Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-23
WHERE IS SAWYER ?
Strange Disappearance of C..
N. Sawyer of Watervi|le.
Left Letter for His Wife Announcing
Intent to Commit Suicide.
She Is Unable 10 Give Reason-Many Doubt
Suicide Theory.

WaterVille, March 22.-(SpeciaD.-
Saturday. the question whether or not
c. NJ. Sawyer. real estate agent, with
an office in the Elden block. is alive
pie who knew him best Mr. Sawyer
mad been i'll with an attack of the
grip and was considerably worn and
down hearted when last seen by his
associates in Eden block, which was q
week or more ago.
He went away on q business trip in
the eastern part of the county, and
finally, as rumor has it. he arrived in
Boston in a Respondent state of mind
From there. it is sal he wrote to his
Wife. telling her to go to her home in
Cumberland. and when she arrived
there she found a letter from him in
which he stated in substance that he
was of no use to his family. was heart
and weary of life and intended to die
by drowning.
This letter. of course. greatly dis
turbed Mrs. Sawyer, who at once re-
turned to this city. and in some way
the story got to gong the rounds that
c. NJ. Sawyer had committed suicide
Mrs. Sawyer admitted to one of her
neighbors that she had received such a
letter, but. as she said, eminent coun-
sci had advised her not to show it,
Mrs. Sawyer can offer no explana-
lions or give any reason why her hus-
band should take his life. and his
friends have no reason to offer except
Of temporary alteration of mind
caused by his illness Everybody con-
nected with the case are lip-sealed on
the question, and the public is left to
think the matter over and draw its
own conclusions.
Feeling of public sentiment. the
Journal finds that there are few who
take any stock in the suicide business
Those knowing anything about Mr..
SaWyerS business, are of the opinion
that he did not owe more than $500 or
$500. not enough to commit suicide for.
at the present standard of value
placed on human life.
There are those who say that he had
nearly if not entirely recovered from
his illness when they last saw him.
and he appeared as bright and jovial
as he was wont to be. This to show
that he had passed the stage of sick
ness that would produce temporary in
sanity. Those who have seen mem
bers of the family i'm the past tive
days, are of the opinion that they do
not themselves believe Sawyer is dead
Saturday. Mr.. Eden, the proprietor
of the block in which Sawyer had his
office. and the attorney who has taken
the case. We're busy in Sawyer's office.
behind locked doors, doing something
of which, of course, they will not tell
Before night. Saturday, the dear PEG
pie had begun to lose all interest in
the case from the fact that while talk
ing the matter over during the day
they would conclude that there il
nothing in it" and then go about their
business as of old.
1t has been suggested that Sawyer
carried a good amount of ifeinsuranc.
and that this suicide letter may be
only an announcement of his death
for the purpose of obtaining the in
Surance. But of course that is only 4
natural theory of some who are Goa
stantly looking for something bad to
say about Il man
Mr.. Sawyer was considered. by thos,
who had dealings with him, to be o
straightforward, honest business mar
and he was generally liked. Dead ol
now is that he is not in Waterville.