The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-19

John Armstrong; an Kccentrio Old Bachelor
Blows His Own Head ORA Curious Will.

MATTkAWAh, N H., Oct- 10, fbSo
Forty years ago John Armstrong, Of England waa
brought TO this country by the Mattcawan Manufac-
turing Company TO superintend their works He
was and always has been bachelor the love or his
early days having been separated from him through
misunderstanding. When he reached this place
ne acted also as draughtsman and bookkeeper for
ne company, always attending to his duties faith
fu'iy and commanding esteem from hts employers
lie was possessed OF rare intellect and was great
admrer OF machinery and philosophical works. His
habits were OF u very eccentric character. For
twenty years he Ignored friends believing only I'm
one man, Mr.. John Robbery proprietor or the Ile
Works here. HIS Friendship FOR him was or that
Kind which Binds one man 10 another In adversely
satIon with Mr.. Koihery, dnrlns Mnca he stated
that he was lired o. lile, ana sometimes thought
that when next his friend called he would not be
FOUND awe, Then II vas concluded that he was
laDorlng under Temporary aberfalion or mind.
A risrOL suOT.
Monday morning, AT eight O'Clock Mr.. ROthery
called 70 see him at his rooms Mr. DAVIS store.
Hts apartments consisted OF two roools when II ~
had entered for twenty years. When Mr.. Rotnery
entered them on Monday ne found deceased in bed,
some business. Al nineA. N. persons IN tue vicinity
heard me report q pistol oGL paid itie attent!on
habit or firing on pistols Al one =. nj. Mr. Rolhcry
again visited MS friend, when
A HoRRIrLE SIGHT
met his view. Mr. Armstrong lay dead in the room
beioH his sleeping sroom, Oh Dun,le OF shavingS
wnicn pad been placed upon two beaches, appA-
renily ny deceased. one side OF a.s face was blown
entirely away, aud portion OF the skull and tho
teeth were found lying several Icet nom the BODY.
The door. shsyings aud benches were saturated with
blood and the wan aud ceiling basme AIRED with blood
and brains. Near the body lay q single barreliod
pistol which had been discharged, and which In 8
dumb way told the terrible story. The thumb and
fore lnger OF the left hand were iacerateu and blown
with powder. .rhe fatal bullet was picked up o.
the door AZ the foot OF the rude couch. Judging from
me situation ol things generally, deceased mnsr
have SAT upright on the benches ard placed the
snf nj IN N f1ans
partially on.
| The following note was found pinned TO the coat
| sleeve on his lett ARM
s,u A = S yas 9wa aGa Ought e have done esor
AND has my VIII IL Il. safe JOHN " xRssFFsosS
ink, the following, written with lead pencil.
and apparently with trembling hand:-
Give him the little paper parcel on tho tsbls.
The parcel referred to lay upon common table In
were found, and private note to Mr.. Rothery.
This note gave directions IN relation 10 some unset
ceased's executor aud would know what to do In
the premises. IL also showed that the suicide had
been around the day previous paying up small b'iis.
Before the with was opened IT was rumored that
deceased had let behind large sum Of money,
known how much he did leave. There are strange
stories concerning his rooms. IL Is known
| therein, ana II Is also known, that secretcd
! In his rooEs are several closely packed and
! strongly locked boxes As yet Mr. Rothery ha.
not examined them wishing 10 be sure OF his full
| power 10 do 50. The via, however, has been
| opened, and II ~ curious one. IL bcqucaths u
John Rothery all OF deceaseds tools ana machinery.
valued at r0n 900 TO $4,000 and all the personal
| property. TO william Rothery deceased leaves =
valuable manuscript library, valued At 5000. To
| Mrs. Burnett, with whom he once boarded. he
leaves $500 for kindness and Ity dollars la gold ior
| bottle OF wine given him by her ten years ago
lie never entered church IN forty years, but be-
iieved firmly in aGod He made his WIN six months
ago. At times he was subject 10 terrible nervous
| headache. HIS funeral took place to-day, and the
| remains were followed 10 the Methodist D,lrial
| ground by quite. number Of ctlzens. He was
| seYenty-three years OF age.