The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-07

DIED A
SUICIDE

Lynn Mass. April 7--Previous TO the
autopsy arranged to be held this FORE
noon over the body OF David X. Phillips.
the wealthy banker OF swampscott' which
was found yesterday on the beach near
his home, there were no further develop
ments I'm the case Medical Examiner
Joseph ]. Pinkham, who was to perform
the autopsy, continued 10 adhere TO the
theory OF suicide while temporarily In.
sane, and this theory was held by most
of the friends and neighbors OF the family
The absence OF outer garments when
the boay was found, however. ana tne
apparent disappearance OF a watch and
sum OF money induced the immediate
relatives OF the dead man to request that
an autopsy be performed and the medi-
cal examiner made preparations TO
comply with this wish this forenoon at
local undertaking establishment where
the body Is lying. Up 10 that time no
trace OF the missing articles had been
discovered.
But shortly after the beginning OF the
autopsy. just after 9 o'clock word was
received from Swampscott that Philips
waistcoat and his watch had been found
on the. beach. This information tenoeo
TO support the suicide theory which the
the body was found
Medical Examiner Pinkhsm announced
after the autopsy that Mr.. Phillips came
10 his death from suicide by drowning.
There were no evidences OF foul play.
III a statement. DR.. Pinkham said that
death was due TO drowning. ana that
there were no indications whatever OF
foul play. Al. 10 the causes which led to
the drowning, the medical examiner said
he was willing 10 give the family the ben
eft OF any doubt. The drowning might
have been accidental; It might have been
3, eide added the examiner, although the
Giro umstances would indicate that the
drowning was deliberate. DR.. Pinkham
! ssid that the lungs contained water.
The body was founl to be in healthy
condition and the slight abraisons on the
forehead did not penetrate the skull but
we're apparently csused by the body
scraping the rocks. An examination OF
the brain showed It TO he healthy. The
r~edical examiner says that he nrst saw
the body at ) o'clock yesterday AFTERNOON
and at that time the condition known AZ
risor mortis had not set In. The exam
liner was assisted in performing the au-
topsy by Dr. Herbert Newhall and Chief
OF Police Harris Of Swampscott was pres
ent
Chief Harris began a systematic search
early in the day for Phillips coat, waist
coat ana Otner aTtlCles WHICH Wrlc HhiSo-
Ing when the body was dragged ashore.
The mea dow lands in the vicinity. bath
ing pavilions and a long stretch OF beach
were closely Inspected. Shortly after ?
o'clock the waistcoat containing Phil
lips watch, was washed ashore near the
spot where the body was first seen. II
is understood that beyond the 800 which
the bank president got at the Marblehesd
| bank he carried no large sum Of money.
| II developed that in making his way 10
! the beach yesterday the banker. instead
| or following his customary path. con-
/ crete walk. TO his property. went across
/ a field. Those who knew Phillips we'll
/ cay that they never saw him 60 TO tho
| beach by this route Before leaving his
| house he shut up his two dosv. which he
| invariably took with him on his walks. A
/ man named Jackson was the last person,
so far as known, TO see the banker alive.
| When Jackson passed him, Phillips re-
marked;
1T is a pleasant day
At that time he had his hat and coat
/ on
The family accepted the suicide the
| ory from the first, but in view of many
| rumors which were circulated last even
| ing, Mrs. Phillips requested tho chief oi
police To arrange for an autopsy IN order
TO satisfy everyone as 10 the exact cause
, OF her husbands death.