The Detroit times., 1909-01-22
BUYS URN FOR HIS
ASHES AND KILLS
HIMSELF
AGED MAN USES REVOLVER Az.
TER VISIT TO uNDEaTAkER's-
SEEMED IN MERRY MOOD -
TALKED OF CREMATION.

NEW YORK, Jan 2l.-A white-hair-
ed man. whose faltering steps and
bowed form betrayed his 20 years
called at the Office OF the stephen
Merritt Burial Co. Nineteenth-si. and
Eighth-aye. Manager Radclin recog
mixed him because OF previous visit,
when he had inquired about the eX-
pense Of cremation.
He VAS Thomas Hutchings. OF No.
S24 West One Hundred and Fifty third
81. His son. Herbert Hutchings. is a
wealthy and prominent builder, of NJ.
246 West One Hundred and twenty
ninth-st., and active in politics In Har-
lem.
Mr.. Radcliffe observed that the aged
man was apparently in good spirits
and health and complimented him. In
fact. Mr.. Radcliffe returned a merry
| answer when Mr.. Hutchings said
II want 10 be cremated When
my time comes 4 prefer not 10 be
placed under ground I've always had
the idea that the soul and the body
were Incorporated. and Il can be easy
for the soul 10 liberate itself from the
sod. >"
Seemed In a Merry Mood.
Mr. Radcliff said later that tho
trend Of the old mans talk was merry
in spite OF the subject, and he sug-
gested: There Is no need OF you pro-
viding for burial for some time. |
guess"
A quizzical expression llled the
aged mans eyes as he replied; "One
never knows when the time may come.
II is always best TO be prepared.
More TO humor Hutchings than Ia
expectation OF taking en- order. Rad
cliff conducted him through the show
rooms. He declined TO inspect the
caskets, asking instead for the urns
provided for the reposal OF ashes after
cremation. While inspecting them he
inquired the cost of cremation and con-
corning the details. He expressed
much satisfaction after his selection OF
an urn which he studied carefully.
III you are going TO take that"
Radclin said, not yet convinced that
Hutchings intended TO purchase. you
can imagine beautiful pictures Of the
urn being treasured after your ashes
are SCAtlcItQ 10 the WluuS
Hutchings took out his pocketbook.
proffered $40 bill and said he want
ed 10 pay the sum on account. He
asked for q receipt and while II was
being made out sat at table and
wrote "a note which he said was 10 his
son.
Asked for Police Station.
Radclif rendered the receipt and
Hutchings Was departing when be-
paused to ask Radclif where the
nearest police station was. He was
directed to the station on West TWEEN
tieth-st., between Eighth and Ninth
ayes.
He appeared there and engaged
Lieut.. Tighe In conversation, asking
him II he was a member OF the Ma.
sonic order Tighe sent him TO Door.
man Anthony. The latter talked 10
Hutchings briefly and suggested that
he go to the Masonic temple on West
Twenty -third-st., where he would find
friends Tighe and Anthony watched
ment after the door closed they heard
a pistol shot.
Several pedestrians who later re-
ported 10 the ponce sdlu tHdt IlutSh-
lngs halted AT the landing as he shut
the door, pressed a pistol TO his tenn
pie and pulled the trigger. He was
carried inside the station, where he
died Is minutes later. before the ar
rival OF an ambulance from st. VIM
cents hospital
Witnesses Of the suicide spread the
excitement which followed and the re-
serves had TO clear the crowds from
the station entrance. Herbert Hutch
ings claimed his fathers body at late
hour. He said he could assign no cause
for his fathers act until he had re-
ceived the note written at the time the
Urn was purchased.
There was some delay In Identifying
the body and among those who viewed
IL was Thomas Carew, OF No. PA West
Twentieth-st He stated positively that
the man was Richard Kinsella. who
had boarded with him for ten years.
Carew led searching party TO the
room of his boarder and was busy In
examining his effects when kinselia
appeared Carew said later ne
thought he had seen Kinsella's ghost
uhen the latter showed up