The Portland daily press., 1891-11-20
WHAT CAUSED HIRAM HIGGINS DEATH
Some Of the People Of Scarboro
Believe There Was Foul PLAY.
Investigations Made Yesterday by
Coroner Perry Of Portland.
This Will Be Followed by a More
Careful Examination.

last Tuesday, Mr.. Hiram Higgins, of Scar
boro. the proprietor of Higgins Beach,
died very suddenly. The day before, he
had driven into Portland, as we'll as usual,
calling upon relatives here. The next
usual after eating breakfast. But before
long he returned to his house and told his
wife that he felt very sick at his stomach.
As he expressed it, it seemed to him that
there was something in his stomach which
must come up. He was In great deal of
distress, and his wife put him to bed. His
son-in-law, young man named Edward Fl.
Thompson, who lives in the family, and has
some knowledge of medicine, gave him
some household remedy used for stomach
troubles. This had the effect of quieting
MIN, but soon he grew worse, and while he
was able. apparently to understand all that
was said to him, he could make no reply.
DIR. Albion w. Larrabee was sent for, but
before he arrived MIR. Higgins had passed
away.
The funeral was held In due order; but
this did not end the interest of the neigh
borhood In Mr.. Higgins's death. he was
man of prominence in the town, much
respected, seventy-three years of age, and
the possessor of considerable property.
Moreover, 1t had been for long time the
gossip of the nejghborhood that Mr.. Hig-
gins's household relations were not always
harmonious.
Under such circumstances 1t Is not sur
prising that Mr.. Higgins's sudden and per-
haps mysterious death should become a
matter of much gossip In the town. The
first of this week the stories become SO def
mite that the PRESS investigated them.
Messrs. John Higgins and Milton Higgins,
of this city, are brothers of the deceased
Mr.. John Higgins was seen. He had heard
the rumors. and with his brother had gone
out to Scarboro after the funeral. They
talked with DR.. Larrabee and the family.
The doctor could not say what it was that
had caused Mr.. Higgins's death but he did
not think it had been caused by any but
natural causes. After death the corpse had
presented no unusual appearances, unless
little blackening of one side of the head
could be considered as such. The doctor
did not think there were any unusual signs
about the body. The brothers then went
to the widow and told her the facts about
the gossip in the town. She did not place
any credit whatever in the neighborhood
suspicious. ALI members of the fami-
ly had been anxious and kind
watchers at the old gentleman's bedside,
and everything possible had been done for
the sufferer.
This investigation satisfied the two
brothers and they returned to the city.
They felt very positive that there was no
ground for the gossip; and SO the PRESS
made no mention OF the matter. But the
talk In Scarboro I'D not abate, and kept
coming to the ears of the brothers in this
city; and finally they felt that the best way
would be to have the matter investigated.
If there should turn out to be any ground
of suspicion they would feel that they had
done their duty; and on the other hand, If
no ground should be found, the stories
would be stopped. And this would be the
only way in which they could be stopped.
Accordingly, Coroner Perry, Of this city.
was sent to Scarboro yesterday morning to
make an investigation.
The coroner had not proceeded far with
In the boundaries of Scarboro before he
became aware Of the general interest of
the people on the subject. Man after man
stopped him with inquiries as to what he
intended to do in the matter. Coroner
Perry spent large part of the day sitting
the rumors and reports, and in consulting
with people in the town who protested TO
have knowledge of the deceased.
He found that Mr.. Higgins had been
subject to i'll turns. during one of which he
had fallen upon the stove. But these facts
had not weighed enough in the general
gossip of the town to silence 1t.
AS result of this investigation a post
norton examination has been determined
upon as the best settlement of the vexed
question now troubling Scarboro. This in
vestigation will undoubtedly be held very
soon,