Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-12
TRAGIC AFFAIR.
"A "ah throws Child Into the Sea From
sne Portland Boat and Then Himself
Suicides.
PORTLAND, Nav IL.

cuACNuCSs
PORTLAND. May H.
just before 10 O'Clock Monday ever;no
"eii-ores'ed gentleman. with child in his
arms was seen by one of the stewards of the
boston steamer, going on toward the Stern of
the boat The gentleman asked the steward
to get him blanket The man had been no-
'iceo on deck during the evening. frolIcing
with the ctlid. He WAS gentlemanlv in ap-
pearance, wearing a silk hat. He boupht
ucket for Portland, on coming on the boat.
and showed a card bearing The address ~
FREDERICK IL. Palmer. NJ. ID 226 West Ches-
ter Patk, Boston. He gave the clerk the
name on the card and was assigned to room
81.
just af'er the gentleman asked for blan-
het ne was observed to proceed to the stern
OF the steamer, toss the child overheard and
instantly follow ed the little one, before any,
body could interfere. The captain and sew
eral passengers saw the awful deed. The
steamer was at once stopped and small boat
lowered. Search was diligently prosecuted
out no signs of the suicide could be detected.
In room 81 d chld's jacket and the physicians
card before alluded to were found After
delaying The steamer for quarters OF an
hour and sending the boat out three times in
search, Capt Snowman proceeded The
awful affair caused much excitement and
hn, u,
that no good end would be subserved by lon
ger delaying the steamer. The man was
about sixty years old, and the boy about four
years OLD, and a bright little fellow
BosroN, May IL.
DIR. Frederick N. Palmer VINO jumped from
the steamer John Brooks, with his little
grandson, was ona of the best known home-
pathic physicians of Boston, and was ~
years of age. He formerly lived at Hotel
Huntington. The relatives of DR.. Palmer
had been extremely anxious concerning his
safety since four o'clock Monday. At that time
DIR. Palmer left his residence for the purpose,
as he stated, of taking a short walk. He took
his little grandson, Wendell X. Smith, who
was but four years of age, with him. Moth
ing was thought of this by the folks in the
house. When tea time came the doctor had
not returned, but though wondering at his
absence, they were not yet alarmed, for he
appeared all right when he went out, and it
was thought that possibly he had called at the
house of friend. When it became later,
however. it was thought best to look up the
missing man and child Hurried visits to the
places where he would be likely to call and
stop were made, but no news of him was re-
ceived. Some two years ago DR.. Palmer
suffered paralvlc shock, and it was then
feared that possibly he had had another and
had been carried to some police station or
hospital. The police were notified but they
had no information to give. description of
the missing man and child was taken and
sent to all the police stations IN the city, with
orders that the officers should keep an eye
out for them. Still no tidings were received
until Tuesday morning, when dispatch was
received which told of the fearful act of an
undoubtedly insane man. DR.. Palmer was
extremely fond of the little bow, and it is
thought that when the insane idea of COM
mitting suicide took possession of him that
he decided not to be parted with his pet even
in death.
1t appears that DR.. Palmer must have sud-
denly been attacked with temporary insanity
shortly after leaving the house, for he had
just about time to carry out his sudden idea
of going to Portland by engaging passage in
the John Brooks.
1t is not known whether DR.. Palmer threw
the child overheard first and then followed or
took him in his arms and both died together.
Not an outcry was heard, and probably the
discovery of their disappearance would not
have been made until the steamer got into
port, or at all, had not Capt. Snowman been
an eye witness to the leap of the suicide
When the news of the terrible affair spread
among the passengers there was great ex-
clement, and it had such an effect upon some
of them that they did not sleep the remainder
Of the night.
DR.. Palmer was born in Boston in April.
1913. When child he removed with his
parents to Bangor, Me-, where he received
his early education. He studied law for
time in Brat.leboro, VT, but soon reln-
auisbed ihat pursuit for medicine, for which
he went to Philadelphia to get his training
and education. After graduating and receiv-
ing his diploma he practiced medicine in
Newton for a number of years and then came
to Boston, where he had large practice. He
was member of the Massachusetts, Homeo-
pathic Society and of the National Society,
and was a member of the New Jerusalem
Swedenborgian church. The family of DR..
Palmer are entirely unable to account for the
sad tragedy, and say that when he left home
he gave not the slightest indication of any
intention to do anything else but take short
walk, neither have they been able to discover
anything among his papers that leads them to
think he contemplated suicide