The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-27
MERIDEN IS MOST
MELANCHOLY CITY
Ten Persons Have Committed Sui
eide There in Last Two
Months.
POPULATION OF ONLY 10000.
Citizens Are Trying to Find Out
Why Self-D estrOyers Choose
Meriden as a Place
to Die.

Meridsn. Conn. July 8.-This city just
now Is the most melancholy community in
the world. Out Of a population Of 1900 per-
/ sons ten have suicide in the last
two months. and there are other months
| coming.
Everybody is trying to find out why the
self-destroysrs should have done il. The
g. go people that are left declare that the
| Silver City Is a beautiful place TO live in II
is not many miles from New Haven. and Is
about half way between Boston and New
York. 1t gets its name Of Silver City from
the chief industry OF the town. which is
siIverplatinE.
But ~ the suicide epidemic continues the
inhabitants are afraid that the town will
loose It's veneering and will be known in the
future as the Suicide City.
Many theories were advanced why these
persons should find Meriden such a beau
tiful town. 10 die in. Some suggested that
there existed a suicide club In the town.
others said the newspapers were the cause
OF II all. Forsooth. DID they not print. with
all the horrible details. the particulars OF
each death. thereby encouraging the rest to
20 and do likewise. for the sake OF seeing
their Eames In the papers?
The suicide club theory found n number
OF devotees. because 1t was noticed that
three or four Of the unfortunates worked In
the same silverplating nIn and were &C
o~uainted with each other. But that theory
had to be abandoned when II was discov-
cred that a poor peddler. a total stranger to
the rest. had Joined the band. and one would
be suicide who was resuscitated by the
interviewed and declared that II there was
a suicide club he hac never paid dues 10
Here is the list Of the suicides in their
order:
May +Charles y. Blake. - years old:
fifteen years In business In Meriden: drank
poison and lay in bushes by the roadside
for two days. when MT. Lyons. a teamstsT.
who had seen him both days. thought he
had slept enough and attempted to wake
i'm. Reason given. financial reverses.
May 2John Francis Douglas. 80 years
old: well known farmer Of East SIDE:
hanged himself IL = tree in his fathers or
chard- Reason given. poor health.
May ,zS-Frank Wood. IS years old; ship
ping clerk In a Meriden factory; shot him
self in the mouth in the Grand Union Hotel.
IN New York City: suffered from insomnia
and was involved in a lawsuit.
resident OF Meriden: employed at a plating
factory: blew his head on by placing a
Chicago anarchist Lingg did. Reason given,
June 1-wnIsm smIthers. 20 years old:
Gnce employed at the same plating factory:
but removed to Waterbury: drank poison in
the Exchange Hotel. Waterbury. Reason
given. respondent through loss OF job;
Hart. Mr.. Maeurer was 81 years old: ne
blew his brains out In front of n mirrow:
had an estate valued at S0.0O0: prominent
member Of the SasngerbUnd. the Meriden
Turner Society and Of the Teutonia Lodge.
!. o. o. =. Reason given. brooded over an
empty tenement. he owned. Thomas Hart
was e years old. he was employed as a
care;aksr for J. o. Noxon. a retired drug
E.st: he drank a mixture OF Paris green
Reason given. dependency and ed age
June IT-WiilInm McGOyern. IS years old;
az one time popular society man OF MsriGen.
but lately an inhabltant Of police cells on
account Of drink: hanged himself in q cell
by means of his s~uspenders- Reason given
alcoholic dependency.
June 9-Kalman Leostone. a pedler, 81