The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-23
Terrible Suicide Of Young Arthur
WestWOOd.
HIS BODY WAS FOUND NEAR THE
UNION STATION.

And Carefully Carried Out-He Left
Note Lying Beside the Revolver.
Yesterday afternoon, at about $50
O'Clock, Mr.. Albert Aubens. barber in
the shop of j. H. Strange, under the West
End Hotel, was crossing Clarke's field,
that lies between the Union Station and
the bay of salt water known as the
"Basin." Near the shore in a gully,
where there is row of trees, that are
about halfway between the station and
the Maine Central repair sh ops, he
discovered the
BODY OF A YOUNG MAN
lying PROSTATE and dead, with revolt
YER lying close by him on the ground.
His coat and vest were removed, and
he had evidently placed the muzzle
close to his shirt over his breast, as the
outer and inner shirts. were Escorched
for. several square inches.
The face was of a dark complexion,
with high cheekbones and rather hand
some than otherwise. The body was
we'll built of rather more than the usu-
al height, and would weigh about 40
pounds. The coat and vest were folded
and piled carefully on one side, and his
hat placed on top of them.
The alarm was given, and Officers Ma
sure and Jones hurried to the scene of
the tragedy. A telephone message was
sent to the police station. and Deputy
Marshal Sterling and Coroner stephen
d. Hall drove out with Rich's ambu-
lance. A note found lying alongside the
revolver and written in lead pencil gave
the
NAME OF THE SUICIDE
to be Arthur Westwood of Beverly,
Mass, and desired that his body should
bestaken. to his aunt, Mrs. Roberts, ma
tron of the city almshouse. The body
was taken to the almshoue, and Mrs.
Roberts was very much overcome at the
terrible news, and of course identified her
nephew. Then the body was taken to
Rich's undertaking rooms.
Arthur Westwood was but 10 years old,
and the son of William Westwood, form
erly a coal merchant of this city on st.
John street, and member of the Com
mon Council. About three years ago
Mr.. Westwood moved to Beverly. 1t is be-
lieved that young Arthur came down
on the boat Saturday night. He was
SEEN TO GO IN BATHING
by some boys, just beyond where his
body was found, and but half hour
before. Mr.. Aubens was just returning
frO1 hat nj
he discovered the body.
And now
MOST EXTRAORDINARY PARI
of this sad story is that less than an
hour before this young man welt in
bathing at that point, his uncle, Mr.. Ed
win j. Davis. of this city, took
bath at the same place and just
missed his nephew, who must have
been coming to the fatal place as his
uncle was leaving it.
Had he met the young man, of course
the terrible tragedy would have been
averted.
Mr.. Davis went home and found the
following telegram from the boys father
Mr.. William Westwood:
IF Arty is there, let him stay until
you hear from me. Answer quick"
In few minutes came the news of
@ArJy's" terrible death.
His uncle was nearly Frustrated and
could scarcely speak about it without
breaking down.
Mr.. Roberts, overseer of the aims
house, went to the telephone office after
learning the news, and got connection
with the police station at Beverly. Mr..
Westwood was not easily accessible, and
Mrs. Westwood was called to the station.
When Mr.. Roberts learned that it was
the boys mother that was coming to
the telephone, he told the officer that
he wouldn't tell her the news direct.
but desired him to tell her, and then
Mr.. Roberts heard him do so and heard
through the telephone the poor mothers
cry
Arthur Westwood had always been
rather queer boy, little different
from others. A schoolmate of his in
this city, four or five years ago, says
that ae remembers him as rather pc
His grandfather, Mr.. Joseph G. Davis,
said that Arthur had always been troub-
lesome in ways, and had always
been humored, perhaps too much. Neith-
er Re nor his son, nor Mr.. or Mrs. Roberts
can assign any reason for the suicide.
Arthur had never had any serious
trouble with his family or any of his
relatives, and was always welcome with
all of them. When out of work he was
always welcome at home.
Mr.. Roberts declared that he never
could believe that man who took his
own life could be a sane man. What
caused his nephew to be brought into
an abnormal mental condition in that
connection heshad no means of knowing.
The telegram from Mr.. .Westwood Ito
Mr.. Davis certainly indicated no ill
feeling on the part of the father, al
though it did indicate that the boy had
left home under unusul circumstances.
The letter that young Arthur left was
w on "a