The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-24
Vim. Fl. Gillen Ends His
Life With Revolver.

| William H. Gillen, railroad man,
formerly employed by the Boston and
Maine Railroad in this city as yard
brakeman, committed suicide at the
| Hotel Brunswick on Front street about
o'clock yesterday morning. AS soon
as possible after the shot that ended
his life was heard, the door of his room
was forced open and everything posi-
bic done to save his life.
Gillen was gasping in death almost
when help arrived, but the police anbu-
lance was summoned and made quick
run to the hotel in charge of Driver
| Kennedy. The unfortunate man was
placed on the stretcher and hurried to
the city hospital, but he died soon af-
ter arriving at the institution.
Papers found in his possession in
dictate that Gillen is a member of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and
that he has recently been employed in
the northwest. Many Worcester rail
road men remember Gsillen, who was
formerly employed as yard brakeman
in the Boston and Maine yard in this
city.
He left Worcester suddenly about a
| year ago. 1t is a custom of the rail-
| road company to keep back one week s
| pay, and a circumstance in connection
with this rule, brings Gillen to the
mind of the officials. On the day he
left town Gillen drew his weeks pay
| about $50 o'clock IN the forenoon and
disappeared without asking for the
balance due him. Since that time moth
ing has been heard Of him by his Wor-
| cester friends.
Among his papers is a certificate of
membership in the national organiza-
ton of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen, the death benefit Of $1,000
being made payable to his father Wit
liam Gillen of Nova Scotia. The certifi-
cate was issued in June, 1897, and the
receipts until May Of this year show
that dues were paid through Bay State
Lodge of this city. From that time up
to December, they were paid through
Moosehead Lodge Of Bangor, Me.
Gillent went to the Brunswick
Thursday afternoon and, registering
under his right name, was assigned to
room So, located in the annex, east of
the main hotel building He did not
leave his room, to the knowledge of
the hotel people, the only thing heard
from him being an order for a few bot
les of lager beer.
About o'clock yesterday morning,
Nelson Jacques, night clerk in the no
tNAs 4ASeNA u a 0AAOl WILLIS lIOtll lu6 Ql-
rection of the annex. He went up
stairs and awakened the proprietor,
Joseph Jacques, who dressed hurriedly
and accompanied the clerk to the an
mex, where they noticed smoke COM
ing from room Sc.
Officer Williams was summoned and
the door broken in. Gillen was sitting
in a chair, with his head hanging over
the back, gasping for breath A bullet
hole in his right temple, from which
the blood oozed in a small stream, and
So calibre bulldog revolver that had
fallen to the floor gave evidence of
what had taken place. But one shot
had been fired. and that one was suf-
ticient to cause death.
When the officer and hotel men broke
in the door, the room was dark. The
bed clothes were turned back and HEe
couch looked as though the man had
reclined on it. Gillen had removed his
coat and shoes, but otherwise was full
ly dressed. A hurry call was sent in
for the police ambulance, but the man
died a few minutes after arriving at
the hospital.
The body was viewed by Medical
Examiner Baker, VINO gave mis- verdict
as suicide, and then turned it Jver to
Sessions & Sons. Local railroad men
have telegraphed the Bangor lodge to
see If any information can be ~ained
regarding the mans people, and the
body will remain in the morgue at SEES
sions until something is heard regard
ing him.