The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-04
DEAD In THE BANK.
Ex-Marshal DeceIle Dies at the Post
Of Duty.

EA.MafShat Decelle Dies at Tie ROSt
Of Duty.
His Remains Discovered Yesterday Morn
ins-Evidently Died of Heart Disease
Before Midnight Saturday.
| Yesterday morning as ex-Marshal
Decelle, who is the Waterman at the
Maine Savings Bank, failed to return
homs for some time after O'Clock, his
usual hour, Mrs. Decelle became alarmed.
and told her daughter to go down to the
bank and see why her father remained
away so long, for Mr.. Decelle was always
| very punctual. Miss Decelle went to the
bank, but the door was locked and she
and told him about the alarm occasioned
| by her fathers absence. Mr.. Hanson
went down the Plum street side. SO that
he could look through the window into
the bank. and there saw..Mr Decelle, lying
on the floor back of the counter. The
bank officers were notified, and by their
command, Mr.. Hanson broke the glass in
the front door, put in his hand and
turned the key, which had been left in the
| lock, attached to Mr.. Decides bunch OF
keys, and the party entered
Mr.. Decelle was found as related, on
the floor back of the counter, with his
hands drawn up to his breast, and an ex-
preston on his features as of pain. There
was a slight cut on the corner OF the
lower lin, in fact, as if it had struck
against something, causing 1T to pleeo
slightly Near by, stood Mr.. Decelle' s
broom and dust pan. which had evident
ly not been used, and his pipe was placed
near by and had not been filled. These
! facts tended to show that Mr.. Decelle,
who goes to the bank at O'Clock in the
evening, aud who first of all sweeps out
ard dusts the Office. and then fills his
pipe and takes a smoke, had been over
taken by an attack of heart diesase before
doing any of these things, and had put
up his hands and broken his fall. Coroner
Littlefield was sent for and on hearing
the facts in the case considered an inquest
unnecessary.
NIL 00OOlAO . Adlhlly WOlO hOu dNoiS3
! we are informed, that he ever had any
trouble with his heart, but to several he
. had said that ne sometimes suffered from
pain in that region, and to Others that he
) expected when he died he should go
!, suddenly.
Joseph d. Decelle was born in st.
Alexander parish, Canada, in 1889, and
was therefore fifty six years of age at the
time of his death. He moved to Bucks
port when lad and was educated at
Bucksport Seminary After grad on
he taught school for several sessions, and
married his wife in that town. just after
the great fire of 1885, Mr.. Decelle moved
to Portland For short time he was
watchman at the Grand Trunk yard, and
in 1868 was appointed on to the police
force. In 1870 he was made deputy
marshal, the other deputy being the
present Deputy Marshal Sterling. In 1872
he resigned to accept the position of
Waterman for both the First National
and Maine Savings banks, the First
National at that time being located at
| the west corner OF Plum and Middle,
while the Maine stood on the east corner.
This POSITION he held until 1884. when
Mayor King appointed him his City
Marshal After Mr.. Kings term of office
expired, Mr.. Decelle returned to take the
old position of Waterman of the Maine
Savings bank. The First National had
erected the new building on tho corner of
u oh Nd otc Of hot
and Mr.. Decelle therefore confined his
duties to the Savings bank.
Mr. Decelle was most courteous and
agreeable man, and exceedingly
conscientious in the discharge of his
duty. He was very regular in all his
habits, following out his routine with
the regularity of clock work. In fact so
regular was he, that it seems strange that
rnot more notice was taken of the fact
that he didn't pull the bank alarm,
which is located in the police station, at
the usual hour 11.45 p m. Saturday. 1t
was stated at the station, that he was very
regular in pulling the alarm, but he
failed to pull Saturday night This alarm
Is connected with all the banking in
situations and is so arranged that. if a
Watchman needs aid, he can call on the
police authorities at once.
Mr.. Decelle leaves widow. a son. q
student at the State College at Orono
and daughter, besides two brotbons
VINO reside in Deering. He was q nro,,,;
nen5 member of the Church of tbe
Messiah. 'he