Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-14
ALCOHOLISM The CAUSE.
Sad Death Of Mrs. Caroline France al North
vassalbofo.

q
he was called here to Investigate the
death of Mrs. Caroline France who
died under suspicious circumstances
Although the death occurred. several
days ago. il was not until last night
that it was discovered.
The woman was then found lying
| dead in her home on the main street
with the body resting on a lounge.
placed across one of the doors leading
into the hall. thus barring entrance to
the room through that door. The fur
niture had been stripped from the
room. the owner having taken il as the
woman had not been able to meet the
installments. All that remained in the
tenement was the couch on which the
woman lay, a sewing machine, one Or
TWO straight back chairs and Il strip
~ straw mating on the floor.
Tn" kitchen had been entirely strip
ped both Of the cooking stove ana the
kitchen utensils ana an that remained
in THAI room We're a rrw pans. left as
ia The Homework had been hut partial
ly completed. A raw kc"psakcs were
Iil"i on the floor as though they had
hron taken from th" bureau drawers
when tho owner hId called for the fur
niiurr. and half burned out CRATE
occupied the place where thr cook
stove had once set.
In the front room. which had been
used H. a c1mhiucd sleeping ana living
room. a cheap nickel alarm clock as
moiionlrss as thu form Dc the owner WI
IN" lounge toll tn" story that the wo-
man had been dead longer than ~
hours. NJ il had stopped about 100.
The woman was clothed rs though
she had lain down for a few moments
rest. with a heavy comforter drawn up
over her face rs though the intention
had been To shut out the light The
closed blinds and the newspapers pin
ned TO the windows not only darkened
the room but prevented the discovery
of her death being made. Although the
family upstairs knew that the woman
was living in the house the death was
not discovered until Michael Herbert
sent a friend for his oyercoat which he
had left in the house.
The woman was last seen alive, about
three days ago, as near as can be
learned. At that time she had been
drinking and was under the influence
Of liquor. She was seen to go 10 her
home, last Tuesday, and since that
time she has not been seen alive as
near as can be learned. II is thought
she died that night.
From what was learned by relatives
and friends of the dead woman it IS
thought she had for several days been
on a drunk which finally terminated in
her death. Coroner Smell carefully in
vestigated the matter and expressed
himself as being satisfied that the
death occurred from excessive drinking
and not from foul play as has been in
timated in this place.
Edwin France. the woman's husband.
an operative in the Vassalboro WOODEN
several weeks ago. and went to Mass
achusetts 10 look for work. leaving
his wife here The woman was at that
time keeping house and as the weeks
passed by she found that she was not
able 10 meet the payments on the
household goods bought on the INSTALL
ment plan. Her husband sent her
money On which she might live but
the small sums We're barely sufficient
TO meet the household expenses and
She was obliged to let the goods 60
50 that she had only a lounge on which
to sleep. ana a few articles Of furni-
ture.
AS even the cook stove was taken
away she had nothing with which to
cook and was supplied by the neighbors
who brought in food. On account of
ther dcbauch she was not able to eat
and for time was apparently ne
elected
one Of the callers at the house had
been Michael Herbert. who. during one
If his visits. left his ovcrcOat. on ac-
count of the gossip OF the neighbors
he did not 60 to the house for the
overcoat. but sent q boy for it. When
the young man entered the room he
found the woman dead on the lounge
ana the room in the condition which
has been stated. The discovery was
made. about i o'clock in the evening.
ana rs soon as il had become noised
about the village. the matter was plaC-
"a in the hands Of the local authori-
lies, who notified Coroner Smell of Wa
teryille
on account of the difficulty Of finding
witnesses the investigation was not
commenced that night. Coroner Smell
simply took the body in charge and
commenced the investigation. yester-
day morning, at the office Of DR. Men
Zies, who had been called.
Fred Lloyd, the young man who had
found the body. Michael Herbert.
whose overcoat had been left at the
house, and Miss Belle Miles. We're eX-
amined. and when the investigation
was concluded, Coroner Smell and DR.. |
MenZies agreed that death was due to
alcoholism, and that no further inves-
tigatiOn would be necessary.
The remains We're allowed to remain !
in the room where they were found and
the funeral will be held, Friday after
noon at o'clock.
Evidence showing that the woman
had lead a dissolute life was brought |
out at the examination.
The village was greatly stirred up
over the matter, last night. and even |
today. there was a prevailing opinion |
that it would require an inquest TO |
settle on the true cause of the death. |
Coroner Smell, however, deemed an in
quest unnecessary, having made a
thorough investigation as stated
The April term of the supreme judicial |