The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-29
WOODWARD A SUICIDE.
CITY JUDGE FOUND HANG.
ING IN HIS OFFICE.
The Body Was Cut Down About
$40 O'clock on Wednesday.
Charles Def. Bancroft First to
Discover 1t.

O. e. Woodward, Jr., judge of the
city court, committed suicide by hang
ing, on Wednesday. His body was
found by @. Def. Bancroft at 8. 40.
The deed was done in the little office
that adjoins the city court room
Judge Woodward made slip-noose
in the end of cord about the size of
window cord; the other end of it he
fastened to one of the coat hooks on
the wall. When found he was thrown
forward, face down, his feet and legs
we're on the floor and his knees al
most touched the floor. The knot of
the moose was placed over the juglar
vein and carotid artery. When found
he had probably been dead for about
a half hour.
Mr. Bancroft went to the office
about g. 20 to look for his mail but did
not go inside. A few minutes later
he went back to the Office and discov-
cred the body. Drs. g. E. and O.
E. Hunt and M. f. Chase, who were
in an adjoining Office, came in answer
to Mr.. Bancroft's call. The latter
ran for the mayor and together they
all entered the office and took the
body down. But it was far too late
Death was due to strangulaton, the
neck not being bIoken. Gleason's
ambulance took the body to the under
taking rooms.
1t was custom of Judge Wood
wards to go to his office between six
and seven O'Clock each morning. This
morning he was seen at about 6. 40
going toward his Office. Then again
at little before eight O'Clock he was
seen going that way. On this second
trip he was just coming from break
fast 1t is reported he seemed a little
better and more cheerful this morn
ing, But his wife did not think that
he was able to go to the office.
The judge had been in i'll health
for some days past and had not been
quite right in his mind. He had had
long talks, within the last few days,
with the mayor and several of the
leading lawyers, In these talks he
had been very respondent and had not
seemed quite like himself
Financial troubles and worry over
the liability of losing his office are
thought to have prompted the deed
For the first time since he had oc-
cupied his Office the door between the
city court room and the private office
where he committed suicide was
found shut and locked. The closing
of this door left the little room in
darkness.
Mr.. Woodward was a Mason, being
member of the council Mrs.
Woodward was quite Frustrated when
Mayor f. M. CORY broke the news of
the suicide to her about nine o'clock.
this morning. But she has bone up
very bravely considering the awful
suddenuess of the shock. Judge
Woodward was a kind man in his
family, whose grief is thus made
doubly bitter.
Charles E. Woodward, Jr, was
born in Braintree. July A, 1862. He
was educated in the Randolph graded
and high schools and in the State
Normal school at Randolph Center.
After his studies were completed he
engaged in educational work. He
was for time superintendent OF
schools in West Topsham and also a
tescher there. He afterward studied
law and settled in Piainfield. where
he married daughter OF DR.. Laz-
ellie. Two children, son and a
daughter, besides widow, form his
immediate family. Judge Woodward
came to Montpelier about six years
ago and was made judge of the city
court December /. 1909. The sympa.
thy of the entire community goes out
to the family in this hour of sad cal
| amity.