Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-06
JOHN W. ABBOTT'S SUICIDE,
His Body Found at Hinsdale
Sunday.
He Had Shot Himself Through the
Head---IIs Past Record was NIysterI-

Head---His Past Record was MysterI-
Gus.
The community was startled on Thanks
giving day by the report of the disappearance
of John w. Abbott, 45, from his boarding
place on Depot street, he having left letters
to several friends stating that he intended
suicide. A party started out, making an
linavaiing search for his body, and on Fri
day another fruitless search was made.
Although many were of the opinion that
he had left for parts unknown, another
searching party started out about 10 o. clock
Sunday morning, following the railroad
| track towards Ashuelot, as he was last
seen alive by Fred G. Sargent while cross
ing the track near the depot soon after the
departure of the IL o'clock train on Thurs
day. The party this time started more
systematic search, keeping few feet apart,
and when about half a mile from the sta
tion Abbotts body was discovered by
Henry Higginson on the crest of bluff on
the north side of the track.
He evidently went up there, took off his
cap, sat down upon it and fred the fatal
shot, his body falling backward with the
arm close by its side and the revolver
within two inches of his right hand. The
JAIL tllltItu JuSb dDONt anu III lIOnb VI HIS
right ear and lodged Just behind the left
eye. Death must have been instantaneous
for his body lay very straight, and had he
struggled any he would have rolled down
the embankment towards the river.
The weapon used was a 80 calibre Smith
q Wesson revolver. n. NJ. Worden,
chairman of the selectmen, was summoned
as coroner and deemed an inquest unnec-
essary; so the body was placed upon a
hand-caT, transported to the station and
thence to Mrs Geo. Brtton's, where he
boarded.
Mr.. Abbott had no known living rela-
tives, but was member of Unity lodge, l.
O. O. F., and Court Ashuelot, A. O. f. of
A., and these orders united in the funeral
services which were held in Odd Fellows
hall at o'clock Monday, Rev. A. A.
Blair of the Universalist church offering
prayer. The body was placed in the tomb
in Pine Grove cemetery to await develop
ments.
Mr.. Abbott had been i'll for two weeks,
suffering all the while from melancholia.
On Monday he went out for the first time
and did not return until very late in the
evening. He went out again Tuesday
afternoon, when he drew his last ST. from
the bank, not returning until late that
night Wednesday he did not get out and
his meals were carried to his room. When
he did not come down to breakfast Thurs
day morning Mrs. Britton carried food to
him and found him sitting near the win
dow, apparently feeling as well as usual
and writing letters. He was heard moving
about his room during the forenoon, and
when he did not come down to dinner il
was found that his room was locked and
the key gone. A key was found which
would open the door. Everything in the
room was in perfect order and on the stand
was pile of letters addressed to II. Brit
ton, +. j. Temple and L. A. Smith.
Henry Britton was the first to find the let
tiers and as his was on top quickly opened
it and read the following, which tells its
own story.
VI. II. Britton-dear friend: You may keep that
pipe of mine in remembrance of poor broken down
foolish me and when they find me they will find
your revolver with me. Try and not to think too
hard of me. OH what miserable life mine Is,
God and myself only knows. Goodbye. JOHN.
On the back of this letter was written:
Give my best wishes to all the folks. l can
say no more for my heart is too near the surface.
All can say is God be merclful to me a wicked,
wicked sinner Good bye"
After reading this the other letters were
hastily delivered. Mr. Abbott had laid his
best suit of clothes on the bed and beside
it clean white shirt with the studs all in.
His shoes were arranged in pairs and he
had all his belongings together in this
room. Abbott evidently left his room soon
after IL o'clock, as he was seen by different
people on their way from the station soon
after the Il: 10 train arrived He also
wrote letter to E. j. Shaw, in which he
inclosed his Odd Fellows charm, telling
| him n lraau II in hra Of hi In,
This letter, together with a bundle ad-
dressed to John f. Scott, were left with
Michael Kelley at the bakery, by Mr. Alb
bolt Thursday forenoon. The package con-
tanned Mr. Abbott's gold watch and a let
ter, in which he gave the watch to Scott.
E. j. Temples letter was in regard to the
disposal of what few belongings he had
left, while the one to l.. A. Smith was in
regard to the disposal of his Odd Fellows
| chart.
On July 4, two years ago, Abbott was
quite severely injured by being knocked
backward by the conclusion of a large tor
pedo which he fired. He struck on his
head and evidently injured his brain, for
since then he has suffered more or less at
times from melancholia. On the following
December he took, or pretended to take a
large dose of laudanum and while suffering
| from this made an unsuccessful attempt Ia
cut his throat with razor.
1t is impossible to give much of history
of Abbott's life but he was probably born
of English parents in the north of Ireland
the family coming to Canada when he wa;
quite young. His life was always a sort Of
mystery and he had told conflicting stories
regarding his record and his age. He
claimed to have attended the Richmond
academy in Canada East and showed
books with the name John w. Abbott
written therein which he said he used
there. Many are of the opinion that Alb
bolt was not his real name. At the time
he attempted his life two years ago he sale
he had relatives in Montreal, but CORE
spondence with the persons resulted only
in a contradiction, saying they only knew
there was such man. 1t is probable tina
Abbott left Canada when young man
going West. On his return from the Yves
he landed in Worcester short of funds anC
out of employment. He came here abou
May l, 1889, to work for Geo. P. Hooker
coming through an intelligence office il
Worcester then conducted by Mrs. Saral