Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-03-26
The Gordon Suicide,


To the Editor of the Free Press and Times.
Tho account published in the FREE PaEss,
some time since, of the suicide OF William
F. Gordon. of West Bolton, who shot him
self in the cars on the Northern IN. Ii }
Railroad, is incorrect in some particulars.
The circumstances of the case are as fol-
lows: Mr.. Gordon for the last five years
had been almost constantly IN school. lie
was thorough scholar, and found few
equals in his school-life as writer or
speaker. Out of study hours he devoted
most of his time to reading and writing,
taking but little physical exercise. conse-
quently his health failed. and he was obliged
to leave his studies for while. lie some
what recovered his health and renewed his
studies at the beginning of the present school
year. At the close of the fall term he found
his health again failing him, but his finances
were such that he considered it best to
teach during the winter term, and his ser
vices were engaged at Roybury, Vt. He
found the school exceedingly difficult, and
on account of trouble with some of the
young men, be stayed only few days Be J..
ing in poor health and naturally very am
bilious, this trouble and the false reports !
concerning it, weighed heavily upon his |
mind. He rallied. however. from this and |
again entered school at Barre. As he re
sumed his studies his physical and mental
strength gradually declined and he returned |
to his home in West Bolton. Vt in 4
state of almost melancholy insanity. and !
placed himself under the treatment OF able !
nh nod hr,
ment and plenty of outdoor exercise that |
he might recover, but he continued TO grow
worse. He even distrusted his best friends,
and desired to leave home. They, not
wishing to cross him, furnished him money,
hoping he might soon return The Monday
previous TO his death he left his home say
ing he was going West. he went as far as
Nergennes, and there consulted physician
who told HIM that his case was hopeless.
and that medicine could do him no good.
lie returned home that night in 4 despOn-
dent mood, with these words on his lips
"M0ther, I've come home To die. Death Is
staring me in the face Tho disc1nsOlate
parents did all they could for him lie
continued in this melancholy state until
Thursday morning, when he appeared lit
tie better, and asked for team to visit a
friend about two miles from home. Think
ing it would do him good to ride, they let
him go, and wished his younger brother to
90 with him. lie preferred 10 % alone,
and told his parents If he met with a cordial
reception be should not be back till morn
ing. Instead of stopping at tue pl4cc men
toned he drove to Bolton station hurricGly,
50 much so as to excite attention.
lie lett his team At the hotel and
told the landlord 10 see that it was properly
cared Tor till he returned, as be was going
to Montpelier. lie had in his possession
medicine and other articles which indicated
that be was going to stop few DAYS with
his brother, f. X. Gordon, who resides at
Montpelier. The sequel of the sad story is
well known and needs no recapitulation.
y
The latest report from Barre says that tie
work on the Montpelier and Wells River
railroad will be continued On towards Wi
Jamestown as soon as it is Elishel to Barre
The Ransom Guards, OF s.. Adams, have
been invited to attend the Concord, Mas.
centennial celebration on the I9;h Of April
| next.
Thepolice have recently seized $3.50 worth
Of liquor from s.. Johnsblry drug
gist. What in the model village" wlar,
Hepworth Dixon couldn't get a Drop
The religious revival is pretty general
throughout the State. At s.. John,bury 1t
increases in fervor. and reports from other
parts Of the State indicate a great tendency
toward the church Of many who have here
toiore stood aloof from public profession Of
faith. Eight persons Joined the Coneresa-
tional Bethany Church, IN Montpelier, w,
last SAbbath-seven on profession or ri,h
RWToY-Sa0ckINC lNHUaANuY.-A three
year old bog whose existence is his gr-a.
misfortune, and with whose support the
town Of Ripton Is chargeablc. has been
kept at John Lawrence Just over the line
in Lincoln. On It's being reported that it
was being numerically abused. L. Il.
Baker, oyerseer Of the poor, hired Mrs. j.
Kenworthy to take away and care !or the
/ child. She found it in an open log or pole
house, without shoes. and appearances in
dicated that stockings were almost am.
known its feet were all chappel and sore.
and it wore only three iigh. c1,.on gar
ments, totally unfit for the use they were
applied; the lad was covered from It's waist
downward to its knees Wi;h scars, fresh
marks of recent beatings and large patches
Of black and blue spots, besides carrying
upon one Of his temples semi-circular
scar Of an inch or two across. lis stated
on good authority that its sleeping place
through the winter has been box Of shay
ings cut from shingles, and tia. on one oc-
casion they had been set fire to by Law
renee
Personal
John Mitchell. the Irish Patriot"
whose death is announced in our telesraphic
DISPATCHES, was born in Derry, Ireland. in