The Detroit times., 1909-01-21
BUYS URN FOR HIS
ASHES AND KILLS
HIMSELF
AGED MAN USES REVOLVER Ar
TER VISIT TO UNDERWRITERS
SEEMED IN MERRY MOOD -
TALKED OF CREMATION.

NEW YORK, Jan PA white-halr-
ed man, whose faltering steps amt
bowed form betrayed his 20 years
called AT the office OF the Stephen
Merritt Burial Co, Nineteenthst. and
Eighth-aye. Manager RadcAn recos
nized him because OF a previous visit.
when he had inquired about The ex-
pense OF cremation
He was Thomas Hutchinss, OF No.
524 West One Hundred and Fifty-third-
st. His son, Herbert HutChings, Is "A
wealthy and prominent builder, Of No.
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 MI Hutchings said:
Il want 10 De cremated When
my time comes prefer not 10 be
placed underground I've always hal
the idea that the soul and the body
were Incorporated. and II can't be easy
for the soul TO liberate itself from the
sod"
Seemed in a Merry Mood.
Mr. Radcifr said later that tho
trend OF the old mans talk was merry
in spite OF the subject. ana he sug-
gested There is no need OF you pro
yiding for burial for some time.
guess.
A quizzical expression llled the
aged mans eyes as he replied one
rever knows when the time may come.
IL is always best 10 be prepared.
More TO humor Hutchings than in
expectation OF taking an order, Rad
cliff conducted him through the show
rooms. He declined 10 inspect the
csskets. 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. lie expressed
much satisfaction after his selection of
an urn which he studied carefully
If you are going 10 take that.
Radcliff said not yet convinced that
Hutchings intended TO purchase, you
can imagine beautiful pictures OF the
urn being treasured after your ashes
are scattered 10 the winds.
Hutchings took out his pocketbook.
pToffered a SO bill and said be want
ed TO pay The sum on account He
asked for receipt and while IL was
being made ont sat az q table and
wrote a note which he said was 10 his
son.
Asked for Police Station.
Radclif tenGered the receipt and
Hutchings was departing when he
paused TO ask Radciiff where the
nearest police station was. He was
directed 10 the station on West TWEEN
tieth-st.. between Eighth and Ninth
ayes.
He appeared there and engaged
Lieut.. Tighe in conversation, asking
him If he was a member OF the Ma
sonic order. Tighe sent him TO Door
man Anthony The latter talked TO
hutchinys briefly and suggested that
he go to the Masonic temple on West
Twenty-third. where he would find
friends. Tighe and Anthony watched
the old man as he departed. mo-
ment after the door closed they heard
a pistol shot.
Several pedestrians who later re-
ported TO the police said that Hutch
ings halted at the landing as he shut
the door pressed 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
which followed and the re-
serves had to clear the crowds from
the station entrance. Herbert Hutch
ings claimed his fathers body ar late
hour. He said he could assign no cause
for his fathers act until he had re.
ceived the note written al 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. 2l4 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 Kinsella
appeared. Carew said later he
thought he had seen Kinsella's ghost
vhcn Tho latter showed m