Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-04-26
From the Newburyport Herald
An VnOeniOus Suicide.

or eight wears ago removed with his father
Who had been grocer in this city, to Chel'
sea. OF peculiar, susceptible and nervous
i temperament, still he had never shown signs
Of insanity, and the sad news comes unex
pectedly to his many friends in this city.
Since removing from Newburyport the fam
iIy have lived at South Boston, and in the
| summer father and son have carried on the
farm, sleeping at night in the barn. At seven
o'clock Sunday morning the father started
for South Boston, leaving his son sleeping.
Before departing, Mr.. Pillsbury remarked to
his son that he would return Monday morn
ing, and advised him to come home during
the day The son muttered something IN
reply, turned over and fell asleep, in which
condition his father left him. Monday noon
Mr.. Pilisbury returned. Opening the door
of the barn. he was Mortified to see his son
IifeIess on the floor the head completely sew
cred from his body, and lying in pool OF
blood A hurried examination showed that
| decapitation had been accomplished by nov
| eI method. The following letter was found on
the dead mans person:
CHELSEA, April II, $50.
Deaf Parents Brothers and sisters; believe fhat
the end Of my life is at hand and write this
10 bid YOU ali goodby. The step am about to take
IL TO me- the only right one and viii NOT
attempt express any regrets or make any excuses
believing ~ do that II is best for yOn ss well as
myseK This il the country and the age in which TO
enjoy life and hope you will live long and happily.
PS ! wish couid you again. was Of 3
good mind to go home last evening, but gave II up,
had so little time. s. NJ P.'Jr.
The instrument Of death was hastily con-
structed and crude imitation of the famous
French guillotine. This machine was i'm
provised from material found in the barn, and
its plan of operation, which proved equal to
= 1..z sd fnlln FI,sn
uprights. 3x4 joist II feet in length, extend
ed from the floor of the lower story to the cell
ing, to which they were securely spiked. The
lower ends of the uprights were mortised in
a solid piece Of hard wood, about Sxl2 inches
in size and some 30 feet in length. In the
centre of this bed piece was chiselled out, ap-
parently with very dull implement, o groove
sufficiently deep and wide to admit the en-
trance of mans neck. Fitting between the
uprights. in easy, sliding position, was a
square piece of ftwo-inch plank, to the lower
edge of which was securely fastened the blade
of a carpenters ordinary broad-axe. sharpen
ed 20 a keen edge. The bottom of this slider
rested upon a lever 10 inches in length, work
ing upon pin secured in the left upright.
and from the end of which, suspended by a
core. 3 feet in length, was wateringpot, which
had been filled with water. On the top Of
the slider was box containing 80 pounds of
stone. The bottom Of the watering pot,
which was an ordinary ~ or IA quart vessel.
such as is commonly used on a farm, had
been perforated with hcles so that the water
might leak out and release the lever, there
By allowing the sliding block with the axe
attached to fall. The axe, after being re-
leased, had a fall of six and half feet. In
order to render the uprights more firm and
late a of
ing was mortised in between them at about
Is inches from the top. At the base of the
uprghts were two holes, through which was
thrust broom-handlc, which effectually i'm
prisoned the neck of the victim and prevent
ed any attempt to remove it. In front of
the machine, on the floor. was small piece
of timber about two feet long, six or seven
inches wide and some four inches thick. In
the end, next to the bed piece of the guillo-
tine, was gouged a cavity large enough to
hold about two quarts, and in it was found
about pint of ether. This ether came di-
recty under the nose of the victim, which
rested upon the floating lid of cigar box.
On either side of this, with their ends firmly
braced against the bed piece in order to
steady it, was. large box filled with stones
and dirt.
The father nearly frantic with grief rushed
to the office of the city marshal, and thither
the guillotine was removed later in the day.
SO intense was the excitement that a posse of
officers had to be stationed at the door to pre-
vent the rush of the crowd.
The victim of sef-destruction, Stephen NJ.
Pillsbury, Jr., was born in this city, Oct. B,
1850. and was unmarried. He always lived
with his parents, and assisted his father while
living here, and later at Chelsea. A fine
| To- faatQ or in, ho;
he was possessed of an apparently cheerful
and contented disposition, and was strictly
temperate in all his habits. Although socia-
BILE while in company, he never seemed to
crave companionship, but rather preferred to
spend his time alone, poring over books.
Though unable from his 18th year to endure
severe physical exertion he was not so feeble
but that he could do the ordinary work about
the farm. Several of the neighbors and par
ties who traded with him say that his CONVEX
sation was mainly upon criminal matters and
suicides. and that he was remarkably we'll
posted on all such subjects. They all unite
in giving him an excellent character Moth.
ing in his actions, they say, led them for a
moment to entertain a suspicion that he in:
tended taking his own life. He was on the
best of terms with his family, and, as they
are in prosperous circumstances, there is no
reason tor the rash deed. Inc father was
completely unnerved by the spectacle pre-
sented to his gaze, when he opened the barn
door. He was unable to give q coherent
statement regarding the affair, but later in
the day became calmer, and talked freely
| upon the subject He says that, after re-
hection upon the matter. he came to the con-
clusion that il was nothing more than might
| have been expected. For some time past he
| has entertained the belief that his son was a
| little insane, as at various times within the
past few years he has acted very strangely
but not to such a degree as to create in the
minds of his family an apprehension of such
an event. Mr.. Pillsbury also says that in
sanity is hereditary in his family, and that a
sister of his father is at present confined r
the insane asylum at Worcester. IN,
grandfather said he, twas confined fol
some months in an insane asylum, and my
mother died. some years ago, in the McLear
asylum at Somerville, where was obliged tc
| have her taken" He thought that his sor
became despondent on account of his feeble
health and the thought that he was likely to
become dependent upon his friends He
was very ingenious. and although never hav
ing learned a trade, was proficient in the uss
| of carpenters tools, and was able to do 4
very good piece of work in the line of re
pairs.
Father and son were noted Throughout
Chelsea for their industry, and the excellen
vegetables and small fruits, particularly