The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-12-16
Frank P. Willard, Barre Mer-
chant, Hanged Himself.
DISCOVERED BY HIS WIFE
Was Naturally Of Very Nervous Tenn
permanent and for a Month He Had
Been in 0yarwrought
Condition. xy


Worry over business caused Frank P.
Willard OF the firm OF willard & Dix.
merchants doing business on south Main
street. in this city. to commits suicide
by hanging yestsrday afternoon. The
act was committed At his home in East
Montpelier, his wife being the one to
find the body. The discover Was a
terrible shock to her, aud, indeed. the
news was to all his many friends in this
section. Undoubtedly the worry had nm
balanced his mind.
Mr. Willard was by no means IN fnan-
cial difficulty, as ne was we'll to man,
haylng property both in Barre and East
Montpelier
shortly before two o'clock Mrs. Will
lard lett the house to 10 to the mail
box. Mr.. Willard was cut in the yard
splitting wood and Mrs. Willard spoke
to him casually in going to the box.
Afterwards she stepped over 10 neigh
boris house only short distance away
and remained a little period. She re-.
turned at about two O'clock, and roing
to the back door was surprised ta find
Il locked. She then went arannd IL fhe
front door, which was rot locked, sud
entered the house. Going through INTO
the kitchen she was hofriaed fe find
her husband hanging BY small tswine
from the same door knob which she
had Just turned in trying To enter. She
hastily cut down the body and then Ioos-
ened the cord. which was tightly bound
about the neck. But there was no avail.
as life was then extinct. sac then
telephoned the neighh0rs and DIs. WI.
+. Lazelle and J. e. McSwseney or this
city were summoned in hopes that there
might still be hope But ii Il probable
that Mr.. Willard had died several min
utes before his wife's return to the
house. Before going about his task
be brought in the kindiing wood which
he had Just split.
Between the time Of Mrx. Wiliaa4l's
departure for her neiQhhor's and her
return, the mans father, Matthew b.
Willard, drove up to the hense and tried
to enter BY the door; on the other siaa
of witch was banging the sons boag.
Finding the door locked and hearing
no sound but the barking Of The family
dog, the elder Mr.. Willard concluded
that they were away visiting and dreTc
along, only 70 learn shortly that his
son had made away with himself.
No other reason than worry can be
ascribed for the acf Mr. Willard was
Of a particularly nervous temperament
and more recently had been subject to
fits Of the blues. About month AGO
the malady became worse and he hiSfa-
self realized the seriousness OF ii. Tie
went to a local physician, and told Of
his condition, saying thai he lad spells
when he could DO nothing but plan how
to make away with himself re told
the physician that the spells Of tha blues
were caused By business worrv. The
physician braced him up and MIR Will
lard went would 90 away himself again.
On Thursday he .cGme TO this city and
took dinner with friends and vent To
see his phvsieian, also visiting his stare
On South Main street. AT that time
be appeared in a very downcast state
of mind and acted somewhat strangely
His accustomed nervousness WAS more
pronounced than ever. But IN spite
of that. his friends here were very much
surprised to hear Of his act
The firm of Willard & Dix waa a new
one, having been started only less SUM
mer. John r.. Dix il the other member
Of the firm The store handles meats
and provisions. Previous to entering
upon this business, Mr.. willard had ctin-
durted meat business, purchasing it Of
+ r. Carr, and selling six months Ago
TO Fred Townsend. He ran carts into
Barre and had large trada. Before
that be carried on a farm III East Mont
pelier, residing first on the Willard
homestead and later on plaes bought
ue Warren Rowland and located near
the East Montpelier station. The Will
lards are one OF the most prezninemt
families in East Montpelier, And The
deceased one of the substantial oitixeua
there. He had held several ofiicea, hsv-
ing been lister aud auditor. He was
an enthusiastic sportsman and his bMild-
ings were filled with trophies af the
hunt Sportsnen we're welcome It his
place, and there were many gatherings
of hunters, all of whom can attest to
his genuine hospitality.
The deceased was 81 years Of age, and
leaves wife and two sons. Matthew,
the elder, being clerk in the QtIncv
house i'll Boston, and Harry, q lad 81 NJ
teen, residing at home His father,
Matthew o. Willard, aged 80 years, re-
sides in East Montpelier. A sieter, Mrs.
CLARK Sibley, died short time ngo.
The funeral will be held from tie
house at East Montpelier Monday after
noon al 1.so o'clock FLe was menlber
Of the Odd Fellows lodge.