The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-29
That Is Believed to Have
Been Cause of Alex. E.
Stephens Act To-day
HAD >s = .rERED FROM
LENT HEADACHE
Barre Man Killed Himself
Early This Forenoon
by Hanging

Alexander Il. Stephens. stonecutter
for twenty years, employed by Jones
Bros, committed suicide by hanging in
the woodshed at his home, Durkee
place. this morning soon after 7 o'clock.
The body was discovered by the mans
young son, Campbell Stephens, who went
| to the shed to ascertain the reason for
his fathers prolonged absence from the
house. Mrs. Stephens is overcome by
the tragic affair and at the Stephens
home this forenoon neighbors said her
Ieondition was serious.
Persons familiar with the circum-
stances of the suicide are reluctant to
believe that Mr.. Stephens deed was long
premeditated. He arose at o'clock be-
fore other members of the household had
come downstairs and was heard to open
the kitchen door leading to the shed.
1t was the dead mans custom to arise
early and kindle the kitchen fire while
his wife was dressing. This morning
some little time elapsed after Mrs. Steph-
ems heard him leave the kitchen and so
she sent the son to the shed to learn
the cause. What the boy saw was re-
sponsible for loud screams that aroused
the entire neighborhood Mrs. Stephens
ran downstairs and when she saw the
apparently lifeless body Of her husband
suspended from beam in the shed she
ran TO call for help.
G. E. White, who lives Just around
the corner on North Main street, was
one Of the first to reach the stephens
and with the help Of others he
lowered the body to the floor. Health
Officer Dr. J. H. Woodruff was sum
moned and at 1880 o'clock when he ar
rived, he pronounced the man dead. Sat
isfied as to the cause of death. DIR. Wood
ruff notified States Attorney Carver of
the suicide.
Stephens had evidently gone to the
shed for kindling wood and it was when
he looked overhead to see a sturdy
strand of swing rope hanging down from
the beam that he decided to end it all,
the neighbors believe. When the body
was taken down, long strip of black
10th had been wound tightly about the
neck Death, however, was due to stran
yulation by the rope, it was said and
Health Officer Woodruff. who examined
he body only few minutes after it was
discovered, said he could have been dead
'nly few moments. Apparently Steph-
ms had been aided in successfully ae-
his purpose by block of
wood which he kicked away as soon as
he moose was fast about his neck
The man had been in rather poor
ealth since early in the year. He
topped working at Jones Bros plant
an. q and since that time he had been
rying to rid himself of violent head
4.
1ng intervals. He had a constant fear
{ insanity, it was said at the house
his forenoon, and when few days ago
ne of his long time friends was ad
Idged insane, LIS anxiety seemed to in
rease considerably. Friends of Stephens
scribe his act to continued i'll health.
e had never intimated that such would
e his end and so far as could be learned
e left no message as an explanation of
he course he pursued.
Mr.. Stephens was born in Montreal.
O., IL years ago next July. For 20
ears he had lived in this city and dur
q a greater share of the time he had
zen employed as stonecutter by Jones
ros. He leaves a wife and four young
ildren. Margaret Campbell, Loretta
I'd Mary, all of whom live at home.
sister, Miss Mary stephens, who
aches school in Montreal, and two
Others also survive. The latter are
mes c. Stephens, railway mail clerk
the Canadian Pacific lines and Joseph
ephens. who is employed as litho-
apher in Montreal. The deceased was
arried in Barre IL years ago to Miss
ltherine Griffin of Almont, Ont. He
Is a member of st. Moniea's Roman
tholie church and also belonged to
an Gordon, No. II, O. S. C., and st.
hn court, No. 522. c. 0. f. He was
rolled in the granitecutters Barre To-
for many years.
The funeral arrangements will not
completed until word has been re-
we'd from Mr.. Stephens brothers and
ter in Montreal.