Morning journal and courier., 1888-08-27

Dauchey rushed into the house with the in
telligence that DIR. Paddock had shot his son
and then put bullet into his OWE head On
Fastening to the spot both father and SON
were found dead. The son was shot through
the body and the fathers head was almost
torn in pieces by ball that had entered I'M
der the chin and passed eut almost precisely
in the center of the crown of the head
It is believed that after some practice the
son went to the target to examine it, as was
his custom, was in some manner killed by q
wild shot; that the father rushed up and
finding him dead became suddenly demerted
In this fit of temporary insanity he killed
himself.
The doctor was the owner of handsome
residence and grounds adjoining the Congre-
gational church, and was active in church
work and treasurer of the society. The son
Harry attended a private school at Stamford
until the present vacation and had arranged
to go into business in New York in Septem-
Der. The doctor was brother-in~law of the
Hon. W, o. Seymour and an intimate friend
of Governor Lounsbury. He was past
master of Jeruralem lodge No. 40, F. & A.
NJ, and was considered one OF the best heart
ed Masons in this part Of the State. Father
and son were greatly attached to each other
and constant companions. Target shooting
was one of their daily amusements. Harry
was in the habit of taking care of the target
while his father handled the rife.
After the shooting the bodies were con-
veyed to the house of Dr. Todd, who said
that death must have been instantaneous in
each case. Deputy Coroner Bushe of Nor.
walk arrived on the scene at 6 O'Clock and
began an inquest. The intensest gloom per-
vades Ridgeield.
The property of Samuel Duchy, the man
who first announced the tragedy, adjoins the
Paddock property. He says that he was in
0.Qn
the field. It was not unusual for them to be
shooting at the target, SO that Mr.. Dauchy
paid little attention to them at first. Pres
emily he noticed that they were not firing at
the target. He says he thought it peculiar
and he watched more closely. The doctor
loaded his gun AND fred it into the ground
half dozen times. Then he fred it into the
air. The disoharging at random into the air
and the ground was done between $3.50 and
10 o'clock. At about that time Mr.. Dauchy
went into his house.
A little later some one called at the Pad-
dock house and wanted tooth extracted.
So he stopped his shooting for about ten
minutes and went in to attend his patient.
While he was doing that, the son Harry went
of to a store on an errand. Then both re-
turned to the pastime with their weapons.
Just then Mr.. Dauchy went out again to his
back garden. It was about IL O'Clock. He
turned to look at the men in the target field.
he saw the boy stanulng apparently Ten Iees
away from his father, who was standing with
his right arm outstretched in shooting style.
He saw the son start to move away from his
father and then he heard the sharp report of
the pistol Twice it sounded in his ears, but
Mr.. Dauchy could not move to stop the
tradegy. He stood still and saw the boy fall
and then saw the father discard the pistol
and take up the gun. He put the stock on
the ground and the muzzle along the side of
| his head and bending over fred. The shot
| went through the brains and he fell over
dead.
The boys body had four wounds in it and
| lay diagonally from his father, pressing the
ground. The doctor was siIty-one years of
age and though of nervous temperament
had never been considered cratic or peculiar.
Ridgefeld folks do not put great deal OF
| confidence in Dauohy's story.