The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-27

was overturned with the weight of the body.
 $ Immediate aid was summoned by a messenger despatched to Al Gou1den, traffic officer on duty at the corner The officer, informed that a man had shot himself in the Building immedi- ately stopped Dr. M. J. Greenstein who was passing in an automobile with his brother Henry, a lawyer Both rushed to the scene to find Strat- ton dead.
 Gou1den anmediate1y went to Harti- gan,s drug store and sent in a call for the ambulance which was out at the time but later responded with Dr. J. H. Baudrey. In the meantime, both Drs. Finnegan and CurIey of the enner- gency staff were located and motored to the scene.
 Dr. Greenstein immediately saw that death had been practically in stantaneous for a gaping wound ex- tended through the brain from the right side of the head to the left and the bullet was lodged in the wall di- rect1y opposite where the distracted man had stood. Another bullet hole in the region Of the heart told the mute tale of a.first shot not taking sna- stant effect Both wounds were such. as to cause death within a. few min utes, the head wound causing instant paralysis of all sensation and causing H.
 Detective George Fox a distant re1a- tive of the suicide, was hurried to the scene Upon the arrival of the arn- of kin Upon the arrival of the am bulance at headquarters, word was sent to pr. Garlick Of the occurrence. but, owing to his absence upon an other matter, 1t was after 12 o'clock when khe arrived, the body in the meantime lying in the upper room. from ten minutes past ten, when it was established that the shooting had occurred.
 Of peculiar significance are the facts that Stratton selected these rooms which have not been opened until re- gently for the use of architects who are planning remodeIling. The door, besides bearing it's new number tt1 4'' also bore the old number t'13' and contained furniture said to have been used both by the late David M. Read and Stratton.
 Upon the arrival of Dr. Gar1ick. who made an exhaustive examination of the wounds and facts, permission was given the relatives to remove the body to the undertaking parlors of Haw1ey, Wi1mot & Reynolds, where it will be prepared for burial.
 Investigation Of the motives for the sad deed show that grief over the de- parture of his lifelong associate and friend David F. Read is the primary cause, for Stratton never recovered from the unexpected loss of his most intimate friend. He had slowly be- come so upset that his nervous system whom he came in daily contact did not suspect the se1f-destructive tend encies which apparently cause him yesterday to purchase the revolver.
 His death has been 8. most severe shock to his only sister, Mrs. Frank Booth, wife of the president of the F. & F. c. Booth Company, on Middle street, who was almost prostrated up on learning of the end. and his only brother, Clifford Stratton, of 126 Aus tin street, who is associated with the H. C. Lowell Company, steamfitters, of Stratford.
 Edward o. Stratton was born in East Bridgeport in the year 1847, tho son of Daniel Stratton, who descend ed from an old family of this sec ton. Tn his early years, he attend ed an old schoolhouse located near where the Farist Steel Works now stand. He early entered the dry goods business becoming an appren- tfce with Birdsey & Co. on upper Main street He later was elevated to the position of salesman with the Bird sey-Morgan company. which succeed ed the first firm. His knowledge of arygoods merchandising was extensive,
  and sale which succeed sd that of the foreign import trade that once dominated here.
 He became associated with the late David M Read when that merchant was young man. interested in the Hall Drygoods company, which later became Hall & Read. An intense sprang up which lasted over the thirty years of their close business connection. Upon the death of the late David F. Read, he left in his will that Edward Stratton should be retained upon the executive board of the Read company and otherwise testified to the trust he reposed in him.
 Tn his early years, Edward Stratton was not only active in politics, belong ng to the Molly Pitchers but was zeenly interested in all the social
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