The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-30
FIREMAN COX IS SUICIDE; DRINKS
 CARB0LIC ACID. Jests With Drug Clerk at
 Suggestion of Self
 Destruction FOUND NO. 9 HOUSE TOO DREARY, HE SAYS Wanted to Get Transfer to Another House Comrades
 Noted His Morbidity

You don't think I'm crazy enough to drink carbolic acid, do your? de- manded John T. Cox, hoseman of No. g Engine company of the Bridgeport fire department of Drug Clerk George B. McGrath at 9:15 this morning Two hours later he was dead of carbolic acid poisoning having drained the con tents. of ah ounce pfiaIz which Mo Grath had sold him as he made the remark
 Hosenan Cox went into J., H. Clam petts drug store, at Park and South avenues, this morning, and after buy inga cigar asked for 10 cents worth ! eof the poison. He seemed in good health and spirits and after wrapping up the phfaI Clerk McGrath said. as he handed it to the fireman: .I hope you're not thinking of taking this yourself, John
 s.Nothing like it. replied Cox. jo- via1ly- .I am going to put a little in some water to wash a poodle dog at home
 Coupled with the widespread grief which was expressed when Coxss rash act became known later in the day were expressions of amazement and much speculation as to the cause His superior officers in the department and mem bers of his company were unable to attribute any reason for. the suicide and his relatives can only account for it on the ground that his nervous sys- tenn had become completely disorgan- ized because of i'll health.
 No explanation was left by the sui eide himself. He sat down in his home while alone for few minutes, but before he took the fatal draugfat he penned this brief note:
 Goodbye. I could not help it
 The note was addressed to no one. but it was presumed it was intended for his wife. who had left him but a few minutes before to go to a nearby store to buy meat for the monday meal The bit Of note paper with his brief and last message lay under the fingers of his left hand as they rested on the table In his right hand was the empty phial which had contained the poison.
 Cox was on night watch at NO. g engine house last night and at six o'clock called Lieut. Bennett and re- ported himself as sick. He was ex- oIsed from further duty for the day. After going to the drug store for the cigar and the acid at the hour stated he went to his home at 11S Black Rock avenue. A few minutes after he reached home pr. Ives, who had been treating him for a, nervous ailment, called The physician had attended him on Saturday and said he found his conditnon today much improved.
 SOA SHOW0Q no SlSnS or extreme nerv ousness and no ir1timations of his intention to take his owns1ife. When the physician left the home. Mrs. Cox left also to do her shopping and re- turned in IS minutes to find her hus- band dead in his chair. Mrs. Cox summoned her neighbors and the am bu1ance, but Surgeon Finnegan found Cox beyond earthly aid when he ar rived.
 Comrades of Cox in No. g company have noticed that he had been in a nervous condition for some time and that he seemed to be breeding oyer something about which he did not care. to talk.
 He told pr, Ives today that there was not enough going on at No. house and that he intended to ask for a transfer to his old post at No 1 en- by the tragedy which came unheraId- ed into what until now has been a most happy married life.
 MT. Cox was appointed a call man in the fire department Nov ember 29, 1904 He was appointed a member of 1908.
 He was first assigned to Truck No under Capt Beardsley, after a short time he was transferred to No. 1 com pany where he was located for eight years. After his appointment as per manent man he became driver of the supply wagon. He was in No. En- zine company for about two weeks. He was later transferred to No. com pany where he had been for about IT months.
 He is survived by his widow, who was Miss Jennie Kelly. two children, boy aged ', and girl, aged D. His parents, MT and Mrs. Edmund Cox, and one brother, Frederick Cox, also survive. His father and brother are employed in the cons tfllction depart ment of the Singer Mfg. Go.
 Hoseman Cox was born and brought up in East Bridgeport. He was of a genial disposition, popular with his comrades and officers in the fire de- partment, and had host of friends who will be shocked at the news of his untimely taking off.