The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-08-06
SUICIDE NOT PROBABLE.

There is rapidly growing belief
among the neighbors of the late Albert
Bliss of Marshfield, that Mr.. Bliss
death was due to an accident, and not
premeditated-as at first supposed, and
as pronounced by the physicians at
the autopsy. 1t will be remembered
that on Monday last, the body of Mr..
Bliss was found in the water tub,
situated in the stable yard. by Lee
Ketchum, the hired man, and the re-
port at once spread that Mr.. Bliss had
committed suicide. and to this report
the physicians making the autopsy
agreed. Until the day of the fun
eral, no other theory was advanced,
but at this time, something was dis
covered which gave rise to the idea of
an accidental death. , .
1t is true that Mr.. Bliss was subject
to fits of dependency and that these
attacks have been more frequent this
spring than formerly. 1t is also true
that during these attacks he sought
seclusion, and that this habit had, to a
small extent, caused anxiety to his
family and friends, but it is also true
that Mr.. Bliss had never to the know
ledge OF any one made any threat
with regard to a suicidal DEATH nor is
any time affected sufficiently enough
to cause him to become felodese.
But on the day of the funeral, large
cut was noticed upon bis nose, first
by O. X. Dwinell, one of his neigh
bors, and one of the bearers at the
funeral. He at once called the atten-
ton of other neighbors and friends to
this fact, which had already been
noticed by the family of the deceased
and being acquainted with the yard,
tub and the arrangement of the tub,
and the custom of Mr.. Bliss each
morning, it was at once concluded by
them that death was due to an acct
dent on the part of Mr.. Bliss
1t was the custom of Mr. Bliss to
| keep his milk cans in the water tub,
which is circular in build, about
five feet in diameter and two feet in
depth, and each forenoon previous to
going to his work in the field to place
cans of new milk i'll the tub. Across
| the top of the tub, opposite the side
approached by one in going to the tub,
are placed two or three boards, and on
measuring it was found that person
| of Mr.. Bliss height, in leaning over
the tub, might fall upon the board
/ nearest him, striking the board about
upon the nose. Mr. Bliss did not have
any cash or cut upon his nose previous
to his death, for he was seen by the
! family just before being found in the
tub, and nothing Of the sort was OBJ
! served. 1t is impossible to conceive
/ of any way in which he could have
| gotten the cut after being in the
water. Consequently it is believd by
Mr.. Dwinell ard others that Mr.
| arrixr Ia,
the tub and on reaching up and over
to place them in the water, lost his
balance and fell striking his nose upon
the board and thence into the water
where he was found curled about the
bottom of the tub.
A few years ago Mr.. Bliss fell out
of cart and hurt his head, and since
then he has been subject to fits and it
may be that at this particular time
that he was taken with one of these
hts just previous to- falling, or as he
struck the board, rendering him un.
conscious. Reasoning either way, it
is safe to say that he was unconscious
upon receiving the blow upon the
nose, which rendered him unable to
do anything for himself, afterward, in
the way of getting out of the water.
The blow upon the nose was severe
one, for "a considerable amount of
blood flowed from the cut, and the
cash was no small one.
Mr.. Dwinell was seen by Journal
representative on Friday, and he
goes so far as to state that he is con-
tident that the death of MI. Bliss was
accidental and not at all premeditated
or due to any rash act upon the part
of the deceased He further states
that he is not alone in his belief, but
this opinion he shares with many
Others including the family and
friends, who saw the body of Mr.. Bliss
at some time during the interval
between taking the body from the tub,
and the burial. Mr.. Dwinell fur.
Their stated that, as matter of fact, it
could never be known. precisely how
Mr.. Bliss met his death, as no one
saw him approach the the tub and no
one saw how he got within its con.
tents, but that those most interested
in the man and best acquainted with
him and the premises, are now resting
assured of the fact that the death of
Mr.. Bliss last Monday forenoon was
purely due to an accident on his part
and was not case of suicide. 1t is
certainly more comforting for the
family and all interested in the case
! to accept this cause of his death.