Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-03-13
DEATH OF n NJ CLAY

The news on Wednesday that Benjamin VI Clay
had taken his life was a painful shock to the en-.
tire community, and at first the truth could hard
" be realized. for Mr. Clay was known as a strong
able, cheerful and self-contained man. prosperous
ia a quiet way, and the father Of a promising and
happy family The cause for committing the
deed Is mystery, but the only explanation that is
just 20 the man is that he was suddenly seized
with a form of insanity IN which there was one
fixed purpust.- suicide-frum which be might
have been turned II there had been ANYTHING n
break the spell upon him The facts " the case
are these; In the morning Mr.. Clay arose about
six O'Clock and left the house. Ia. wife, who had
been suffering during tine night with toothache
was In a drowsy condition and only realized that
he had arisen When Mrs Clay began % get
breakfast she found that nothing had been done
to the fire, and that Mr. Clay had not performed
other little duties a. he was accustomed 10 do
After breakfast the family thought d strange
that he did not return, and Samuel Stevens Of
ThetfOrd who with his wife was visiting the
family went to the Fletcher min on Birgp street
where Mr. CLAY had some work To be- done Later
after returning to the house. Mr. Stevens went
out through the cemetery. 10 where Mr. Clay had
been cutting wool few days previous As he
was coming up from where the wood had been
cut he noticed tracks leading t. the hsar-s huu~a
and On looking into the house was Mortified to
his friend hanging from small roI4-. which was
fastened 70 one uf the cross b-amS Mr. Stevens
quickly went down street aud informed col
Hooker, first ~electlnan who summoned DR.
Pratt and they went directly TO the hears house
II was now nearly ~ O'Clock THE body was cut
down and taken tn the house. A messenger was
sent 81 bring home Mr. tlaN'S daughters Lulu.
teacher Of the Chase -tr.rt primary school. and
Cora. a pupil In the High school The footprints
IN the snow show that Mr. Clay went from his
home directly To- the hears hous. The rope
which h. used was taken from home After ar
ranging the rup- be- must have swuur on from
the old hears Georgr clay Ne Claws only
son, who i employed iu Boston. was summoned
by telegraph and reached home yesterday noon
He did not know Inv h.. had been sent Tor until
he reached Mirrs Fails when Conductor Wheel
er broke the news 81 thu sad event tn him
Nj. clay was born 90 Daubury. y u Auril -
lsi2. Tut came t. brattleboru from Ihrtfurd.
this state. 10 years ago and entered The employ
" the kstey Organ company where b. worked
Ia the iron department upto two years ago. when
he gave up ms place to become sexton ~ the
Prospect llill Cemetery association MIR Clay q
wite WAS the daughter Of 70 W Heath 10 this
village. and they w-rr married in Th-tfDri. Mr.
clay served as sergeant in the Third VI battery
for Is months, and took part In the siege before Pc
trfshurg and in other important engagements 30
the civil war He was lieutenant iu the Fuller
battery until he resigned less than two year, ago
and had been member Of the boari OF village
batns. The funeral vas held at the hutise this
morning at nine o'clock. the members NJ the
Grand Army, odd Fellows and Knights Of Honor
bodies 0f all Of which h. was a memt--r. attend
ing The burial will be- at North Th-tf0rd
Mr.. Clay man hell boo universal esteem.
and was possessed ~ many sterling qualities His
habits were exemplary. BE- hal had no outside
trouble. his domestic relations E-r- ~ the pl-as
ATTEST character and everything tends 90 Shpw
that the final deed was not prrm,ditatrd lu his
death the community loses good citihru. and
there arr many Nhn mourn his loss sincerely a.
that OF genial companion aud urm and faith
ful friend To the stricken family the deep sym
pathy Of all gees out
since the above was loo typ it has been learned
that Mr.. &. ID NoyeS IL positive that be met Mr.
nine O'Clock, a fact which adds 10 the mystery %
the case