The Portland daily press., 1886-05-12
AN INSANE MANS ACT.
The Tragedy on the Steamer John
Brooks.
Or. Palmer Leaps Overheard With
His Little Grandson.


His Little Grandson.
Among the passengers on the steamer
John Brook from Boston to Portland Mon
day night was well dressed elderly man,
who bought tickets for himself and bright
little fellow of four or five years of age, and
engaged sstateroom No. 81, giving his name
as DR., Palmer of Boston. During the even
ing the two were in the saloon where the
child received considerable attention from
the passengers while he was playing and
singing about the cabin. The child finally
grew sleepy and asked to go to bed. DR..
Palmer carried shim to the stateroom, I'M
dressed him and placed him in a berth. At
ter a short time, Dr. Palmer left the boy to
himself but returned at about ten o'clock,
appearing to have some difficulty in finding
the stateroom, according to the recollection
of a waiter by whom he was observed. At
ter some moments search, the man found his
stateroom and entered it. He came out di-
rectly with the child partially dressed in his
arms, rcmarking to the waiter that the child
was seasiek and he was going to carry him
out into the air. The man carried the boy TO
the after deck, opening off the saloon. He
seemed to have some difficulty in opening
the door and the waiter went to his assist
ance.
The child cried and the doctor said that he
was somewhat seasck, requesting the waiter
to bring blanket to wrap the child in. This
the waiter did and then turned and entered
the saloon where he met Captain Snowman
whom he told that the man was on the deck
with the child. Captain Snowman walked
towards the door, preceded by the waiter,
and reached the deck just in time to see the
form of the man jumping from the rail at
the stern. At the same moment the waiter
cried she has thrown the child overheard
and jumped The blanket and the child's
cloak lay on the deck.
The steamer was off Thatcher's Island and
Captain Snowman instantly noting her posi-
ton by the bearing of two lights astern,
rushed to the engine room and the Brooks
was backed to the spot where the tragedy oc-
Cured. A boat was at once lowered and
search for the bodies was made for half or
three-quarters of an hour, but without find
ing them.
lut Uldll udu ltlG Ills ON6ICOdG III CudISe VI
the baggage master. In the pockets were
found number of cards bearing the address
Frederic N. Palmer, M. D., homeopathic,
No. 226 West Chester Park, Boston, In
the same pocket was a box of toy paints,
which the child had played with, the backs
of the cards being smeared with red and
blue colors. A little dress belonging to the
boy was also found in the stateroom.
Upon arrival here Captain Snowman tele-
graphed the facts to the Boston chief of po-
lice with request that the family of DR..
Palmer might be notified. An answer was
promptly received stating that this had been
done and later request was received by tel
egraph for the location of the steamer at the
time the man jumped overheard.
1t is learned that about 3.45 p. M, Monday
DR.. Palmer left his residence, No. 229 West
Chester Park, Boston, for walk, in compa-
ny with his grandson, Wendell R. Smith, a
little fellow of about four years old, of whom
he is said to have been very fond. He did
not expect to be gone more than half an
hour, and was very cheerful when he went
away. At tea time the doctor had not re-
turned, but, though wondering at his alb
sence, his relatives were not then alarmed.
for he appeared all right when he went out,
and it was thought possible he had called at
the house of friend. But as the evening
hours passed by, and the doctor did not re-
turn, the family became very anxious about
him, and his absence during the night natur-
ally increased their anxiety. A search was
instituted, visits to places where he would
be likely to call and stop were made, and the
case was reported to the police, but nothing
eouIu bo ieernod as to his whereabouts. The
first intimation of his fate was received yes
terday morning, in the form of despatch
from Portland. The press despatch, shown
to the relatives soon afterward, confirmed
the sad news.
TWAS stated yesterday morning that the
affair could not be accounted for by any bad
condition of DR.. Palmer's affairs, because
everything was straight. The various mem
oranda found in his desk show that for the
last year or two he had thought what he had
said-that he did not think that his life
would be very long, that he was growing
old. He had carefully made memoranda dis
posing of his property, even to the smallest
articles. Some memoranda were made with
in the last few months
There was also package, which was
sealed and contained directions to a friend
what to do in case anything happened to
him. The piece of paper on which this in
formation was written had no date. But
there was nothing to show that he had any
thought and generalization of this affair at
all, nothing whatever. Why he should
have come to Portland is also a mys-
terry. He had not been down east for TWEEN
ty-five years, and there were no business
transactions as far as is known that induced
him to take the trip.
Mrs. Palmer is very unwilling to think
that her husband would have Intentionally
jumped overheard with the child. She
thinks that, the child being sick, he may
have gone on deck to give him the air, and
that the little fellow in some way fell over
board and the doctor went after him in the
hope of rescuing him. There is nothing
that leads the relatives to think that the ill
fated man went on board deliberately with
the intention of committing suicide. One
theory expressed by them is that there
might have been some alteration Of mind
that led him on board to do it, and another
is that he was accidentally ON board, and,
the boat having started, without attracting
his notice, he was forced to remain. The
whole matter is, however, an entire blank SO
far as that is concerned, so far as is known
by the family. No list of passengers ON the
boat is kept in Boston, the only one being
kept on board. Mental arrangement had
never been noticed in Dr. Palmer About
two years ago he had a slight attack of apo
plexy, from which he recovered, but his fam
lily say that since then he has never seemed
to be quite as well as before. His memory
was little impaired, perhaps, but as gen
eral thing he was in good health.
DR.. Palmer was born in Boston in April,
1S13 and removed when young to Bangor
with his parents, and there received his early
education. Then he studied law at Brat
tleboro, VT, and medicine in Philadelphia
Ten years ago DR.. Palmer moved to Boston
from Newton, and Immediately entered upon
a large and lucrative practice. Shortly after
he married Mrs. Smith, lady of about 60,
the doctor at that time being about 63 years
of age. Mrs. Smith had grown son, the
father of the boy who was drowned Monday
night. This son, Walter Smith, has been in
the hardware business, but at present is in
ill health, and is not engaged in business.