The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-06-27
FRANK HEPBURN
COMMITS SUICIDE
Former Head of Monkridge Mfg. Co.
Broke and Despondent.

Sundays Times Union contained
the following account of the death OF
| Frank Hepburn, former resident oil
Palatka and Crescent City, and who
at the tffe of his residence here was
president of the MonRridge Manutac-
| turing Co., company promoted by
himself and which purported to make
glue and tanin out of palmetto roots,
The story of his end is tragic in the
extreme, and will excite the sympa-
thy of all who knew the cheerful En-
glishman and gentleman of fine
breeding and educational attalnments'
"Despondent, perhaps because, he
was out of employment and had no
funds to pay the rent of his room,
which he had been ordered to vacate,
the dead body of Frank Hepburn, a
white man of about So years of age,
who for some time had resided at
225 Florida avenue, was found be-
meath a weeping willow tree IN Dig
nan park at 7:30 o'clock last night
The strong odor of carbolic acid on
the dead mans clothing grimly tod
the story of the Encouragement that
led him to take his own life.
"F. NJ. Cooper, 1926 Hubbard
street. first discovered the body OF
Hepburn where it lay beside a bench
between the park lake and Hogan's
creek Scenting the odor of the pow
erful acid Cooper went to search for
policeman. He met W. H. Meypar-
die Of 131 East First street, and the
two men summoned Mounted Officer
H. r. Bazemore, who examined the
body and found that the then un-
known man had died but short time
before.
"The authorities were notified at
once. Sheriff Bowling and Deputy
Sheriffs Lucius Haddock and jim
Crawford, accompanied by Detective
W. B. Cahoon of the police depart
ment, went at once to the scene OF
the tragedy The body was removed
to the undertaking establishment Of
Marcus Conant, where it was prepar-
ed for burial.
at was only by card, which en-
titled Hepburn to take books from
the public library, that he was identi-
fled. No letter giving his reason for
the rash act was found upon his per
son. The dead man was dressed neat
ly and his auburn hair and beard,
traced with gray, was likewise well
kept.
ain an effort to secure further in
formation, w. B. Cahoon and Deputy
Sheriffs Crawford and Haddock, ac-
companied by a representative of the
Times Union, visited Hepburn's
former boarding house at 225 Florida
avenue. There it was stated that
Hepburn had been a bookkeeper in
the employ of A. ]. Cesery & Co., at
the foot of East Bay street, but that
since the place was burned recently
ne has been unemployed. The officers
learned that he had later secured a
temporary position which was later
filled by younger man..
"No one in the house knew where
the man came from, nor whether o.
not he had any relatives. 1t is said
Hepburn was of quiet disposition
and made few friends. Hepburn's
room, on the third floor, just unde,
the roof, was searched with a hope
of finding more about his family con-
nections. The room was neatly ar
ranged and there were several books
from the library on the bureau of the
little apartment.
Hepburn left no message. On the
bureau, however, was letter which
read: "Mr. Hepburn: You will either
have to remit for the rental of your
room or you must vacate it." A fur
ther investigation will be made, how
ever, in hopes of finding the dead
mans relations.
Hepburn, so the uolice have been
informed by man who knew him
here, was a graduate of Oxford uni
versity, and possessed a fine educa
ton. 1t is also said that he is from
a prominent English family.
However, the authorities have
been unable to find whether or not
he had any relatives in this country
The body is at the undertaking es-
| tabishment of Marcus Conant, anG
if no relatives are found the body will
probably be buried at the expense c.
the county.
"From letters found in the room it
seems that he has brother who is a
member of the British parliament"
1t is said here by men who have
kept track of Hepburn that his wife
was divorced some years ago, because
Of his habits of dissipation.