The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-05-25
MISSES SISTER,
FINDS Her DEAD
in Gas FUMES
Niece of Prominent Manu-
facturer Takes Life By
Illuminating Gas.
GIRL OF 10 LONG
HAS BEEN INVALID
Game Here From Vermont
to Become Bookkeeper in
Uncle's Factory Offices

Seated. upright in chair in the
kitchen of the commissary head
quarters of the Billion Machine &
Tool Co., in North Washington ave-
nue.. the dead body of Miss Grace
Wheeler, 19 years, a niece of Clar-
ence e. Billion, a prominent Bridge
port manufacturer and president OF
the Bridgeport Manufacturers' Asso-
citation, was found this morning at 5
o'clock by her sister Ruth and her
parents.
The girl driven to dependency by
continued illness had quietly slipped
out of her home, 500 North Wash
ington avenue, to the commissary
building. which adjoins her residence,
and is operated by the machine COM
pany for their help, and after turn
ing on all the burners in the kitchen
gas range, sat down in chair to await
death.
Miss Wheeler, who has been subject
to severe headaches, and was of a
neurotic temperament, has been in i'll
health for about nine years and con-
stantly under the care of a physician.
Last night she was attacked by severe
pains in the head and her mother sat
up with her until IL o'lcock.
She insisted that her mother retire,
stating that she would be alright and
would soon go to bed herself. The
mother left her daughter and went to
her chamber. Miss Wheeler waiting
until she thought her mother was
asleep quietly stole downstairs in the
house and procured the keys to the
commissary headquarters, which are
kept in the Wheeler home.
She nofselessly slipped from the
house about midnight it is thought
and went to the building next door.
On entering the kitchen she locked
all the doors to prevent entrance,
turned on the burners and pulled a
chair into the middle of the room,
in which her body was found, with
her head resting on the back of the
chair.
Miss Wheeler. always slept with her
sister Ruth. The latter being awak-
ened early this morning noted the: abb
sence of her sister She arose and
searched through the house, awaken
ing her mother and father when she
failed to find any trace Of the girl.
While the family once more search
ed the house, Ruth, finding the keys
to the commissary headquarters miss
ing, left her home and entered the
building. The fatal smell of gas
arounsed her fears and she summoned
her mother and father. The door
was forced and the PARENTS were
stricken by the sight of the girl sitting
dead in the chair. The body was full
~ clothed.
A physician who was hurriedly
summoned, pronounced her dead and
Medical Examiner Garlick notified
The latter stated that death was due
to suicide and that the girls rash deed
was the result of an unbalanced mind
due to illness.
Miss Wheeler, who was an exceed
ingly pretty and popular girl came to
this city with her parents, Mrs. Sarah
Billion Wheeler and George l.
Wheeler. from North Salisbury, VT.
about year ago, a younger sister
Ruth accompanying her. Her mothers
brother, Clarence E. Billion, gave he1
position as bookkeeper in his fac
tory.
1t was thought by her parents thai
the change would benefit her health
instead of better. About two month.
ago She became extremely desponden1
and suffered from convulsions. The
continued efforts of physicians to re
heve her proved unavailing and yes
terday she was melancholy and ex
tremely ill.
The medical examiner states there
is not the slightest doubt the girl wa.
driven insane by illness. She ,wouI6
have been 20 years old next month
She is survived by her parents, hel
sister Ruth, and two brothers, Vaughn
B. Wheeler of this city anad Fred w
Wheeler, who lives in the West