The Portland daily press., 1880-02-04
DETERMINED SUICIDE.

The Cashier Of the First National Bank
of Augusta Jumps Into Cistern and
Then Shoots Himself.
AUGUSTA, Feb. 3.-Israel Boothby, Cashier
of the First National Bank committed suicide
this forenoon by shooting himself in the head
In order to make certain of ending his life he
Jumped into cstern Oh the bank premises,
with weights tied to his feet, and then COM
mitted the deed He went to the bank about
o'clock, and an hour or so afterwards was
discovered by his son. The injured man died
very soon after being taken from the cistern.
A jury has been empanneled.
director of the bank states that the ac-
counts of the institution were probably all
right.
SECOND DESPATCH.
Che suicide of Major Israel Boothby, Cash
Ter of the First National Bank, creates pro-
found sensation here. The time at which the
bank is opel.ed to the public is o'clock. Mr..
Boothby was an indefatigabe and unwearyr G
cashier and frequently came down town at
five, six or seven o'clock to begin his days
work This morning he left home at about
o'clock and proceeded at once to his place OF
business. An hour later his elder son came in
to the band found his father in the the direc-
tors room with his head bowed upon his hands
and his hat pulled down over his eyes He
had evidently been crying.
About o'clock Willie, the younger son,
came down to begin his mornings work. He
found the doors of the bank locked and sup
posed that his father had gone out on the street
for a few minutes. He stepped inside and at
first noticed nothing unusual or suspicious. In
a short time he observed that the revolver
which usually lays on the desk was not in its
proper place. He went down cellar, proceed
ed to the end of the cellar near the rear of the
building The cover OF the clstern had
been removed. He ran forward and there
in that subterrpnean pool was the dead body OF
his father. A few pieces of ice t1oated ON the
surface of the water which were already of
reddish hue.
The body was lifted out and laid upon the
stone floor of the cellar. Life had been ex-
tinct but a short time. The bullet had entered
lust back of the right ear and had emerged
little to the left, making CHASTITY wound
from which the blood and brains oozed IN
sickening way. To his right leg were attached
two heavy window weights 1t was evld entity
Mr.. Boothbys intention to drown himself, but
tie water was too shallow for that and he had
terminated his existence with one shot from
revolver Death must have been almost in
Simultaneous
Mr.. B,othby had been in the employ of the
FIRST National Bank for twelve years ending
this February. Previous to this he had held q
situation in the State Treasury, and had been
engaged in clerical work of various kinds Tor
25 wears past. He was SO years of age and IN
very comfortable circumstances. His salary
was about $1,000 per annum, and his sons were
both in good positions. Mr.. Boothby owned 81
shares in the First National Bank, par value
s5oo0 and real estate amounting to about the
same sum.
The cause of the suicide is supposed to be
hard work and mental depression The ac-
counts of the bank are supposed to be all right.
Bank Examiner Humphrey OF Bangor was I'M
mediately sent for. Major Boothby left no let
ter to his family or friends