The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-27
J. D. Humphrey Wrote Let
ter to Boston News
paper
THEN BOARDED BOAT
AND JUMPED INTO SEA
1t Was Too Late to Get
Word to the Officers
of the Vessel

| Boston, March 27.-After announcing
his intention OF committing suicide by
jumping overheard from the Portland
steamer, Gov. Dingley, through the me
dunn OF letter to a Boston newspaper,
| J. d. Humphrey, travelling salesman
of III School street, Jamaica Plain,
tcarried out his threat off Boone Island,
Me-, early yesterday.
The letter was mailed in Boston, but
was received too late to prevent Hum
phrey from carrying out his plan to end
his life. The letter read:
SAN leaving tonight on boat Gov.
Dingley, under name of ]. H. Holmes,
room l05.
"WilI leave package with purser. !
intend to 90 overheard some way out.
| My disappearance may not be reported.
Some of my things will be left in state
room. Also my grip, marked J. d. II. on
end My wife and family must be as
sured Of my death. Make inquiries, if
no report made, as TO my overcoat,
watch, etc
81 d. Humphrey"
With the arrival OF the letter, wireless
kilograms were sent to the Governor
DingIey, but Humphrey had already
jumped over the stern of the vessel and
been swallowed UP in the sea.
A short time before the message was
received by the wireless operator of the
Dinglev, a seaman aboard the vessel had
seen Humphrey saunter to the rail on
the starboard side of the saloon deck
Humphrey appeared calm and for sew
era minutes stood gazing at the water.
With a catlike spring Humphrey sud
denly jumped to the rail For a mo-
ment he poised in the air. then dived
into the sea, disappearing in the churn-
ing wake of the steamer.
The seaman gave the dreaded call of
Man overheard" fieboat was low
cred and manned. The steamer was
stopped and for a long time a search of
the dark waters was made, but without
result
The identity OF the suicide was not
established until the steamer reached
her berth in Portland couple of hours
three letters one OF them to his wife,
his hat. coat and his grip containing
toilet articles were found.
Purser Frank Hart OF the Dingley took
charge Of Humphreys effects, having al
ready bundle left with him by Hum
phrey before the boat started. The iden-
tity was strengthened by several tele-
grams and telephone messages from
friends and relatives asking information
of the missing man.
Wife Is Frustrated.
Mrs. Humphrey at her home in ia
maica Plain was Frustrated when in
formed of her husbands act. She said
she knew nothing of her husbands in
tentions, that when he left her in the
Afternoon he said he was about TO meet
Guy L. Keene of Brockton and take him
to theatre.
Kcene's wife in Brockton said early
yesterday that her husband was in New
Hampshire on business. She further
said that the last time her husband saw
Humphrey the latter gave her husband
several pawn tickets. saying Good bye,
Guy You will probably never see me
again.
The dead man IS believed to have been
Respondent because of his failure to Sc
cure work He had been out of work
for some time, and had uttered several
remarks that showed plainly he was de-
spondent.
The letter sent by Humphrey TO the
BOSTON newspaper bore the stamping
time of March %, . p. m, but whether
it had been posted Just before that time
or whether it had been in the postoffiee
for some hours previous to the stamping
time is not known.