The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-27
Wife Recently Secured Divorce and The
Custody Of Their Child.
He WAS LONELY AND DEspONDENT.
Suede Lett Bret Note Requesting That His Wife
and is Father Be hoafIed The Former
Took Ch.rgs Of HIS Remains.

Boston, Jan. 27.-A chambernlaid of
the Hotel Rexford discovered between
and 6 o'clock last night that William
Il. Francis. who had been occupying
room 532 at the hotel for the past three
months. had committed suicide. A par
italy emptied package of cyanide of
potassium lying beside a glass showed
the means which the man mad taken TO
end his hfe. He had been deao several
hours when he was discovered by the
hotel employs.
The cause for the deed is probably
traceable 10 family troubles. About two
weeks ago his wife, Mrs Corabelle !.
Francis. obtained a decree OF divorce
and also the custody of their only child.
a boy OF about Il years of age For
some time previous TO that the couple
had not lived together, their last place
OF residence being at Brimmer street.
A COLD FAREWELL.
The suicide was without doubt pre-
meditated. The last message scrubbed
on a piece of hotel paper was this: mo
tify my wife, Corabelle G.. Francis, lS6
Commonwealth avenue, the Abbots-
ford. Also my father. John H. Francis.
Ill High street, Peoria, Illinois" There
was no other word by which the sui
eide bade good-by TO either relatives or
friends.
William r. Francis was As years of
age and was "A travelling salesman for
the wholesale liquor house OF Kessler
& Co.. who have headquarters in Louis
Vile, KY, and offices In New York and
Chicago. He had also been employed as
a buyer at Jamaica for the Boston
Fruit Company.
Mr.. Francis was a native Of Peoria.
ILL.,. where his father still lives. He
was we'll known in that place being
Mason the 32d degree and a member
OF Mohammed Temple, Order OF Mysr,c
Shrlners. He was also prominent in
other orders. His business as a sales
man. and an excellent one, II is said,
took him over various parts of the
West. and he was well and favorably
known.
HIS WIFE HAD LEFT HIM.
Some months ago Mrs. Francis began
"A suit for divorce. alleging. it is said.
as the grounds for separation. drinking
habits and abusive conduct on the part
OF her husband. The couple had lived
AT 3 Brlmmer street. and when they
separated Mrs Francis went to live a Z
the Abbottsford on Commonwealth
avenue, while her husband took room
at the Rexford on Bulfinch place.
Two weeks ag5 the decree was grant.
ed TO Mrs. Francis. and she also took
with her the little boy. Before that
Mr.. Francis was in in health and the
legal separation from his wife appear
ed 10 make him worse. He had been
attended by DR.. Andrews.
RETIRED AS USUAL.
The last seen OF the suicide was about
the hotel during Thursday night and
when he retired TO his. room he left
orders that he be called at the usual
time. which was about noon. At that
time yesterday the chambermaid Mary
Riley, knocked on his door. At $50
when she again went to the room she
received no response to her calls and
notified the clerk.
The door of the room was opened and
Francis was found lying apparently
dead on the bed with the partially
emptied alass of poison on a table near
at hand. DR.. Thompson was called and
after pronouncing him dead said that
death was evidently due to the use OF
poison.
THE WIFE CALLED.
The police were notified and took
possession cf the poison and also the
rettcr trft by tire dead Iuau. IN Accord
ance with his request word was sent
to Mrs. Francis and a telegram was
dispatched 10 the father al Peoria. The
body was taken in charge by Under
taker Tinkham.
Mrs Francis on receiving notfica-
ton of her husbands suicide. went 10
The undertaker's and made arrange
ments for the funeral. She was very
much affected by the news and would
say nothing "a TO the causes, express
ing a desire TO have publicity avoided
AZ much as posS BILE.
Medical Examiner Harris has been
called 20 pass on the cause OF deia. n.
The remains will probably be sent 10
Pncf.ln III Tor hnHial