Putnam patriot., 1916-07-21
BULLET
 THROUGH HEAD
J. Clayton Fisher Takes His Life iu
 Barn on WheelOek Premises
cses Looking Glass to Take Aim. Des. pondency Due to III Health and Finan.
 CiaI Affairs Said to Be Cause

j Clayton Fisher, 3S, coachman and earetaker for Silas NJ. W Wheelock, agent ol the Putnam Woolen Company, shot himself through the head in the loft of the COW barn on the WheeIock prem ises between 5.30 and o'clock Wed nesday evening and died at the Day Kimbal hospital at 130 o'clock this Thursday morning. Dependency over ill health and financial affairs is thought to have been the cause for his net.
 Robert Wilson, teamster for the Put nam Woolen Company, found Fisher in the barn. Wilson drove into the yard about 5.45 and put up his horses. He thought he heard some one groan. ing in the barn loft and went up the dark stairs. lie saw a man lying in the hay but did not recognize who it was. He went out and called Alvan Johnson, chauffeur for Dr. J. B. Kent, who lives across the street, and to
 
 found Fisher unconscious, his face covered with blood flowing from wounds in each side of the head where a bullet had passed through. Beside Fisher was a thirty-two caliber revol- yer of the bull ,dog type with two empty shells, also small looking glass probably used by Fisher to make his aim sure.
 Mrs. Wheeloek came out and as soon as she learned what had taken place summoned DI. Russell and Dr. F. A MorrelI, medical examiner. After an examination Fisher was removed to the hospital.
 It was found that only one bullet had taken effect. This ball went in at the right temple and came out the left side of the head making fatal wound. It was given out after the shooting that there was no hope for the man and he died at 1.50 without regaining consciousness. No note of explanation was left and the only reason that can be assigned for the act is that Fisher was worried and had been breeding over ill health and financial matters.
 Fisher has worked for the agent of the .woolen company for ten years or more. Shortly after noon Wednesday he called at the house and asked if there was anything for him to do. Be. ing informed that there was not he went away. He was next seen on the premises about 5.30 by Ina Walters, maid in the Wheelock household. Miss Walters said she saw him enter the yard and that he was walking fast as if in a hurry las he went toward the barn. This is the last time he was seen before the shooting. WhenFisher did not show up at his usual time for milking and doing chores remarks were made as to where he was but no one thought of anything wrong.
 Children in the mill village nearby are reported to have said that they saw a man in the vacant lots in the rear of the Wheelock home wringing his hands and acting strangely in the afternoon. It may be that this was Fisher and that it was there that he determined to take his own life and then hurried to the barn to carry out his purpose.
 The only person who is known to have heard the shots is Mrs Alyan Johnson. The Johnson house is direct iy across the street from the COW barn and Mrs. Johnson says she heard shots shortly lafter 5.30 but did not lknow where the sound came from. Mrs. Wheelock was out in the garden pick ing flowers between 5 and o'clock but she heard nothing unusual. The children at play not far from the barn say they heard nothing. It is prob- able that Fisher shot himself only a few minutes before he was discovered by Wilson.
 Fisher was born in Putnam and has lived most of his life here. He was fond of horses and has always worked around them. He was of cheerful disposition and those who saw him N ednesday say they noticed nothing unusual in his actions. He appeared ss usual when he went to the house for orders. A clerk in local store says he saw him during the noon hour and exchanged greetings with him. Wilson the teamster says he appeared as ususl as he drove out of the yard and joking ly said, "Its a hot afternoon, Bob, you'll sweat some today
 The wife and mother were nearly prostrated over the affair. Besides these, four small children, the oldest nine and the youngest an infant; and a brother, E. N. Fisher, meat cutter in Bartlett's store, survive.
 The funeral will be private and held at 2 o'clock Saturday in the Grove