Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-12-16

With reference to the recent suicide OF
Rev. Mr.. Harris, who for some months
officiated in East Charleston, friends in
that village have requested the publica
ton of the following from the North
Orange, Mass, Enterprise:
In the account of the suicide in last
Tuesdays Enterprise, we stated that
while the cause was unknown, we could
see no other reason than i'll health and
an overworked brain. We also stated
that it was yet to be learned why he took
the hasty trip to Vermont. The mystery
is now explained, and there is little doubt
whatever that hard study had racked
his brain to an extent that had, aided BY
physical arrangement, produced insanity.
1t will be remembered that he regis
tered package to a lady in Vermont the
night he took his life. Among the arti-
Giles found in his pocket was the registry
receipt, and this revealed the name of the
lady. DR.. Wright wrote at once to Miss
Hattie F. Goodwin at East Charleston,
VT, and urged her to throw any light
upon the subject which she was able to
do. The lady and her father started at
once tor North Orange. arriving Wedncs-
day noon. To medical Examiner Wright
she told her story, saying she felt that
the people had a right to know all she
could tell.
Miss Goodwin is about 10 wears old.
an exceedingly bright young lady, one
whom no young minister need feel
ashamed OF being engaged to. She be-
came acquainted with young Harris two
years ago, when he preached several
months IN the little village which is her
home, often calling on her people who
keep public house. They were subse-
quently engaged, and from time to time
MIR. Harris has visited her. There has
never been a word of trouble between
them, and the lady was quietly pursuing
her studies at the academy at Derby.
She was expecting him to spend
thanksgiving with her. and was some
what surprised in getting telegram
from him on the Wednesday in question,
asking her to meet him at Newport that
evening. With her landlady she drove to
the depot, four miles, and after greeting
him, asked him where his luggage was.
lie produced the revolver and told her he
had come up to have shooting match
with her, and that he had no other lug.
gage. During the drive back to Derby. a
distance OF some four miles, he frequently
alluded to the revolver. and the shoot
ing match" and before reaching the
house secured a promise from Miss Good
win that she would go out in the woods
shooting with him the next day. IL is
well the snow storm of that night came
and frustrated his plans, for without n
doubt 1t was his purpose to get out in
the woods, shoot his intended wife and
then end his own life beside her. On
Thursday he made her go out in the ward
ana shoot at mark. In the afternoon
she awoke from few minutes sleep on
the lounge, and found her lover sitting
beside her IN tears. He told her his head
troubled him, that he must die, etc. He
placed the unloaded revolver at his tenn
pie, in front of glass, and said, see how
easy could kill myself" Again, placing
the deadly weapon at her breast said
how easy it would he to kill you, and
how nice for us to die together" She
looked him in the eye and told him to
XIII her II he wanted to, and he immedi-
ately lowered the weapon. In fact, only
Tor her GOODNESS and self-composure, DR..
wright believes he would have shot her
III the house. She did all in her power to
quiet him. The first two nights he STAYED
at her boarding house he slept with the
revolver loaded under his pillow, but the
third ami last night her wishes were
needed, he let her keep the revolver that
night, but he insisted on takingit home.
Before his return, Sunday morning he
promised to come back and preach Sun
day. and tell his congregation that he
must give up, and that at once. He was
then to come to her home and remain
till he was fit for work. His conduct
worried her, and but for this promise to
the contrary she would have been little
surprised at the final act. And vet no