Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-27
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
Charles {. Heath Ends Existence by
Putting Bullet Through Heart.
Cause Of Deed, Despondency-Was Employed
by Trouant & Bates. Undertakers.

Charles E. Heath committed suicide.
early Wednesday morning, at the I'M
dertaking rooms of Trouant &, Rates
on Water street. The cause of the deed
was dependency and it was with n
revolver that the man ended his exis-
tence upon this earth by shooting him
self through the heart. Heath was 2s
years of age and unmarried.
The victim was in the employ of
adjustment every night for the pur
pose of answering calls. having com
menced his duties last Wednesday
night. Before that time he for a week
or so had charge of the Y. NJ. C. A
rooms during the absence of the sec
rotary. j. l.. Corson.
When the members of the undertake
ing firm left for home. Tuesday night.
Heath was apparently in the best of
health and spirits, at least there was no
perceptible change in his actions.
Those who are acquainted with him
say he was of quiet disposition and
seemed all the time to be engaged in
deep thought. as if something ponder
Gus was preying ON his mind.
In order to attend to some business
matters, Mr.. Bates. one of the mem
berS of the firm. arose earlier than
usual Wednesday morning, and arrived
at the undertaking rooms al 10 minutes
past ) o'clock Surprising that the man
was asleep, he tiptoed around the
apartments so as not to wake Heath
up. Mr.. Bates entered the further
room and saw the man lying in the
middle of the floor
The other facts in connection with
the case are best told by Mr. Bates as
follows: When | beheld the man ly-
ing on the floor thought perhaps he
was asleep or during the night had
lit or swoon. But when l saw the re-
volver side of the man, the thought in
Stantly daWned upon me that it was
case of suicide. l could hardly believe
it but at once notified the authorities.
Marshal Morse and Coroner Libby who
came as soon as possible to the scene
Every appearance indicated that the
man had been dead but a short time
He had probably been meditating on
the ACCESSIBILITY of ending his exist
ence all night long. He surely had not
been asleep as the bed had not been
in the least disturbed"
OF course in a case of this kind there
are lots of rumors atloat as to the real
cause of the suicide. 1t is said that
the man was quite i'll with typhoid
fever year or so ago and that since
then he had not been in the best of
health. Probably this fact led to the
shooting. Then again. some of the per-
sons who had known him. say that he
appeared very peculiar at times and
also wished to be alone. preferrine soil
tude to the companionship of others.
AS usual, one of the theories advanced
is whether love centered in the case or
not. but all inquiries fail to find any
thing substantial on which to base
this as the cause.
When Heath began his duties for
Trouant & Bates, one of his fellow
boarders jokingly told him he couldn't
sleep in an undertaking establishment
and that the ghosts of the departed
dead would come into his sight and
scare the life out of him.
Mr.. Bates asked the man after he
had been working a night or two if
he felt any nervousness to which the
deceased replied: No sir. | can sleep
as well here as at home
AS far as can be ascertained. Heath
came to Augusta about four years ago
and for a while worked for Benj Gard
ner, the grocer, on the East side He
boarded at Mrs. Clarks on Patterson
street.
Monday evening, when a Journal re.
porter called at the undertaking rooms
the body had not been claimed. Cor
oner Libby teegraphed the mans pa
rents at Argyle. but has not as yet
received any word from them.