The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-08
UNDER A LOCOMOTIVE,
The Deliberate Suicide OF John Dris-
coll Early This Morning.


This morning, at 7:55 o'clock. John
Driscoll, an unmarried man, about 80
years of age, tool sharpener by trade.
and who belongs in Whiterock. where
his family reside, became suicide by
throwing himself before the locomotive
known as the local yard switcher" on
the west switch" OF the New England
railroad tracks, as the train was pull
ing off onto one of the main line tracks.
The act of the suicide was not seen
by the engineer, who did not know OF
the occurrence until he was sfgnalled
to stop as two empty freight cars which
passed over Driscoll had become de-
rallied, and when the halt was made the
appalling discovery was made that the
man had been run over
Two Italians saw the mans act and
they say that II was deliberate self-de-
struction. They say that Driscoll watch
ed the train until Ii was within few
feet of him and then quickly threw
himself in it's path. The next instant he
disappeared from view and they were
so horrified by the sight that they
could scarcely move limb or utter a
word for several seconds and then the
train had been stopped. They Informed
the train hands of what they had seen
who thought that II was case Of acci-
| dent until that time.
The police were informed at once, and
| the frightfully mangled remains were
| taken out and carried to the morgue,
| where they were viewed by DR.. Palmer.
| The latter after hearing the story, de-
| cided that death was due to suicide and
| ordered the body delivered to relatives
| IL they should desire 1t. At that time
! the mans identity had not been learn
! ed. but a short while afterwards, Will
/ liam Kearns. who lives on superior
| street with many others called TO iden-
| tify him, and Kearns recognising the
| remains told the story of his identity
as above and added that he had known
him long while they both having lived
at Whiterock years ago.
Driscoll lately had been employed II
! Worcester, and had come to this city
last Friday, having walked here from
| Worcester. Kearns said he had seer
him Saturday, but he had not seen hin
since, although note had been lef
with John Fitzgerald. bartender, a
Goods saloon on Fountain street fo
him by a man answering the descrip
tion of Driscoll. and this furnishes th
theory that the man was either in grea
trouble or demented, probably the lat
ter. The note read as follows: "Dest
Father and Mother, wright you to yol
that j am not guilty Don't fret abou
John That will pay for 1t, Judgemen
good bye"
Mr. Kearns after reading IL decided
that IL was written in a fit of insanit.
and that the ending of his life was bu
another turn In such a malady. III
said Driscoll had a good home. and h
did not believe that he was in an
serious trouble. The family of the dea
man, which consists of a mother
father, five brothers and three sisters
were informed of the occurrence befor
noon. and will arrive here today an
the body will be taken home for burial
The two Italians who witnessed tn
fatal plunge were Codango Longo an
Antonio Gennet. both living at Crou
street. The train was I'm charge OF En-
gineer r. Shepard and Conductor WI
liam McCabe.