The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-02-05
FORMER MINISTER
ATE GLASS TO
KILL SELF
Ex-Rev. Raymond E. Walker Of
81. ftsbury Centre
WAS IN JAIL FOR FORGERY
Young Man Has Had a Checkered
Career and is Thought To Be
Insane.

BY swallowing more than score
of pins, lot of fine pieces of glass,
thr pieces of wire and a threaded
needed Rev Raymond E. Walker
formerly pastor of the Baptis;
church at SALISBURY Center
attempted to commit suicide in the
hospital connected with the Proyi-
dence county jail at Howard, R. l.,
and he is now in a critical condition
in the state hospital for the insane at
Howard. What the ultimate outcome
Of his suicidal attempt will be cannot
be stated now, as his condition since
he was taken to the hospital has not
been such as TO premit an exhaustiv.
examination. The superintendent Of
the hospital states that Walker was
in a very excited condition when he
went there, but that he has become
much calmer and has shown consid
cradle improvement in being less
nervous and agltated. The invest
cation of the conditions entering in
to his case will be completed within
a few days.
Walker was dismissed from tht
ministry in Vermont several years
ago for conduct unbecoming a minis
ter of the Gospel Rev George B.
Lawson former pastor here of the
First Baptist church and now princi-
pal of Vermont academy at Saxtons
River, was member Of the counsel
that dismissed him. Walker went to
Springfield, where he said he was
going to lead a better life, but hi
left the city and later was heard from
through the Waterman, the Baptis,
denominational journal, which related
some of his irregularities.
A short time ago Walker was pas
tor Of the Baptist church in Granite
Vile, r. l. On Dec. he was arrest
ed by Inspector John r. Haran,
charged with forgery. A few hours
after his arrest. while at his home,
he made q desperate attempt to es-
cape from Inspectors Haran and II.
b. Caffrey, but he was subdued after
a hard struggle and was taken to
/ police headquarters. 1t was claimed
at police headquarters that Walker
had forged a check bearing the name
Of c. Lambert Newhall and calling
for $35 and that he had forged but
I one check He spent the night of his
arrest in a cell, and the next morn
ing he was arraigned in the sixth
district court. At the time of his ar
! raignment 1t was suspected that his
bad check transactions might be
worse than at first supposed. Chief
Inspector c. S. Horton said at that
time that the names of at least two
other persons had been signed to
checks passed by the prisoner bu,
when arraigned he was charged only
with forging the name of Mr. New
hall.
While in Jail Walker became de
spondent and melancholy in his cell
and few days after his incarcera
tion he tried to kill himself by driv
ing his head against the bars. He
was prevented from carrying out his
purpose, but he was in such a bad
condition that he was ordered re
moved to the hospital of the institu
ton. Under careful treatment anC
direct supervision he become more
cheerful and at times seemed to for
get his troubles. With his growing
cheerfulnes he was ordered sent bach
to the JAIL where the cheerfulnes:
which he had shown in the hospita
again gave place to utter despair anC
melancholy
After few nights he swallowed I
lot of chloride of lime which ha(
been left in his cell as a disinfectant
Once more he was sent to the jail
hospital, and, as before, he took on |
cheerful frame OF mind. His condl
ton seemed gradually to change
however, and few days before hi
last attempt he seemed utterly down
cast and said he no longer wished t
live. Finally he told one OF the Of
flcials Of the jail hospital that h ha
eaten lot OF glass, some pins an
other things. DIR. II. A. Jones foun
that Walker had made an attempt o