The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-20
Well Known Figure About Town Ended His Life In Opinion of Medical FIX
 aminer Downs
Formerly Liveryman, Latter
 ly Engaged In Retail Liquor Business Suffer ed Several Paralytic Strokes - Business and Other Cares Worried Him

H. Willard Raymond. better known as "Bill" Raymond, former liveryman and liquor dealer. was found dead in room in the Windsor Hotel this morning by a bell boy. Harry Conklin who went to the room at 6:45 o'clock to awaken Raymond according to an order left with the night clerk last evening. MT. Raymond was found in a kneeling posture beside the bed. Both gas jets in the room were open and the room was filled with the es- caping fumes. A call was sent for the ambulance and Dr. Harry Bennett re- sponded but MT. Raymond had been dead about 11h hours. His forehead was slightly bruised and there were two cuts over the right eye where he had struck the rim of toilet bowl in falling. The body was not clothed.
 Medical Examiner Downs was call- ed and after viewing the body found that death was due to gas poisoning. In the opinion of the medical exam ner it was an unmistakable case of sui eide. The remains were taken in charge by Hawley, Wilnot & Rev. holds. In the pockets of the clothes was found $1.H.
 Raymond is survived by a widow who was formerly Miss Louis Wiesner a daughter of the late Julius Weisner, a cigar manufacturer. Miss Wiesner was his fourth wife. He was 60 years old.
 In the opinion of Dr. Harry Bennett who was MT. Raymond's physician. death was not premeditated. Dr. Ben- nett is convinced that Raymond ac- cidentally turned on the gas jets while trying to light the electric lights as the fixtures are combined and there Is only an inch or two between them. It is the theory of Dr. Bennett that Ray nond. who had previously suffered three attacks of paralysis. was taken ill during the night, and arising. per haps after a struggle, attempted to turn on the lights and in his troubled state made fatal mistake.
 It. was evident from the position of the body that the deceased had either fallen from the; bed or assisted himself ing. In doing so his head struck the rim of the toilet jar with sufficient force to cause two wounds over the right eye. Apparently while vomiting he died for he was kneeling with his head resting on the, bowl when the door was opened by the bell boy and he had been dead some time.
 A conversation which took place be- tween him and one of his best friends few nights ago is significant. During this conversation Raymond grew re- miniscent and said: Well I have buried my last sister, by brother Charlie is in a bad way and probably will not be here long. I won't be here a great while either.
 The suicide theory is generally ac- cepted among his friends. They did not seem surprised when told of the circumstances this morning. "Well I supposed he became a little ,deSpond- dent. Business and other cares to say nothing of his illness worried him. He wasn't feeling we'll anyway" was what one of them said and the others con- cured in this opinion.
 Another friend said that MT. Ray 1onn6 had 1nSf most of his money and was worried about what would happen to him if he should have another paralytic stroke.
 Unti. two weeks ago he was pro- prietor of the saloon at 165 State street, near Main street. It was only few days ago that possession of the place passed from him to the present owners, Morton & Shannon. It is the turn that his financial affairs had taken for he said as much to friends He waA first visited with a stroke of paralysis Feb. 12 last, and pr. Bennett was called. A second shock followed in June and he sustained a third shock about three weeks ago. At the ad- vi ce of his physician early last sum- mer he went to live in Easton where he passed most of the summer except for his visits now and then to this city. While here he resided in rooms over his saloon. These apartments he and his wife were preparing to vacate and it was because of the disturbed condition of their household effects, it is said. that he went to the hotel last evening instead of to his home.
 He arrived at the hotel shortly after 6 last evening and retired about 6:45. He left a call for 6:45 this morning. He spoke plea sanity to those about the lobby whom he recognized and did not appear to be depressed. His wife who passed the night at her home was in formed of his death shortly after his body was found.
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