The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-25
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
Joseph Wilmot Ended
His Existence By
Drowning.
HIS BROTHER FEARS FOUL PLAY.
DR.. F. II. Baker and Police
Are Satisfied 1t Is
Suicide.
HIS BROTHER FEARS FOUL PLAY.

Yesterday afternoon, about ESQ
o'clock, the body of Joseph Wilmot, an
employee of John F. Chadwick, was
pulled out of Curtis pond, in New Wor-
cester, near the arch bridge on the
Boston and Albany railroad. by officers
Sullivan and Condy, and his brother, H.
j. Wilmot, thinks that his death was
caused by foul play.
Chief of Police James NJ. brennan is
OF the opinion that the man must have
committed suicide, judging from re-
ports by the officers detailed on the
case, and reported the matter to Med
ical Examiner F. H. Baker last night.
thorough examination of the remains
were made at Athys undertaking
rooms, on Green street, by Dr. Baker,
and later the body was taken to Roys
Warerooms on Park street.
Wtlmot lived with his sister, Mrs. G.
n. Shepard, at 6 Knowlten avenue, and
the last seen of him by her was Sun
day evening, at o'clock, when he left
the house, stating that he intended to
take walk. He acted all right, and
during the day showed no signs Of hav-
ing any intention Of taking his life. He
worked as usual on Saturday
The first intimation any one had that
Wilmot's body was in the pond was
yesterday morning, about o'clock,
when a l5-year-old daughter of An
tome Lanciault, living at Fremont
street, and Walter Cross were walking
ear the bridge, and suddenly came on
coat, vest and hat lying on the grass.
Inc clothing was carried to Chad
wicks coal yard, where they were REQ
ognized by one of the worknen as some
worn by Wilmot. Later they were
taken to the house Of Wilmot's sister
on KnowIton street, and she positively
identified them as part of her brothers
clothing
The finding of the clothing SO near
the edge of the pond led to the theory
that Wilmot's body was in the water,
and an engineer on Boston g. Albany
train running into Worcester, having
had his attention called to the clothes
by Miss La.nciault, reported 1t to the
police as soon as he arrived in this
city
Officers Sullivan and Condy were de-
tailed by Chief brennan to go in search
of the body after / O'Clock and they
arrived at the pond with graphing
irons about 1.20 After 20 ~minutes'
dragging the body was brought to the
| surface. The flesh about the left eve
was badly discolored and swollen, ana
other parts of the face showed signs of
having come In contact with something
| hard.
James A. Athy, the undertaken, was
called, and the body removed to his
warerooms on Green street Wilmot's
brother was telegraphed to at Oakdale,
where he was working. and he iratae-
diately came to Worcester. He viewed
the remains of his brother at RoY's on
Park street, and was there but a few
moments, when he left for station 1.
He told Chief Of Police brennan that
he was satisfied his brother had been
dealt with foully, by the looks of his
face. To Spy man, he stated that his
brother being man of quiet dis
position, would at times get into an al
| tercation with some of the young fell
lows living in that neighborhood be-
cause they insisted on making him an
object of rfdicule. Several times he
had got into scrapes on that account,
and his brother thinks that he was try
ing to defend himself when he got
struck with something and fell into the
water.
At the time the body was taken from
the water, all the clothing, with the ex-
ception of the coat, hat and shoes, were
on the body, and his brother thinks
this shows he was engaged In a scuffie
when he met his death.
On the other hand, the police do not
take much stock in the foul play theo-
~, and think that Wilmot deliberately
took his own life. Officer Sullivan
thinks that Wilmot must have jumped
from the bridge into the water The
bridge stands about so feet above the
water, which Is only about 10 feet deep
where the body was found. If he did,
this 1t would account for the bruises
found on his head and body.
Medical Examiner Baker, after view
ing the remains, was of the opinion that
There was not the least sign Of foul play
about the body of the dead man. Out
side the discoloration and swelling
about the left eye, there were no other
bruises on the body, and DR.. Baker will
report death by drowning"
The only question about the matter
Is whether Mr.. Wilmot took his own
life or fell into the water. Philip Han
sci, resident of New Worcester, told
officer Sullivan that Wilmot had been
known to make threats to end his life.
He ceuld not swim a stroke, his broth
er says and always had dread of the
water.
Besides his sister, Mrs. Shepard, and
his brother, he leaves father in Con-
necticut and another sister, Nellie Will
mot, living in Worcester.
Medical Examiner F. H. Baker will
conduct an autopsy on the body today
at Roy's undertaking rooms on Park
street.
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