Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-06-09
A WATERY CRAVE?
H. N. Gum Threatened to Jump
from Joy Line Steamer
Boat at New York, But Not Seen at
Providence.

PROVIDENCE.
Has Herbert N. Gum, formerly a real
estate agent in Brattleboro met a tragic
death, or is there an Interior motive in
letters which he has written threatening
to end his life?
This is a question which cannot now
be answered positively, but II Mr.. Gum
has carried out his threat he has found
a watery grave at the bottom of Long
Island Sound, and under conditions which
will not permit of his body rising to the
surface For the past two years Mr..
Gum has lived with Mr.. and Mrs. Elliot
ID. Conyers on the King farm in Gull
ford. He has been in litigation and has
had family and financial troubles several
years.
For a number of years previous to going
to Guilford Mr.. Gum was in business in
Brattleboro. He married a Massachusetts
girl who was younger than himself,
and she acted as his stenographer.
Toward the last OF his living in Brat
tleboro his wife went away and did not
return. Afterwards Mr.. Gum left town
to live with her, and they hired a house
in Everett, Mass. Later Mrs. Gum left
again, and the last heard OF her by Mr..
Gums lawyer she was in Lawrence,
Mass After his wife left the last time
Mr. Gum went to Guilford to live with
Mr. and Mrs. Conyers.
In April 1904. Mr.. Gum was arrested
by Deputy Sheriffs Knapp and Mcclure
at the King farm in Guilford on COM
plant of Mr. and Mrs. II. NJ. Seymour of
Randolph charging him with fraud. They
alleged that he altered the figures in
mortgage after II was executed. Both
civil and criminal actions were brought
against him in connection with that
transaction, and as the bail for the two
suits amounted TO $4,000 Mr.. Gum decided
to go to Jail, and he was taken to New
f. ATaaHn t.. .a..I r.
Gums attorney that there was very lit
tie probability that he ever would be con-
victed Of the offence charged. In re-
taliation for false Imprisonment Mr.. Gum
brought suit for $4,000 against the Sey
mours. Both suits are pending.
Mr. Gum has three children in Keene,
y. H., by a former marriage. The oldest,
a boy of Is years, wrote to his father
several weeks ago and said among other
things that it would always be said that
his father was once in jail After reading
the letter Mr.. Gum went up stairs at Mr.
Conyerss house and when he was found
he was lying on the floor weeping bitterly
on May 20. while at the Conyers house,
Mr.. Gum wrote letter to Mr.. and Mrs.
Conyers which he left in a place where
1t naturally would not be found for sew
eral days. on May "a he wrote to Lawyer
+. w. Gibson of Brattleboro and mailed
the letter in New York city on that date.
IN pptn letters ne threatened suicide.
Gibson received his letter May 25, but
Mr. and Mrs. Conyers did not find theirs
until last Sunday The text of the letter
written in Guilford was as follows:
Guilford, May 20. 1905.
Dear Elliot and Beatrice:
Trusting that you will not find this
till after i have gone l will write just
a note TO thank you again for the kind
ness you have shown me during my recent
troubles. l cannot bear them longer, and
before you may find this l shall be be-
yond them forever. For months l should
have ended this life's troubles but for the
thought that l must be buried on the
town or at the expense of relatives who
abandoned me as soon as my disgrace
came, but it occurred TO me that / could
weight my clothing and leap overheard
from some ocean steamer and thus end
/ il all and be buried at the same time at
no expense to any one. Please send the
children my trunk and contents. 1t is
all have. but tell them that love them.
know If tell you my plans you viii find
some way TO stop them, but before you
find this shall be at rest. Again thank
ing you for the kindness you have shown
| me / am
II. N. GUM.
| Here's a kiss for each OF the children.