Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-19
PARTICULARS OF coFfla's DEATH.
Story Of His Suicide In Quincy House, Boston
% Ted BY Mr.. Scott.

Quincy house, Boston. of e. P. Coffin
of Skowhegan:
Mr.. Scott came to the Globe office
yesterday. and gave the following in
terview on the attempted suicide of
High Sec. E. p. Coffin. He said:
Last week / asked the cashier of the
First national Bank of aSkowhegan, for
a statement of the amount of the high
court. l expected that it was in the
vicinity of $4,000. The cashier stated
that it was $257. I went at once to
Skowhegan and began an investiga-
ton. In the meantime 1 sent out
notices to all the members of the high
standing committee for a meeting in
Skowhegan on Monday, Nov. 49, We
met that night at the Coburn house,
without the knowledge of Coffin l sub
mitted the evidence of defalcation
that / had discovered. We sent for
Coffin, told him what we had discov-
cred, and he Acknowledged that he had
used the funds for his own purpose. We
questioned him. He said he had neither
property nor funds, and no means of
raising funds, that he had no friends.
He thought of one chance, however.
He had cousin in Lynn, Mass, who
might possibly, help him if he could see
him personally. He said he knew that
neither telegram nor a letter would be
of any use. The committee sent Mr..
Coffin home alone, and then they ap-
pointed me committee of one to ac-
company him to Lynn to see if he
could make a restitution. Arrange
ments We're made for him to take the
10 p NJ. train from Skowhegan. and
/ would meet him rither at Waterville
or Augusta. we mt to Augusta and
took the 1886 train Coffin was on it
all right. We had little conversation
on the way to BoSton. After leaving
Portland. he told TIE that the news of
the affair had got all over town. I told
him thought it had not, and that very
few people knew of it. and that if he
could smooth over matters all would
be well.
we got in Boston at $50 last night.
and went direct to the Quincy house.
First he asked for a room with a bath.
I suggested that we had better get a
room together. but he did not care to
dc this. He was given room 1856, and
had room 1854. He wanted to know if
I was going direct to bed. and l told
him l was. that there was nothing that
we could do that night. He had some
letters to write. he said, which he
would write before going to bed. We
arranged to get up at s or 3. and after
breakfast would go to see his friend in
Lynn.
Il made arrangements with the hotel
clerk to call me at 5, and to notify me
1T once if Mr.. Coffin arose. l also sent
for a detective for fear something
might happen. l thought that if his
Interview with his cousin proved of no
avail, and that he should then try to
escape, the detective could follow him
better than l could.
Il finally went to my room shortly
after midnight. There was then light
Collins room. While l was undress-
ing the detective,esent up his card to
me, and ! had him come up to my
room. Then fearing that Coffin might
overhear the conversation we went
down to the Office. We arranged to
have the detective call at the hotel at
3 in the morning. When l went back
to my room Collins room was dark,
and the tranSOm was closed.
Il was called at this morning. and
before l was dressed the detective sent
up his card. After leaving my room
knocked on Collins door, and then cali
ed two or three times, but failed to get
IN answer. Going to the hotel Office.
asked If Coffin had been seen or wheth-
er he had paid his bill. They had not
seen him. They sent a man to the
room TO call him, but he came back
saying that he could get no answer.
said wanted the room opened.
Two employees went around another
way, l don't know how, but I presume
hey got in through the fire escape and
opened the door.
I'VE found Coffin in the bath tub.
His head was in the bottom of the tub,
thrown forward on his chest. His feet
we're pressed up against the wall.
Water covered his face. Both the
water and his body We're warm. eW
pulled him out and put him upon the
oed. and sent for. the doctor.
The room looked as 1t did the night
before. His valise was open just as
saw it at night. There was letter ad-
dressed to Mr.. Merrill of Skowhegan,
MS former law partner. There was
lote on the table addressed to his wife.
1t said that he could never see her
again.
Il was elected high chief ranger at
NE meeting held Sept. 10. Mr. Coffin
anne to that meeting without his bank
books, but he brought a certificate
rom the bank. stating that the de-
oosit to the account of the order was
$2944.16. That was accepted by the
meeting as satisfactory. When I
showed that certificate to the cashier.
and asked an explanation of it,, he said
he had signed a certificate showing a
deposit of $44.16 The figures 20 had
been added to the statement Since
then the cashier has stated that he had
not seen the bank book of the order for
two years"
Pet n~an &c..