The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-06-13
THE BRIDGEPORT TRAGEDY.
Was it Murder or Suicide an Immense In
surance on the Life OF the Deceased.

ferrous utHln Oh tapt;ln tOlNocOreSSeS III
last Monday night. The de-
-eaSrd had gone down from Litchtield,
leaving his family there, to take the night
beat Al Bridgeport for New York, where
he WAS To bc engaged in duties as a MEM
her of the retiring board OF the United
States navy. He started to 90 from his
hotel to the steamboat wharf, and, it is
sud, stopped ut one place to inquire the
way. but instead of proceeding by the
most direct course took 4 somewhat I'M
lrrqu"nted route. just alter the boat had
LETT, police officers and others heard the
report OF Il pistol shot. and following the
OF the sound came upon the dead
body of Captain ColvOcoresseS, which was
lying in the street directly in front of an |
isolated wooden dwelling-house. In this |
house was a woman who had heard the re-
port OF the firing also, and had distinctly |
heard 9rOanS ut intervals for n minute or
Wo after it. but She was so frightened that |
>hc remained in her beat and covered the |
clothing over her head. Her bedroom |
window was open, and every sound was |
very clear. but in addition to the firing |
and the groans She heard nothing. There |
WAS no preliminary Scut11ing n anything |
10 indicate it, The persons coming up |
found near the BODY a broken SwOrd-cane, |
The sword being Dent Us ii it had been |
incaSeI in the cane when the blow which |
bent it was given. Across the way, lying
upon the ground, was an old pistol. OF i
French pattern with some inscription in
French upon ii, the stock OF which had
ueen broken ana tied together with a
~lrinr. hut the pieces were now separated
hy the force OF the weapon in falling. The
deceased had been shot in the lett breast,
llst below the region Of the heart, and the
bail had passed through the body, going
out al the back Around the hole in the
shirt, through which the ball entered the
hsd} the cloth was burning, showing
that fine weapon was in close contact with
him when it was discharged. The carpet
bag which Captain CoIvocoresses was
known To have had with him was found
some distance away broken open and a1D
parrntly ritled of its contents. These are
substantially all the facts that first appear
ed when the body was found.
subsequently, the wife of the deceased
arrived IN Bridgeport and gave intorma-
tiuu that her husband had so far as she
knew. but 4 comparatively small sum OF
money with him. and that he left his gold
watch at home. Further ii TRANSFERRED that
lie had the enormous amount OF SlSo,WW
Insurance upon his life. nearly $4,000
helh@ III iltIiloFu c"ihp"hleS' anu lhtt 'li
ms INSURANCE" mao oeeH ttheh out Wllillil
me past year. an" Il t"h9iier'tple Po!ioi'
81 II Wlthlh II Lhotin oFiWpi some 'oiiclrS
hrlh@ 50 recent m aale that the nome ON
trN hid moi received thelf hr9t pay
from the agents ei1'ecting the insurance.
Tnr great mystery surrounding the death
independent OIL ~ othef considerations )
Inc lAct lhtf' AZ tllt outset theFe was "hly
one oPln1oh, ana ihat convincing one
that brutal murder had oeeh commltten'
mrde 1t all-ilnP"rlaht tAtt thorough IN
Nr9tl@atl"h should be htde, ana Inc au-
lh"iilleS nave since peeh Elglahtiy actlVe
hunting QP testimony e secure Inc @ulilY
parties. ON the other hand there seems
now TO he as strong an incentive, IN we"
oil itll Inc llter deleloplhehtN taken II con
heru"n WIN the singular surroundings OF
Tue case as II lrSt appeared even, lof an
exhaustive inquiry 10 ascertain Ii II was
moi ease al Nulclde, ana the insurance
companies interested nave, as they are III
dnty bound to the community to do, begun
looking INTO the ease 50 that now the pnh-
ne VIII nave Inc advantage OF Il searching
investigation opresent FACTS aud theories
embracing the results on detecilVeSklll ah'
scientific examination, which shall mi
from the case the greiu cIond OF doubt, II
mol Oh Suspicion, Whleh al pfesehl new
1abiY hangs over 1T. In the following
pertinent inquiries and eNaninali"hS OF
y cdhesdaF AremArkahle Tact was hrough
!" ll9ht. he burning OF Inc SHIRT OF Inc
dtad man at The iime ms RodY was ms
covered was an early subject OF comment
chiefly relating. however, to the close
proximity of the muzzle OF the pistol ID
The garment when the shot WAS hred anu
having no Specldl Sl9hliicahce beNon'
that; hat IT appeared IN this latter exam
nation THAT, though the deceased had OF
m oVercoat. an under coat aud vest
none al the outside clothing was touched
lN the ball, the shirt being the only article
Of clothing through which the bal! passed
1t becomes a serious question, IN view o
tins renarkAble discovery, whether IN
ASSASSIN could have done this work Will
presented only 70 show mat the case has
cpptino the theory of snicide as the cor