Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1893-04-20
BASNET SHOT HIMSELF.
FearfnI OF Being Suspected He
Determines 20 End his Live
by his Own Hand.


The theory advanced by many that
old man Basnet had shot himself proves
correct.
The old man hesitates, then breaks
down and admits that with his own
hand he tried to end his life.
To Constable Nickerson belongs the
credit of obtaining the confession. and
the admission was made Friday
morning.
When Constable Niekerson went out
to see old man Basnet Friday, he
found him walking about the yard Of
David King, and he expressed himself
as feeling first rate. His wounds are
troubling him very little.
Constable Nickerson greeted the old
man pleasantly and then told him that
1t had been officially determined that
his old friend Trynor had not been
poisoned. This seemed to greatly
please the old fellow, and he gave a
sigh Of relief
Then the Constabel asked him If he
wanted thorough investigation made
OF the case, and Basnet replied that
he did. The Constable said to him, at
this point, that the only way to make
an investigation that would prove
successful, would be for the old man
to give In detail all that he knew con-
cerning the matter.
| mi
The old man replied that he knew
nothing. From the time of his retir
ing Sunday night until the flames of
his burning home awakened him, his
mind was blank.
Then Constable Nickerson asked
Basnet how he could explain the fact
that the bullet taken from his head
fitted exactly the old fashioned revol
yer found in the ruins. The old man
was nonplussed. He said the revolver
was an old one that years ago he
brought with him from England, and
always kept it upon his table in the
room 10 which he slept.
'Mr. Basnet," then said the Con-
stable. "there are some people who
think that you, in fit of dependency,
shot yourself."
"They think SO, do they?" replied
Basnet.
''Yes, they do," replied the Con-
stable.
1t was suggested to Basnet that it
would be better for himself and all
concerned, If the truth was told. The
Constable then casually remarked,
'This matter will now be thoroughly
investigated"
Then 1t was that Basnet broke down.
Tears ran down his wrinkled face, and
| he dropped his face in his hands, and
exclaimed:
II give in; I've committed a sin
against my God"
Sobbing until his whole frame shook
Basnet continued that Trynor was the
only friend he had on earth. He had
been found dead, and under suspicious
circumstances. Already the officials
and others had examined him closely
regarding the matter, and he became
fearful that people would think that
he had poisoned him. Sleep would
not come to his eyes, and his brain
fairly cra1ed as he lay In his bed and
thought of himself as suspected MUIR
derer.
He got up from bed, and secured
the old revolver and returned with it
to bed. BE hesitated, then he i'm.
pulse to end his life overcame him,
and he fired the first shot. 1t did not
render him unconscious and again was
the muzsle of the instrument of death
placed to his temple. A second pull
of the trigger and he lost conscious
ness. How long he remained In that
condition he does not know, but the
explosion of the powder must have
fred his bed, for he was awakened
amid flames and he crawled from the
house, and leaned up against the tree,
where he was found.
Basnet was completely humiliated,
and declared that he was now an out
cast, and life did not present any at
traction for him. He was assured,
however, that friends would feel most
kindly for him, appreciating the con-
dition of his mind. Already the Vine
land Journal has started a subscrip.
tion for him.
TRYNoR NOT POISONED.
The Philadelphia Press presents the
following to It's readers.
professor Heary Lehman, of this
city, who has been making an analysis
of the stomach, contents and the vital
organs of the body of James P. Try.
nor, of South Vineland, N. j., whose
sudden death was believed to have re-
suited from poison, has, up to this
time, only reached negative results.
Prof. Lehman said last pioht. UT hava