The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-11-17
OUR NEIGHBoRs.
BETHEL.

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF JOHN NJ. sTGNoR.
In the sudden and untimely death of
John M. Signor, Bethel Loses q prominent
business man and the borough an effici-
emit burgess. The circumstances OF mis-
dcre.ss y somewhat yelled in mystery.
About 2,30 O'Clock, last Monday morn
ing, the citizens living near the Cong re-
gaGional church square were awakened
from their sleep by what appeared to be
an explosion near by. Ant al n of fire
was given by the forming factory whis-
Gle. Soon after the danes were seen
bursting from the upper story and roof
OF the old Taylor house situated 1T the
corner of Main and Chestnut streets,
which has lately been owned and occu-
pied by J. M. Signor, the ice dealer.
stuart KY IL and Others ran TO the burn
ing building, where they found the doors
fastened which they burst in, and upon
entering the kitchen found q light burn
ing and a fire in the range. adjoining
this room in q small bed room they dis
covered Mr. SignOr lying covered in bed,
apparently sleeping. An effort was made
to arouse him when they discovered that
life had departed. The body was remoV-
ed to Mr. Kyle's house on Main street
and DIR Wight was called, when it was
found that q wound in the temple had
ing on the bed with one cartridge explod-
ed. In the absence OF Mr. Sign0r's house
keeper he was the only occupant OF the
house. Usually Mr. Signor was Of q very
cheerful disposition and enjoyed COM
pany but for the past two or three years
he has been greatly afflicted with de-
ceased nerve Of the jaw bone and at
times was attacked with pains most I'M
bearable. In one of these agonizip9
spells it is supposed that he may have
ended his suffering In self destruction.
There was no disorder about the room
That would indicate struggle with any
outside person but the fact of his carry
ing considerable sums OF money was
well known. The origin of the FIRE, which
was located in distant part of the house
and away from the little bed room, was
undoubtedly accidental. The east half
Of the house was lately vacated by
tenant and the rooms they occupied were
being reprinted and papered. A large
quantity Of paper and other infianable
material had been burned and was PROP
ably smouldering on the hearth in . sit.
ting room fireplace in the second story
where the fire appeared to have original
ed. There appeared to be no effects of
an explosion but still it undoubtedly did
occur and may have been caused by stor-
ing small quantity Of dynamite or
powder in the garrett. Everything about
The shocking affair Is yelled In mystery.
Here let us close the painful account and
draw the broad mantle of charity over
the scene. The iremen made an heroic
effort and confined the fire to the upper
story, which was pretty much destroyed.
The old house was built in the early part
of this century by Phineas Taylor, once
d very prominent man of the town. The
old landmark nearly opposite the church
was the home of the grandparents of the
late +. i. Barnum. Mr. Signor Is surviV.
ed by q wife and one son, r. j. Signor.
Mrs Signor 10 an invalid and part of
che time resides with her son and grand
children on Golden Hill, where she ap-
pears to enjoy better health. Mr. Signor
preferred to stay In the old place near
the barns and plsce- OF business. Mrs
Signor for some cause was awakened In
the night, got up and went to the win.
dow which overlooks her old home and
there saw the house in q Smes. She call
ed her son, who was one of the first on
the scene. The body was viewed BY
Medical Examiner Barber, who inquired
into the facts of the case and then order
ed the remains removed to Undertaken
SRnford's rooms on Center street. The
funeral services were held on Wednes-
daY afternoon at 30 o'clock at the home
of the son, r. j. Signor, on Golden Hill.
The service at the house was conducted
oy Rev FL. L. Slack. The deceased was
81 years old. He was member of the
Union lodge, T. & A. M, of Dsnbury.
The interment was in Wooster cemetery
In that town, where the Masonic fratern-
ity conducted the usual burial ser vices
at the grave. The deceased was one of
large family. He Ia also survived by
one brother, Henry Signc r, an aged citi-
zen of Danbury, and two sisters, Mrs
Amber of this town and Mrs Barlow of
Danbury.