The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-18
COLD In DEATH.
Ghastly Midnight Discovery
in Police Station Cell.
Josiah TOmpkinson Takes His
Life While Under Arrest.
Used His Necktle For Moose Suicide Leaves
Family In Destitute Circumstances.

A startling case of suicide occurred at
the police station on Saturday evening,
whether the fatal act was caused by re-
morse, temporary insanity or through
fear will never be known.
The police received call by telephone
shortly before noon on Saturday, request
ing that man be taken In custody for
drunkenness, and In answer to the call
Josiah Tompkinson was brought to the
station and locked up. Saturday night,
shortly before o'clock, Sergt. Gardiner
went into the cell room to look at the
prisoners, as is his custom before retiring
for the night, and was horriitd to find
Tompkinson hanging to the door of his
cell, stiff and cold in death. The sergeant
Immediately summoned aid and Henry
Massey cut the dead man down.
The Medical Examiner was Immediately
summoned and arrived at the station
shortly after o'clock. After the exami-
nation he gave his opinion that the man
had been dead for at least four, and possi-
bly, five hours.
Upon inquiry In the vicinity of the
home of the deceased 1t was learned that
the wife of the dead man was In poor
health and 1t was not deemed advisable to
break the news to her until morning. So
the body remained at the station until
Sunday morning, when the family were
notified and Undertaken Manning removed
the remains to his rooms and afterward to
the home of the deceased, 115 Division
street.
1t is remarkable that the deed could have
been accomplished without attracting tho
attention of the officers in the adjoining
room, but no sound was heard in his cell
from the time he was locked up until his
body was discovered after midnight. Cap
tain Nickerson found him asleep during
his visits in the afternoon and shortly be-
fore six Officer Tompkins handed him
cup of water at his request, and this was
the last time he was seen alive. The cell
occupied by Tompkinson was number 16
and the last in the front row, and Is nearly
opposite the stairs leading to the base
ment. Oficers Murphy and Taber were
on duty Saturday night and both were I'm
and out of the cell room frequently during
the evening. Several dodgers were accom-
modated and 80 several persons passed
within few feet of the door of the dead
mans cell at different times during the
evening, yet nothing was heard from him,
The suicide had used an ordinary cotton
necktie of blue and white material as q
moose, fastening one end to the upper bar
of his cell door, and, putting his head
through the moose formed by running
knot, had dropped down and died by
strangulation. How he managed to get
his body high enough for the purpose the
police cannot figure out
The deceased had been employed I'm sew
eral mills in this city, but was unable to
keep job for any length Of time owing to
his dissipated habits. OF late he has
been unemployed for some time, and re-
turned from an unsuccessful search on
Saturday. During his absence Mrs.
Tomkinson had been obliged to support
the family as best she could, and the police
understood that a complaint for non-sup-
port would be made against him when he
appeared In court. 1t Is possible that
dread of being sent to the State Farm may
have caused the suicide. The family Of
the deceased are In destitute circumstances
and live In q tenement at 115 Division
street. There are five children, the Oldest
Of which Is 10 years OF age and the young
est was born week ago, making the case
particularly sad one.
Tompkinson was an Englishman and
had lived in this vicinity for about 70
years. His age Is given as 81 years, but he
does not look to be over 40.