The Newtown bee., 1890-10-31
STEPNEY.
CAPT N. W. SHELBY.

CAPT N. w. SEELE1.
 Capt Nathan William Seeley was found dead in a narrow passage way in his barn at Pepper street, Sunday morning, under circumstances which leave in doubt the direct cause of death. Miss Emily, his daughter, having heard strange voices at the barn, went to her nearest neighbor, l.. o. Osborne, for aid and, returning to the barn, found Capt Seeley lying face downward upon the floor in the narrow passageway near the stable where he kept his horse. Mir Osborne immediately went to him, but found, although the body was still warm, that there was no pulse and that life was gone. He then went for H. W. Edwards, q near neigh bor, for assistance and. as they under took to remove the body, rope was found fastened tightly about the neck and tied to partition, but hardly so as to be drawn upon while the body lay up- on the floor. This fact, though there are no marks of violence upon his person, or any signs of a struggle in the barn, lead many of the friends to believe that he died at the hands of some unknown per- son. It seems almost impossible that he could have been killed outside of this pas sage and have been placed in the pOsit- ion as found, without leaving traces Of some kind upon the floor, disturbing the loose hay or straw. If murdered, the reason for the deed is mystery, for he had money in at least two pockets and this was not taken and he had no enemy with sufficient spite for so terrible a deed. On the other hand, if it was suicide, 1t is to be greatly wondered at, for Mir Seel- ey was one of our most successful busi- ness men, being the largest taxpayer in the town, having plenty of means and a number of children able and willing to look after an aged father, d man of un- usual strength and vigor for his S3 years of age. On the previous day, he was in the village at store and post office, ap- bearing cheerful and social, more than was common to him. This was noticed by several persons with whom he had conversation. He was an old man in years, but not in vigor. He was in this respect nearer 60. If suicide, it was brought about by insanity there is no doubt. There was so little strain upon the rope that nothing but persistent de- termination could have gained the fatal result. Nothing has happened in this community for many years which has caused so great cOnsternation as this sud- den and violent death. While, for the sake of afflicted friends, I've would have it otherwise than self murder, for the peace and quiet of our country homes, to each the dearest place on earth, we would that the thought of a cold murder ill a neighbor's barn, in open day, without malice or for purpose of robbery, was improbable, if not impossible among us. Mir Seeley was one of the few left who still bore the title of captain, received in the days of the old militia. He married Miss Julia Taylor of Newtown, who died d few years ago. Their children are all living except two boys. Nathan w., named after the father, died many years ago in infancy and George went South before the war and died; Henry, married Miss Ives of Newtown; Ella married Carlos D. Warner, formerly of Newtown, well known as an extensive railroad con- tractor, now of the firm of Andrews. Warner & Co.,, Mr~, Andrews being the builder of that mammoth structure, the Grand Central depot at New York Ida married Frank N. Burr, also engaged in railroad construction; Lucy married Al. bert Hull of Ansonia, a dealer in real es- tate; Emily has remained at the family home caring for her aged father. The l funeral was held at the house on Wed
 nesday by Rev Messrs Robertson and Os born, the latter preaching the funera sermon. Burr Hawley, e. k. Osborne Charles Nichols and Walter Beardsley | were bearers.
 1 Capt Seeley rose at his usual hour, Sun day morning and went to the barn, few
 rods north of his house to care for hi
 horse and other stock and, not returnin,
 in time for breakfast, his4daughter, Mis- 1 Emily, became alarmed and went fo
 Lemuel Osborne. The rope simply helt
 the weight of his head. The body wa
 found face down, with arms and hand
 drawn backward and resting on tn l srk, ~h. ing mark or bruise, other than prick
 and scratch, which are attributed to
 | thorn in the hay, into which Mir Seeley' face was pressed. Dr Hill, the famil, l physician, was first called and Medica Examiner Stevens was notified later. D Stevens at once notified Coroner Doten Iwho investigated the matter Monday an lalso sought further evidence Wednesday Soon after her father left the house
 Sunday morning, Miss Seeley heard tw l voices at the barn; her fathers she read I fly recognized, but the other, deep bas voice, was strange to her. She, hOwev
 CT. gave it little thought until his lon labsence recalled it and, fearing some thing was wrong, she went for aid. : track made by man was plainly see leading through the mud in the yard t 1.-the gate and the boots of the dead ma
 did not fit these tracks. The little alcov
 or alley where the body was found Wa
 barely wide enough to allow two men t
 staud abreast and but five feet high, lii
 tered with hay seed and hay few inche thick on the floor, lighted only by ray
 through the opened barn door. Manager for two horses are on one side, the Ina now above and inclosing the other side
 Over the manager farthest from the dool the rope was thrown and fastened to
 | ,yhinh fnrpaQA apt of ho~ | so that, if he slipped the moose of tn
 short rope used over hls head, Capt See ley must have leaned over into the mar ger. Between the rope and the dea l mans neck were found tufts of hay an i; it is incredible that they would have bee there had moose been slipped over D i, himself. While the corpse lay almos , prone upon the face, clotted blood frol a scratch on the right cheek was foun ill the hair high up on the head and tl ], clothing appeared as though the bod had been lifted by the coat collar. I'll 1, family believe that, finding 2 tramp wh ! had slept there or who came along in u early morning, the old man exasperate < him bv plain talk and was assaulted. I'll l shock Ns> fatal and, to disarn suspi ion, the body was placed as found.
 i, man seen on the railroad at about tn, ! hour by Edson Turney ,..who lives just b !. low, is Il possible clue to the mystery, :, he was not seen to pass MT Turney 8 house, though MT Turney watched clos ], 1y, intending to send by him for a Stu ]. day paper, mistaking him for the trac s walker. There is nothing in Capt See
 Iey's case, past or present, to incite Z, such an act and man of his strong ar ; indomitable will would be last suspecte
 lof taking his life. A brother, Eli, ,. Iowa, is the last of the family of eigh Fl Capt Seeley, a carpenter-farmer, VI :. one of the old time prevalent Yanke ' and had amassed a fortune, being C
 teemed the richest man in Monroe.