The Republican journal., 1892-03-17
Suicide of w. Horace Banks.

Suicide of w. Horace Banks.
Mr.. w. Horace Banks, of Poor's Mills,
Belfast, aged 60 years and five months, COM
mitted suicide on Wednesday night, March
9th, by hanging. Coroner Tucker was noti-
fed of the suicide early Thursday morn ng,
and with representative of the Journal
drove out. After learning all the facts Mr..
Tucker decided it was a clear case of sui
eide, and that an inquest was unnecessary
| The particulars are as follows: Five weeks
before, Mary, the wife of Horace Banks, died
suddenly of paralysis, and since her death
Mr.. Banks has been very Respondent. This
affliction, with some property troubles. was
more than Mr.. Banks could stand. Mrs
Banks was the daughter of Phineas Garter
and inherited the farm which for many
years has been their home. The house is
situated on the main road, but a short dis
tance from the Mills proper, and is a large,
neat and convenient farm house. Mr.. and
Mrs. Banks had no children. In the family
lived Mr.. Moves X. Wentworth, an unmar-
ried man, and Mr.. NJ. |. Stevens, the school
teacher. Since the death of Mrs. Banks
these three men have lived in the house,
Mr.. Wentworth being the houselleeper. The
ladies of the neighborhood occasionally came
in and baked pies, cakes and bread for the
men. Mr.. Banks was good deal exercised
over the property. as Mrs. Banks left no
will. Outside what the law gave him the
property belonged to the heirs of Mrs.
Banks. Mr.. Banks claimed that in the nine
teen years he had lived on the place he had
put out money enough on it to own it, be-
sides caring for the old people. A lady
friend recently sent word that she would
mend Mr.. Banks clothes, and he said in re-
ply that he would not need clothes much
| longer.
Mr.. Stevens said in answer to query that
he was not much surprised at Mr.. Banks
committing suicide; he supposed he might
do it, but he was not looking for it so soon.
March 9th Mr.. Banks was in the city near
ly all day, driving home late in the after
noon. While in town he got R. F. Dnnton,
ESQ.,, to make some deeds for the heirs to the
property to sign He then bought an over
coat, saying he was going to Boston soon.
Mr.. Wentworth says that he noticed nothing
At the usual bed time Mr.. Banks took a
lamp and went to his sleeping room, Mr..
Wentworth and Mr.. Stevens going to their
rooms. Thursday morning Mr.. Wentworth
got breakfast and stepping to Mr. Banks
room called him. There was no response.
Mr.. Wentworth then went into the room
and found it empty, the bed being undis-
81,
made. Going to the barn, which adioins the
house, the door was found fastened on the
inside This was forced and the body of
Mr.. Banks was found hanging from beam.
Near by was a lighted lantern, the oil in
which was nearly burned out. 1t appears
that after the two men had gone to bed Mr.,
Banks, with the lantern, started for che
barn. With a ladder he climbed to the first
scaffoldng and then drawing up the ladder
placed it against beam above. One end of
a rope-halter was fastened about the upper
beam, and in the lower end moose, COM
monty known as horse knot, was made.
This moose was placed over his head, a silk
handkerchief being first placed about the
neck. When all was in readiness he swung
off from the ladder and died from strangula-
ton. His feet We're just clear of the hay. The
body was taken down and carried into the
house. The deceased left no papers regard
ing himself
Mr. Banks was the son of the late John
Banks and was born in Belfast. He has two
brothers and one sister. Mr.. Frank Banks,
who lives in Belfast, is one of the brothers.
The others live away Mr.. Banks was an
excellent citizen and his untimely death is
universally mourned.
The funeral was held Sunday and the re
mains We're buried in Montvilie beside those
of his wife. Rev. l.. NJ. burlington preach
ed the funeral sermon.
Last fall MI and Mrs. Banks each bought
a new suit of clothes. In a joking conversa-
ton they remarked ,hat when they died they
would he buried in those clothes which was
( verified.