The Portland daily press., 1900-09-22
Formerly Prominent Git
met Of Cornish.
Dependency Assigned as Cause
of the Rash Act.

George ii. Miniken, formerly well
known citizen OF Cornish, committed
suicide at the United States hotel In this
city early yesterday morning. A report Of
pistol was heard by several people but
nothing was thought of 1t and not until
several hours afterwards was the body
discovered by Mr.. Peter O'Connor, one
Of the proprietors OF the house. Mr..
O'Connor noticed an odor of escaping gas
in the corridors and soon located the room
from which 1t came. 1t was found that
the door was bolted on the inside. After
opening the door it was discovered that
the occupant OF the room man about
80 years OF age, was lying dead on the
floor.
There is no doubt that the case was
one of suicide OF the deliberate type.
Mr.. Milliken came to the hotel early
Thursday evening and registered. He
was fairly we'll dressed and there was
nothing about his appearance which
would attract more than the ordinary at
tention. Coroner McDonough was called
and after deeming an inquest unneces-
sary turned the body over to Undertaken
Rich. Investigation showed that the
man had come to the hotel armed for
the purpose OF taking his own life. He
had brought a revolver, a bottle of chloro-
form and rope. He probably first tried
to use the chIoroform but did not sue.
ceed in accomplishing his purpose. The
bottle was partly empty and the odor was
strong. Then he had stopped up the crack
at the foot of the door and had plugged
the keyhoIes. After that he turned on
the gas full force. Then evidently not
caring to trust to the awful effects of the
gas, he took the revolver and fired a
bullet into the side OF his head, making
hole in the temple just back of the eye
The wound bled freely and was in IL
self sufficient to cause death The rope
was found in his pocket.
On the body was found letter from
Walter p. Perkins of Cornish, relating to
the saleEof some property. There were al
so two sealed letters on the table, both
address ed to Walter p. Perkins, Cornish.
In the afternoon Walter p. Perkins and
MIR. Cook of Cornish came to Portland,
having been SUNNI oned by the news OF
the death Of Mr.. Milliken. From them it
is learned that the deceased was formerly
one of the most prominent citizens of
Cornish. he came from Freedom, N. H.,
and for years carried on a general store,
and later large clothing manufacturing
business, being in company with Mr..
Lord, of Lord, Haskell & Co., of this
city. He was prominent Democrat, and
for four years was postmasterzat Cornish,
under Cleveland. He was member of
the Ossipee Valley lodge of Odd Fellows
and had been through all the chairs. He
belonged to a Masonic lodge in Freedom,
N. a.
During late years Mr.. Milliken met
with reverses in his business and was
forced to leave Cornish in order to gain a
livelihood. He went with his family to
Boston, and for the past year or more has
been keeping a fashionable lodging house
at 81 Huntington avenue. His son lives
at 81 Jay street, Somerville.
The letters which were left for Mr.. Per-
kins showed conclusively that he came to
Portland for the express purpose of TAX
ing his own life. He wrote very despon-
IDENTIFY about his business affairs and |
seemed to be troubled for fear he would |
become a burden on his wife and family. |
The letters prove that he had the greatest
love for his family, and do not indicate |
that he was in any degree deranged sin |
mind. He wrote calmly and the greater
part of the letters relates to business
affairs private between himself and Mr..
Perkins He asked Mr.. Perkins to see
that.h had decent burial, and expressed
a preference for the family lot in.Cornish.
Mr.. Perkins said the deceased was one
of the kindsst hearted men he ever knew.
He thought the world of his family, and
gave them freely all he had to give while
he was prosperous. He leaves a wife
and five children, three daughters and
two sons. The youngest child lie a girl
OF II years.