Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-05
DEAD IN LAKE
John E. Murden a We'll KD0Wn Eraternal Man Drowned in
 Lakewood To-Day
IT MAY BE SUICIDE

Remarking to his sister whom he brought from England a short time ago to keep house for him, that he was not feeling well and would take a walk instead of going to work, John F. Murden, who lived at 35 Walnut avenue, and a member Of the Odd Fellows, the Masons, Knights of Pythias, and a num- ber of other fraternal organizations left home this morning at ' o'clock and half an hour later his body was at the bottom of the lake at Forest Park near the high dam. Whether it was by accident or de, sign John Murden's life went out in this manner is a question, but the indication point to design.
 It was about half past when small boy named Otto Becker, liy- ing at TOT Locust street, on his way berrying, crossed the high dam at the lake and saw on top of the wide wall mans umbrella, on that was mans coat, vest, then letter with the address side up and a mans hat keeping the letter from being blown away. The ad- dress on the envelope was John F. Murden, 35 Walnut avenue"
 The boy dropped his pails and scurried about to find the other ar ticles of clothing that would make up the mans suit, for he presumed that the man had gone in swimming and left the rest of his clothes in sheltered place. He looked in vain and then he ran to the nearest house and the news spread like a flash that some one had been drowned ih the lake. It was g o'clock before it reached the police station and Superintendent Beach assigned Ser geant Bergin and Officer Samuel ., Walsh to ascertain what there was to the report. They searched the vicinity of that treacherous sheet or water but found no clew and at once concluded that the body was at the bottom. At 10 o'clock the sergeant and the officer returned 10 the station for grappling irons and repaired immediately to the lake. Procuring a boat from Joseph Zwiebel at Belleview and assisted by Mir Zwiebels son, Adolph, the ser geant and Officers Mullings, Stevens and Kiersted and Herbert Murden, son of the drowned man, dragged the, take in He vicinity ps the dam for afi ho,.! ! S54a' nls. orvasstt the body to the surface. Mir Murden, the son, had come upon the scene as soon as he heard the dreadful news, hoping beyond hope that 1t would turn out untrue, but he rec ,ognized his fathers umbrella and clothing and with blanched face he took a E'ace in the boat with the policemen. When 1t was found that ihe grappling irons had at last got somei hing. Murden leaned over the lcat to catch a glimpse of whatever it should prove to be and when ne saw it was the body of a man he became faint and would have fallen into the water but for Officer Null lings. The body was laid out on the grass and there was no mistake ing it that 1t was that of John Mur- den. It was divested of coat, vest and hat. Murden. the son, looked upon the still face of his father for some time and then turned away, for the police would let no one touch the body.
 Half an hour later the body was in the hands of Medical Examiner Crane and Coroner Makepeaee.
 The letter found on the dam wall was from a manufacturing firm 10 NIT Murden and was about slot ma chimes.
 There were few men so well known in fraternal organizations as was John Murden. For the past few years he had been complain ing of his health. He went 10 inc old country a few times to see if the ocean trip would benefit him, and it did. hut 1t was only temporary.
 He lived for a long time In the Isle of Wight. outside of Liverpool 10 get relief but a permanent cure seemed to be out of the question.
 A few months ago he gave up work in the clock shop and became agent for a peanut slot machine. This venture did not seem to turn  out as he expected. Eleven weeks ago he was taken quite sick, and though he always had a smile, still he was a very sick man.
 Rheumatism joined with stomach disorders made life anything but pleasant for him. yet he would try to hide his pains and aches behind a sunny face and a jolly disposition.
 One of those al the scene of his death early to-day was Alderman William J. Larkin. who knew Mfr Murden very we'll because of his long time working for the clock
 company. The coroner will give his rep0rs on the manner in which death came t0 Mr Mnrden as soon as he has the usual inquiry finished.
 This afternoon Medical Examiner Crane gave 1t as his opinion that it vas a plain case of suicide. The body was taken to Undertaken Der gins morEue.