Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-18
HE HANGED HIMSELF.
Suicide OF Simon I. Leighton at the
Arlington House Wednesday Noon.

Simon + Leighton committed suicide
Wednesday noon by hanging himself in the
stable sltschsd to the Arlington House at
the head Of Riues' Hill, he was found at
ls.l5 2. NJ, by S II. Woodeock Of Googins
s Woodcock, who went into the stable to
put ap his horse. He had hitehed the
animal in his stall and was going back
towards the door when he noticed MIR.
Leighton, who bosrds at the house. Mr.
WOodcoek was shout TO speak to him when
he noticed that the unfortunate msu wss
suspended BY rope from beam overhead.
Rushing into the house Mir Woodcock
broke the sews to the family and started
down town for the cifctrs.
MsIshsl Henry 7. Morse aud ottice,
Wsrfen Bruce went up to The hotel ard
cut down the RENAME Leighton hxd
taken from the harness room attached &c
the stable rope hiiching halter He had
thrown one end 0t The rope over the hori-
1ntsl brace beam Of the portion betwecr
t~o of the stalls in the stable aud had sc
cured it With two hsli bitches. Al the othsr
tfd ui ,he rope he msda small loop BY
,ieirg 'qusre knot. Through this looI
the rye WAS pushed forming an excellent
run ing loosc OF sliI-kuoI. He had then,
sppsrtnlly placed barrel at the end under
the rope put has head in the moose and
then, placing lls hard On the low pisrk
partition. kicked The barrel over,
WHcn found his feet were net =
foot from the stall door ard his hands rested
on the plank, the position giving the remains
the appearance of msn peeripg over the
top OF the partition with his hands upon it
DIR w. II. ilarris. who -ss c,l'ed in
stated that death wss caused by ~ph, xis
produced by mechanical s'rsnsuIa,ion. The
face Of the deceased WAS but little flushed
slthoush where the rope had come in cor
tact with the skin there was strong discolor
stion.
Leighton was last seen ST shout II 90 A
M-, -, when he told Mrs | ,ighion and some
Of the bosTierH that he vas going out. At
he lad left his Overcost behind him, Mrs
Leighton became alarmed and instituted
search for him. but could not tiud b.,n
The stable door WAS locked but
the wood ,hed next to it Was open. The
s;sble and wood she'd have q common loft
which Is reached from each by srustle
and ladder. LIS probable that the unfoItu-
ns,e man went into the wood shed, climbed
up into the loft and then down into tbe
stable. The family ard hostders cay that
for some little time he hss been acting
queerly and has been growing mort
and more despOudcbt Mrs Leighton ssyt
that he has often made references TO III,
possibility of his committing suicide. Mr.
thai he has several times heard some enc
mavirg about in the loft and once found
Los lltou there. Leighton was not, how
ever. ever seen to enter the stable by tie
lower doors nor dd be ever go while Mr..
Stlkey va1 there.
Early last Fall Lo ~s5 placed IN tho In
sane Hospital and remained there for over
SIX weeks. The records at the Hospital
give Gs the cause Of his insanity, hereditary
insanity ssgfsyatei by iutempersnce and
sofieuing Of the brain, slto hereditary.
Mr., leighton WAS born in Exeter, Me,
Sept. l3, 1883, sid was married in 1856
About two years ago he wife obtained
divorce from him, but for the past few
months Leighton has been living ST the Ar-
iiDgton House which his wife kept, lie is
eurvytd by daughter, Miss MyTie Is
Iesle Leighton, three gisters, Mrs George
Jose of Bangor Mrs. AIcott iiersey snt
Mrs. jacob Eastman Of Exeter, and by
lwo brothers Samuel Leighton Of Exeter
and Ira Leighton Of Pi..shgli. The reInaiai
will be taken this afternoon 10 PlttsheId 10
ntefment