb and fore
hnger OF the left hand were lacerated and
blown with powder. The fatal bullet was
picked up on the floor at the foot of the rude
coucn. Judging from the situation of things
generally, deceased must have sat upright on
the benches and placed the muzzle of the
pistol in his mouth, blowing his head partial.
~ off. - 'O''- f''' '''''
The following note was found pinned to the
coat sleeve on bis left arm:
Inns IS my own doing ought to have done
It before. Send my BODY to Dr.. j. w. Draper.
new YORK, for dissection. John Rothery, file
:m, Mattewan, IS my executor, and has my
wiz III us saIe. JOHN w. ARMSTRONG.
Underneath the above, which was written
with tink, was the following, written with a
lead pencil, and apparently with trembling
hand: 'AAs
Give him the little paper parcel on the table
The parcel referred to lay upon a common
taDie IN the room. Upon opening it the KEYS
vate note to Mr.. Rothery. This note cave d.
recuons In relation to some unsettled bills
and restated that Mr.. Rotherry was deceased's
executor and would know what to do in the
premises. 1t also showed that the suicide had
bills. fN'''e " ''A'''i'
Before the will was opened it was rumored
mat deceased had left behind large sum of
money, many rating it at $4,000. 1t is not
yet positively known how much he did
ieaVe. Ihere are strange stories concerning
us looms. 1t is known that large bag Of
silver has been found therein, and It is also
known that, secreted in his rooms, are several
closely packed and strongly locked boxes. AS
YET Mr.. Kothery has not examined them.
wishing to be sure of his full power to do so.
Inc will, however, has been opend, and it is
curious one. It bequeaths to John Rothery
all OF deceaseds tools and machinery. valued
at from 81 900 to $500, and all the personal
properly. 10 William Rotherryl deceased
leaves yes valuable manuscript library valued at
S3,Oo0. 10 Mrs. Burnett, with whom he once
0oafded, he leaves $500 for her kindness and
nifty dollars in gold for a bottle of wine given
MIN by her ten years ago. He never entered
a church in forty years, but believed firmly in
God. He made his will six months ago
At times he was subject to terrible nervous
headache. 'o-'