The Press., 1885-01-08
A SAD EVENT.

affected by an occurrence as by the suicid last Friday of one of it's most esteemed cit izens-Wm R. Small-while under extra ordinary depression, caused by bushes troubles. It is common expression sinc' the event, ssMr. Small was the last ma, that expected such an act from" Ant the conclusion is universal that he wa Fderanged by his troubles. But, it is not after all, so unexplainable to those wht knew the man. Mr.. Small was a fnt grained man, the sole of honor, and sensi tive to fault. His love of his family let him to conceal his endorsements iron them, and he struggled along under loae of trouble His Liabilities were not great but he saw closing about him a net worl of debts his business had dwindled tt nothing since the stoppage of the mills, h. had toiled long, and saw no encourage ment.
 MT. Small has been for over 22 years en gagged in mercantile business in this vii lage, except for an interval of about two years, when he removed from town. Ht was first associated with his brother, il the drug and clothing business, under tht name of H. T. Small $ Co.,, H. T. Smal also being postmaster. The latter selling out to Wm. D. Heald, the firm became Small X Heald. MT Small sold out, anc removed to Newton, Mass, but after twt years absence returned to the old busi ness, the firm now being Heald X Small He met with some losses outside of the store business, which somewhat embar rassed him, and in 1877 came the fooo which swept away store and goods, ano left him poor man. When the bank building was finished i'll 1879 friends help ed him to start store therein. He seems not to have had an amount of business that afforded him more than bare living. Each year the margin between profit auc loss was slight or else on the wrong side He worked hard for some time, kept the central telephone office in his store, also the public library, caring for both witE very little help. Happy in his family re lations, he bore his trouble alone. None but himself knew of his embarrassments and struggles to keep his head above wa ter. He saw his business dwindle, as every other merchant in Stafford has also seen in the close times of the past few months He could not bear the thought of uncan celled debts, nor feel what he deemed the disgrace of bankruptcy. No man in towr him. A word would have brought sympa
 
 but his sensitive nature would not allow him to speak it.
 Last Friday he left the store at p. m. his usual dinner hour, in charge of his son, who was temporarily at home. He did not return to the store, but this caused no surprise, as he was known not to fee well, and there was nothing to require hi, denial to himself of needed rest About %o t1,n c+a r. see why he did not come home. Intense alarm was caused his children by his ab sence when it became known. Inquirie: began to be made, but it was about o'clock before a general alarm was given It was found that he had been seen not tt turn into the side street leading to hi house, but to continue up East Main-st and turn into East street, but inquir, proved that he had not been seen beyond the woods, little way from the corner An organized search was made by forming a line, in which was well towards hun dred men. At little before ten o'clocl Wakeman Sibley, when in the edge of the wood heard labored breathing, and in z sheltered place found MT. Small lying up on his back, with a pistol by his side. He was taken up and borne by the saddeneo friends to his home but little way off. and almost in sight of the place where he was found. Dr. Newton, who was among the searchers, made examination and found him hopeIessly injured. He had twice shot himself in the head. A passer along the road near by, and also people in tho nearest house had heard the two dis charges about 1.3O D. m. They were close together, and attracted attention only by exciting surprise that any one should bt out shooting on so cold day.
 MT. Small lived until p. m. on Sun day, but never regained consciousness Dr. Newton, assisted by Dr. Smith, made unsuccessful efforts find the balls. On, evidently followed around outside thu skull, and stopped near the right eye The other entered the head, crushing DOT tions of the skull into the brain. The pis tol used was light, cheap revolver, no such as he would have chosen had he lons premeditated the act, and all things poin to the conclusion that the act was the re suit of sudden Arrangement, coming from long dreaded and now eliminating business troubles. The long exposure tt the cold had resulted in the freezing O one foot, and the slight affection of tn, other by frost, but, except at these ex tremities, he had not suffered much, phy sicians accounting for this by the fact tha his labored breathing had kept up brisl circulation. ,.~
 MT. Small leaves widow and two chil dren, both of the latter having just reach ed years of maturity. He also leaves be hind him spotless reputation, and cir cle of mourners that includes all who knew him. His brethren of Ionic Lodge of Ma sons assumed the conduct of his funeral and felt it 8 privilege so to do. He hac long and faithfully served the lodge as sec retary, and felt strong attachment to tht order. He was buried on Tue day. Mrs Small, who suffers from heart affe ction and who was completely prostrated by tht shock of the event, was unable to attend the services at the church. Prayer wal offered at the house by Rev. MT. Hawley after which the remains were borne to the Congregational church. The day wal rainy, the streets heavy with mud, bu there was a large turn out of friends te pay last tributes to the memory of an es teemed neighbor and citizen. The ser mon by Rev. MT. Hawley was 8 fine tri bute to the memory of the deceased, anl drew from his life and death lessons profit able for study.
 At stated communication of Ioni Lodge, No. 11O, E. A. M., of Staffort Springs, Conn, the following resolution were adopted:
 Whereas We are agala called upon to boy our heads in sorrow over the death of brother, and to place on record our regre that we eshan never again see within the cil 01o 0f 1r,de <>f 1<