The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-09

words between US, there was no
ground for such report
Asked as to whether he thought his
sons suicide could be aseribed to fnan-
cfal reasons, Mr.. Hammond replied: q
DO not. To show you the kind Of a boy
that he was 1 will say that after the
suicide took pains to ask about his
accounts. Upon examination we found
that his cash books called for a little
over SIS. In he pceket-bo found
upon his person I found something over
VI and about $500 in bills, and that at
ter he had purchased the ticket for his
trip and made all preparations for his
marriage
Asked concerning a report that his
son was in love with his cousin, Miss
Florence Johnson, and that his mar
rage with Miss Prouty was not Of his
own seeking, Mr.. Hammond said that
there was absolutely no truth in it.
My son and his cousin had no thoughts
or marriage; l am sure Of that" said
he. My niece is preparing to accept
position which she has been a long
time getting, and it is not probable
that she would go ahead with these
preparations If she had any idea Of
marriage. Then. too, they We're cousins.
Some time ago two cousins in the fam
lily were married, and it has been re-
marked upon both by my son and my
niece. There is absolutely nothing in
that report, and the story that Miss
Johnson attempted 10 commit suicide
by taking strychnine is also without
foundation.
My son formed the acquaintance Of
Miss Prouty when she attended the
high school, and they have been to-
sether since. In connection with this
report. l will say that previous to this
sad affair, had met Miss Prouty my
self but three times, so you may judge
how much there is in it.
Asked if he attached any creGence to
report that a quarrel took place be-
tween his son and Miss Prouty on the
afternoon of the day preceding the sui
eide, when the prospective bride and
groom took drive together, Mr.. Ham
mond replied that he did not. "A quar-
rel is out of the question" said he.
DO you know what they went to ride
for? No? Well, let me tell you. They
took their wedding cake to the bakers
TO have it frosted, and they We're not
gone more than half-hour"
Questioned as to whether or not his
son had paid any amount of attention
10 young women other than Miss
Prouty. Mr.. Hammond replied that to
his knowledge, he had not He was
an extremely bashtul fellow" said he
Why, I recall how when boy he
had a pony and cart which he would
hitch, and when the ladies surrounded
him and asked for a ride he would
put up the rig"
Asked how Miss Prouty explained
the sad affair, Mr.. Hammond replied:
She attributes it to his nervous con-
dition''
When the reporter suggested that
possibly the shooting was accidental
Mr.. Hammond replied: II do not think
50. If you had seen the wound, l don't
believe you would. 1t was directly in
the forehead, The pistol he used was
one l bought when we were in Worces-
ter. When we moved IN here it was
brought with US. and in rummaging over
a small writing desk Of my sons, one
day, I came across il. He kept it in
q larger writing desk later on, in q
drawer labelled: This is loaded: do
not handle
Mr.. Hammond Gid not think it pns-
sible that his son had PLANNED To
take the revolver with him on his we'd
ding trip and was looking it over pre-
paratory to packing it away. he held
rather to the belief that his sons act
was deliberate suicide and discounted
The idea Of hereditary insanity.
do not know what prompted the
act. said he, hut I am confident that
Whatever it was it developed between
the hour Of MY sons retiring and the
time AT which he shot himself"