The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-27
5ut Frank Matthew Is Re-
covering from His Near
Asphyxiation
WOMAN UNCONSCIOUS
FOR OVER 48 HOURS
Arthur Keezer's Son Comes
to Take Care of Body
Italian Boy Identified.

The condition of Mrs Mary T. Smith,
who was nearly asphyxiated in her two
room fiat at 10 Merchant street Saturday
when Arthur Keezer, 81, and John P.
Smith, 6, lost their lives and Frank Mat
lin, or Matthew, nearly became victim,
was still serious at the City hospital to-
day; but Matthew was reported to be
gaining quite rapidly. The latter recov-
cred consciousness yesterday morning
and otherwise responded to treatment.
Mrs. Smith was nearer death when A.
Tomasi, owner of the building, rushed in
when other tenants complained of leak
ing gas, and her condition has not ma
terially improved in the two days inter
vening
States Attorney Davis is convinced
that the tragedy was the result Of care
lessness rather than design on anybody's
part. The door of the apartment was
locked on the inside, and Mr. Davis
thinks that no one except the four per
sons inside was mixed up in the affair.
lie is inclined to the opinion that some
person (probably keezer) endeavored to
light the gas stove to make some coffee
and that in some confusion of mind the
man turned on one Of the two fixtures
but held the match over the other fixture,
then lying down to wait for the coffee to
boil as he supposed. The opened and un
lighted fixture let its deadly fumes into
the two rooms and snufred out the lives
OF two and nearly killed the other two.
Matthew has not been interrogated yet.
+ Acting on the theory that the deaths
were the result of accident, States At
torney Davis gave permission Saturday
afternoon for the removal Of The bodies
of Keezer and Of the Smith boy to the
undertaking rooms of A. w Badger 4
Co. where the funeral of the former win
be held Tuesday afternoon
Alpheus Keezer of Chelsea, a son of
the dead man, came to Barre to-day TO
look after the funeral arrangements He
said that he did not know where his ia
I ther was born but knew that he was "
years Of age. Besides the son, there is
daughter, Mrs Mary Reed, who also lives
in Chelsea, Mrs. keeZer, wife Of the dead
man, is still living in some town in Yer
mont, but her location is unknown to
the son. The burial is to be held in VIII
son cemetery in Barre Town
The former name of the child vino was
asphyxiated was John Casparini, whose
mother Is in the state hospital at Water
bury and whose father resides at
George street, this city The boy was
six years Of age and was adopted by Mrs
Smith month after his birth and had
been cared for by Mrs Smith since that
time. Mrs Smith resided at that time
in Montpelier and only came to Barre, it
is said. last August.
Tenants of the building in which the
tragedy occurred and who were well ac-
quainted with the Smith woman and the
child declare that the child was receiving
good care and always appeared well
dressed He was a bright little chap and
was favorite in the neighborhood of his
home. Many people were attracted TO
the Badger undertaking rooms after the
story of the tfagedy was printed S8tur-
day and sought to view the remains for
purposes of Identification.