The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-16
Drink TOO much FOR Two
HARTFORD LIVES ENDED
One Man Found Dead in a
Room, Another Drowned
in Park River.

Hartford Aug. 15.-Lying face down
ward in a heap on the floor, Clarence
Sparks. 81 years old, an electrician,
was found dead this forenoon in a
room in the rear Of ISL State street,
which he had occupied for more than
fifteen years.
When the medical examiner was
called on the case he had just returned
from investigating the finding Of an
other body, that of John j. McLaugh-
lin, whose body was found floating in
the Park river about 100 yards east
Of the Ford street bridge about s
o'clock this forenoon, by an employe
Of Plimpton & Hills company.
Sparks occupied a small room in the
rear of the building and lived alone.
He was seen yesterday afternoon and
seemed to be all right at that time.
About o'clock this morning people
living in adjoining apartments heard
Sparks yelling and groaning in his
rooms, but did not investigate to see
what was the trouble
This morning George r. Katz, who
is employed at Robert Murphys sa-
loon at 1873 State street, heard Of the
circumstances and went to his friends
room.
Sparks was lying face downward on
a heap of blankets on the floor of his
room. He was fully dressed, but had
/ evidently made an effort to remove
his clothing. He had been drinking
heavily of late and his Incorporate
habits undoubtedly brought on an at
tack this morning which resulted in
his death.
Medical Examiner Fuller states slat
from the position he was found lying
in, Sparks probably had difficulty in
breathing after he fell and this may
! have been a secondary cause of death.
The body was removed to the
morgue Sparks had lived in this city
practically all his life and was well
known to members of his trade. He
had been employed at Luna park a
good part of the summer and last
week worked for Wilbur H, Halliday
ar electrician, at 1871 Front street. He
was nephew of Charles Coburn, a
lime and cement dealer, with ware
houses at 1854 State street
Mr. Coburn said that owing to
Sparks habits he had had nothing t.
d. with his nephew for some time and
did not care to take charge Of the
body. He said he understood that
Sparks had two sons, John and
Charles Sparks, living In this city, ant
has a wife from whom he had beer
separated for years. living in Provi
dence The relatives had not appeared
t, claim the body this afternoon.
1t was said at Hallldays that Sparks
had been drinking last Saturday whei
he left the place and It was though
he had been drinking heavily since
Fell Into River.
1t is not known how John ]. Nc
Laughlin got into the Park river wher,
his body was found this morning, bu
1t is thought that he was wandering
through the park last night and fell IN
He is said to have been drinking yes
terday. 4ti
The body was barely afoat in tn
water near the Jewell street side o
the river when discovered and pulled
to shore. The authorities were mott
fled and DR.. Fuller ordered the body
taken to the morgue from where 1t wa
later removed to Dillons undertaking
establishment.
Mclaughlin was "a years old, accord
ing to the records on the police book
He was arrested for drunkenness Jul.
26 Of this year He was unmarried an,
lived with brother, Dennis H r. Nc
Laughlln, at 277 Main street. The flu
neral arrangements have not beef
/ made.