The Newtown bee., 1889-12-13
LONG HILL.
SUICIDE OF F.. B, BURROUGHS.

Weary of life, afflicted with an incura- ble disease, broken in mind and body, Edward E. Burroughs at last laid down the burden of life and, by his own act, closed his days on earth. The shock of surprise and sorrow caused by his sudden death still fingers ill the minds of all, but particularly with those, his neighbors and friends, who knew him so well and who could never forget his sterling quail ities, his steadfastness as a friend, his calm but unswerving perseverance. Un- til stricken down, about year ago, with form of muscular paralysis which left him almost entirely helpless, none was more faithful in the discharge of duties, either at home, on the farm, at Grace church (of which he was sexton), or for the town, whose treasurer he had been for years. But as his bodily health fail- ed, his mind became clouded and his fam l fly (for he shrank from meeting those who had known him in other and happier days) saw with deepest solicitude that, while his physical health remained much the same, his intellect became more and more enfeebled. He was tenderly cared for by his wife and sister and had for many weeks been unable to walk, or even to leave the bed without assistance. He was closely watched, however, for he had once attempted suicide and had often wished to die. Saturday, Decem- Der z, he had seemed more than usually cheerful, but grew excited and tired tow ard evening and requested that the door between his room and his mothers apart ments be closed. About o'clock, Mrs Burroughs went away on business; short } ly after, Miss Emily Burroughs, the sis ter, stepped out for moment. In a : few moments, Rev c. W. Boylston, rec
 tor of Grace church, returning from drive, came to the house after securing his horse at the barn and, after a few ! moments, went to the rectory. In tn, meantime, Mrs Burroughs had returned ], and at once raised the alarm, for her hus band was missing. The neighbors wer' | quickly aroused and searching partie 3 organized, but it was only as last re T sort that, dDOub J U ClcCh, 1eCf 1iAi ASoy 11i ston peered into the we'll. By the ligh i, of q lantern, he discovered the body o -l his neighbor, curled up in the water ,. partly submerged. Ropes were hastil. v procured and the body drawn to the sur
 face. Life was extinct, for the body wa cold and had probably been in the wate
 about an hour. Dr Hill, the medical eS ? aminer, was hastily called, but could q :. nothing and the body was tenderly plae
 ed in the house so lately left. It is SUI
 posed that, hearing his wife and sIste
 leave the house, MT Burroughs had, wit l. the desperate purpose and sudde
 strength of insanity, dragged himsel T from the bed and passed out to the req
 of the house, near the well, clad only his night clothes. So softly did he g 5. that no sound was heard, although | .e opened and shut two doors. The well If protected by high curb, open on on
 side only, at distance of about thrt
 feet from the ground. Water was prt
 cured by means of . bucket whose TOT It ran over wheel at the top of the curl ? with weight at the other end- Wit
 almost superhuman strength, Mir Blu n roughs must have drawn himself throug Fl this small aperture in the curb and loy n cred himself by means of the rope, as ' z bruises were found on the body, whic ' was partly buoyed up, with only the fas
 under water. MT Burroughs, who N