The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-07
Archie Bonnani, 9S, Com
mitted Suicide at % Ladd
Street To-day
WAS DISCOURAGED
BECAUSE OF ILLNESS
He Left Letter Address %
Brothers and Sist :
in Italy =

"Seo 20 years, dTose - morning at the
boarding house of Mr.. Catherine Bar
delli, 22 Ladd street, where he was living,
and sent a charge of shot,into his breast,
death ensuing instantly. He left fare
well letter TO his two brothers and one
sister in Italy, the letter being sealed
and directed to his stepmother, Mrs. El-
len Bonnani of 30 North Main street, di-
recting her 10 forward the letter to tle
relatives in Italy
Recently the man had complained OF a
severe pain in his right side and abdo-
men, and, in addition, he was afflicted
with cough which gave indication of
growing lung trouble. He sat up late
last night talking with neighbors who
gathered in the neighborhood He had
worked at his trade OF stonecutter at
Grearson & Lanes plant on Burnhams
meadow for two hours Yesterday until
forced to lay off because of the lack of
air to run the pneumatic tools.
At 6:45 this morning Mrs. Bardelli was
startled by the sound of a shot from
Bonnani's room on the second floor of her
house and, fearing some tragedy. she ran
out OF the house to the home of A. Abiat-
u just across the street. Neighbors also
had heard the sound but some thought it
came from belated Fourth of July ex-
plosion. Presently. however, few went
upstairs and saw thin column of smoke
issuing from the crevices of the closed en-
trance to Bonnan's room.
The police office was notified bv tele-
phone, and Chief Sinclair and Officer Hen
derson went to Ladd street On enter
ing the room they found the body living
on its back on the floor Just beside the
bed Nearby was a double barreled shot
gun, one chamber of which was emptied
and the butt of which was resting under
a radiator. Also lying nearby was the
ramrod Of the gun, and it was evident
that in his desperation Bonnan had Sc
curely lodged the butt of the gun under
the radiator and then, after putting the
lnuzzle against his breast, had discharged
the weapon by pressing the trigger with
the ramrod.
The shot had torn large wound in the
center of the body and some of the charge
had undoubtedly hit the heart. Life was
extinct. The police tried to get into
communication with Health Officer J. w.
Stewart but failed to locate him, after
which they secured Charles Oliver of the
BOARD of health After the remains were
,iewed the body was ordered removed to
he undertaking rooms of Perry & Noon.
IN. The body was clothed in trousers
md shirt when found.
One thing that may have served to de-
,ress Bonnani was the fact that his
BOARDING -hou/e keeper was planning to
cave for the South and had told him that
e would have to get another place in
which to live. His inability to maintain
teady employment was undoubtedly an
ther contributing cause. He had worked
Fl and on for Grearson & Lane for some
ears, but his i'll health had kept him
rom full-time employment A year ago
'st April his father, Oresta Bonnani.
assed away, and since that time the
ian had been more or less discouraged.
lie had been living at Mrs. Bardelli's
nee last September
His stepmother, Mrs. Ellen Bonnan,
no is employed in the laundry at the
ARE City hospital, recently submitted
} an operation on one foot and had only
# the hospital last Saturday, on which
~ she saw her stepson last. On that
" she noticed his cough and. being So
,itous as to his condition asked him
by he did not go to see a physician,
1t the young man put her query aside
ithout definite assurance that he would
insult medical aid. knowledge OF his
ndition without doubt caused brooding
hich terminated in self destruction.
Bonnani was born in Carrsra. Italy,
ID would have been 80 years of age next
,tober He came to the United States
years ago and had lived in various
ante centers in the time intervening.
ost of the time had been spent in Barre.
t he had also lived in Northfeld and
besides places farther dis
Mt His job at Grearson lanes OF
e had been on columnar work. He
5 unmarried and since the death of his
her he had made his home at various
arding houses about Barre. He was
II known in the Italian colony.
lie leaves, besides his stepmother the
o brothers and the sister. the last
ned. Mrs. Ida Giorgo. residing in Car
"a, Italy The two brothers present
alton is unknown because thev are in
Italian army and presumably fighting
Austrians on the border line between
'se two nations One OF them Clio
mi Bonnsni, is corporal and the
er, Bruno. is a private. The letter
ich Archie had written to the brothers
the sister was turned over to Mrs.
en- Bonnan bv Chief Sinclair. and she
! post it. a. directed. without opening
seal
he funeral will be held from Perry
Noonsn's undertaking rooms Sstur-
afternoon at 3 o'clock, and inter-
nt will BE- in Hope cemetery.