The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-07

was one OF the happiest young men in
spencer. A fine home, plenty of money,
ana loving parents all within his reach
ana possession.
Mr.. Hammond was engaged to be
married next Tuesday to Miss Iris
Frouly, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
| nam II. Prouty of Cherry street. Yes
tArday afternoon the young man, who
is EMPLOYED in his fathers refrigerator
| on wall street, was not in the
elhce, as was his custom, bur instead
took an afternoon off and took Miss
Prouty tc ride. Last evening Mr.. Ham
| mond called on Miss Prouty, and seem
ed to be in the highest of spirits. He
left his young woman's home at about
! y o'clock, going from there immediately
TO his own home.
The story of the young mans return
home and his subsequent acts were told
to The Spy man by Mr.. Aaron Ham
mond. father of the suicide Mr.. Ham
mond said: Last night, about o'clock,
with ny wife and Miss Florence John
son, my wlfe's niece, I was sitting up
IN the sitting reom. At this time Miss
Johnson stated that shA was going to
retire. Mrs. Hammond then said to
wait a little while until Henry came
home, as he would be here in a few
minutes. Hardly had she spoken these
words before my son walked in.
He greeted US all with a smile, took
on his ceat and hat, and then went
downstairs after few apples. We then
staid up few m onients eating apples
and talking. Henry at this time spoke
of some wedding presents he and Miss
Prouty had already received, and SEEM
ed to be greatly pleased at his future
prospects. We all retired in the best
of spirits. Henry seeming to be es-
pecially clipper.
At 5 o'clock this morning I arose as
is my usual custom, and went to the
barn to feed my horses. After feed
| ing the horses, / returned to the house
and went down stairs to look at the
furnace. When Henry hears me shak-
ing the fire he always arises, the time
generally being about $50 o'clock, lie
arose this morning as usual, and we
went to the barn together Henry took
out the bedding from under the horses,
swept the floor. and watered the horses.
AS it was a cold morning, we hurried
around doing our chores, and at Ave
| minutes of 6 returned to the house.
! There are two large chairs in the
! kitchen which were stationed about
| two yards apart, and as breakfast was
not quite ready 1 sat down in one
| chair, While Henry occupied the other.
/ As usual, l took my morning smoke,
and had been smoking about five MN
uJeS Wnen Henry arose, washed,
| combed his hair, and then went, as /
! supposed, either to his bedroom or the
| bathroom.
The cook then called me to break
fast and I sat down to the table Five
| minutes passed and Henry did not put
| in an appearance. The servant then
went to call my son, saying that
breakfast was ready She received 10
answer. Five minutes more elapsed and
my son did not appear The cook then
went in search of Henry.
She opened the library door which
leads out of the front hall, a room
which Henry uses a great deal. and
| called to the young man, saying break
fast was ready
Upon looking around the room, she
saw Henry lying on his back on the
floor in the northwest corner of the
room. The body was lifeless, one arm
was by his side, while the other, the
left lay across his breast. The legs
were spread slightly apart, and ba-
tween them just above the knees, lay
a 3S-calibre bull dog revolver, which
had brought instant death to my son
When the girl discovered the blood
she Immediately began to scream
Help, help! Mr.. Hammond! Mr.
Hammond; something has happened tc
| Henry"
I jumped up from the table. an6
rushed to the library only to find my
Ra