Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-05
EUGENE KNIGHTS RASH ACT.
BrOoding over Illness and obligations
He shot HImself---He May Recover.

Brooding over Illness and obligations
He shot Himself---He May Recover.
The report that Il. Z. Knight, Familiarity
known as Gene knight, had shot him
self with suicidal intent at Springfield,
Mass, caused great surprise in Bratteboro
when it gained currency Tuesday morning.
Mr. knight is a well known Bratteboro
boy who was for several years employed in
the express Office here. He had been in
Springfield about two years as night trans
fer clerk for the American Express COM
pany. The shooting was done Monday
evening at 1870 at his room on Spring
street, which he rented from G.. l.. Davis,
a messenger for the American company.
A 32-calibre revolver was used, and the
bullet entered the left side between the
seventh and eighth ribs, near the heart
When Mrs. Davis came into the house
late Monday afternoon she was surprised
to see a bright light in Knights room, as
he usually left the house about 4 o'clock.
Knight closed the door when he found
himself observed. About : 80 Mrs. Da-
Wis was in the yard when she was startled
by the report of the revolver. She opened
the door OF Knights room and saw him
lying on the bed with the revolver on the
floor by his side. He threatened to shoot
Mrs. Davis in case she came into the
room. An alarm was given and a physi-
clan bound up the wound and an ambu-
lence carried Knight to the hospital
Knight told Mrs. Davis that he wished
he had sho. himself sooner. Two notes
were found on the bureau in Knight
room. One was illegible and the other
ran as follows: 81 did it myself. Tell my
brother to look out for the answer"
Knight had taken his meals at the cor
ner of Vernon and Water streets. About
two weeks ago Knight spent the evening
at his boarding place, giving the people
there much anxiety for fear he might
drown himself in the river. He went out
in the evening and was found by two
dodgers down where the boats land. The
young men piloted him home, where he
walked the floor most of the night, but
went out again toward morning. The
boarders then put the officers on his track.
Knight had threatened several times Mon
day TO take his own life, but as is usual in
such cases, no faith was put in his wild as
sertions. The table girl at the boarding
house had snatched revolver from his
hand, but he had compelled her to give it
back again. The reports which were cir.
culated IN the Springfield papers as TO the
cause for the rash act were entirely erro-
neous. Mr.. Knight has of late suffered
from an hereditory disease which had
proved fatal with one of his ancestors,
After he finished work for the express
company in Brateleboro he was out of en-
ployment nearly two years. During this
time he contracted some financial obliga.
tions which he had not settled entirely.
He was proud and sensitive and brooding
over his troubles, ills, and obligations,
became very respondent.
Mr.. Knights condition yesterday was
encouraging, although still serious. The
bullet has not been removed, and it Is
probable that no attempt will be made tc
extract it at present. Mr.. Knight sees
his folly now, and he talked over his troub
les fully and frankly with his brother who
went TO Springfield Tuesday.
Mr.. Kgight was a member of the Ouon
ektacat tribe of Red Men and of the Vince
club while he lived in Brattleboro, and he
had many friends in and outside these or.
CARNATIONS to whom the event of thi:
week was a great shock,