Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-03
ooL.omARLEs H.R. NORRIS DEATH.

Alteration or uIlnd-Misslng But q
Few Hours-The circumstances SUR
rounding the Sad AFFAIR.
Yesterday afternoon the startling inteli-
gence came as Q shock and spread rapidly
about the city that Charles d. R. Mott, book
keeper for Harmon & Foy the corset manu-
facturers ON church street, had shot himself
in Wallingford. The news seemed hardly
credible to Mr.. Motifs host of friends, but at
the factory the Rravest fears were entertained
a. NJ Mott. who is the soul of punctuality
at hiss business, had not reported for duty
yesterday, although he was expected as usual.
Late In the afternoon after enquiries made at
his home had revealed that he was not there,
search was made for him, and at police head
quarters message was left In the hope Of
obtaining information. It was found from
the messenger sent out that he had called
early yesterday morning at the home of his
parents on William street according to his
almost daily custom. he had seen his father
and mother then but had not seemed as jovial
and bright spirited a. usual. He had, how
ever, shown no unwonted excitement nor
depression. At about O'Clock the news
came at the Office Of the corset factory that
Mr.. Mott had shot himself ct Cooks crossing
near Wallingford. Gen. Geo. N. Harmon
to Wallingford. On his return Gen. Har-
mon informed the COURIER regarding the
case as follows:
Charlie left his home at O'Clock this
morning and went around to his fathers
home on William street. He seemed about
% usual, but some who saw him noticed
that he did not whistle as usual, as he has
tened down the stairs to 60 to the Office.
| There was, however. nothing strange In his
a RI 10
| postof6ce for the mail for the Office, accord
| ing to his usual custom, when fret coming
| to the Office. He was seen by someone to
come almost to the door of the Office and
| then turn about and retrace his steps.
That is the last news we have of
him until the news of the shooting. At
about IL or 10 O'Clock, his absence being un-
accountable and his friends not knowing of
his whereabouts, we notified the police Office
to make search for him, and sent o ut men to
look for him. At twenty minutes of 8 O'Clock
! q dispatch came to Us from D. g. Dudley, a
farmer of Wallingford, stating that Mr.. Mott
of our office had shot himself. Mr.. Dud-
ley lives about a mile and half
| this side of Wsllingford. drove out to the
scene. Charlie had killed himself. I got
| there just 40 the remains had been taken
to Griswold's undertaking rooms in Walling-
| ford. obtained the necessary authority,
after seeing the coroner and medical exam
| iner, to have the remains removed to this
| city. then took the 0:22 train for home.
| The remains were met at the depot by Lewis
& Maycock, whom had previously tele-
| graphed to, and were removed to their rooms,
| where they now are.
"No," continued Gen. Harmon, 81 know
of no reason for the act. So far as am able
to Judge, his accounts are perfectly correct,
and have no reason to think otherwise. he
was always honest, reliable and faithful.
We have no reason to expect any shortage in
our accounts. The only theory I can adj
vance is that he may have taken too large a
dose of quinine. It Is said that for the past
two or three weeks he had been taking qui.
| nine for cold, similar in character to the
| prevailing epidemic, and, as the doctor
whom we saw in Wallingford suggested, he
may have taken too much of it, which had
caused alteration of mind.
| As to the particulars concerning the last
moments of Charles life, learned from
Mr.. Dudley, the man who sent the dispatch,
that he saw Charlie come up the Hartford
railroad track and step over to his (Mr. bud.
| ley's) house. Charlie then asked for drink
of water, which was given him. He took 9
| few swallows and went away. Mr.. Dudley'f
people noticed that Charlie retraced his steps
instead of keeping on in the same direction
as before. They lost sight of him and the
next they knew In the case they received hall
lying dead near the track at Cooks crossing
This news was brought to Mr.. Dudley by two
tramps who came to the house and by theil
actions evidently had something to tell
When Charlie retraced his steps he wa
headed for New Haven. Mr.. Dudley wen1
down to the crossing and found Charlie'i
remains where the tramps had indicated
Charlie had shot himself in the head righ
back of the right ear.
| hoh had off xs,ik n hfyV1f In
pocket, continued General Harmon. Only
one letter had been opened. He had 81
cents in change in his pocket and So. OS ir
old fractional currency such as was in use in
the war time. Charlie had hobby of col
Letting old currency. TWAS in denomina
i value. Charles death will be deeply felt
He was liked by all who knew him, and hat
been in our service as bookkeeper for eigh
teen years. He was q colonel ON the staff oil
Governor Henry B. Harrison. think he LEFT
little property. .
David q. Clark, the well known builder, {
neighbor and personal friend of Colone
morning and drove to various residences IL
the city, and, on learning of the shooting
took the train for WallinRford in compan.
with Mr.. Horace Chittenden, superintendent
of the corset factory. Mr.. Clark has M
doubt that the quinine had affected Colonel
Mott so seriously as to render him dazed and
unbalanced. He had been taking quinn
in doses of considerable size for week pas
on account of a cold. Mr.. Clark learned
that Colonel Mott went up o,
the cars yesterday forenoon as ia
as North Haven, as the coachmal
for Mrs. W. w. Converse rode in the sam
car with him and talked with him. Anothe
New Haven man also saw and spoke witt
him on the same train. It had been though
by many that Charlie had in ansunbalance'
state of mind walked to Wallingferd. 81
Haven to the scene of the tragedy.
When Col. Motifs remains were found b
was sitting in the sand close to board fenc
about twelve feet from the railroad, and tn
pistol was between his knees. He had evi
IDENTIFY leaned with his back against the fenc
and fred the fatal shot, and then sank dow
! into the posture In which he was found
His death must have been instantaneous.
The weapon used was Col. Motifs own re
volver.
When the telegram was received at 2:3
o'clock that Nott's body had been foun,
! near Wallingford, Superintendent Horace B
Chittenden of the Foy, Harmon & Chadwic
company, with David 81. Clark, immediate
ly took the $40 train for Wallingford. A
the train passed the spot where the bod
, was found, the two gentlemen saw crow
VI Ouo uuhuAou VI GaON0 pooplo Sosu0Io
about the place. General Harmon had i
the meantime driven to Wallingford, wher
he met Heesrs. Chittenden and Clark, an
, the three gentlemen took q carriage to tn
scene of the sad affair. Before they arrive
: there, however, the Wallineford coroner ha
ordered the body taken to Griswold's under
! taking establishment in that place. The
returned to the undertaker's where Generi
Harmon gave directions to have the bod
sent last evening to Lewis & Mayoock's.
Mr.. Chittenden and others made inquire
; both ct the depot here and in WallingforG
, but Col. Mott had not been seen In eithe
. place. They were satisfied from these an
other investigations that he had walked til
!. entire way between this city and the plac
where his body was found. As appear
|. above, however, Col. Mott was seen on th
!, cars and spoken to by two New Haven pc,
sons.
The sympathy of the community will h
with the bereaved wife and son of the d,
ceased and with his parents and brother
the sad blow which has fallen upon then
The father of deceased Ii bookkeeper ct ii
Shoninger piano and organ mandatory i
this city and is greatly Frustrated, a. is ais
the mother of deceased, who has been
feeble health for some time. The wife
deceased is sister Of the wife of ex-Sslec
man John L. Treat, and is sister Of NJ
George w. Cooper, the grocer in Atwate
!, block, junction of Grand avenue and st. job
streets.
Colonel Mott was not in WallinRford Ne
: Years day, a. . report In paper stated. b
was ct home much of the day, and b
broth 4 Law Erad Nn0rar tool 1;npx