Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-04

James P. Thompson, aged 81 and a
veteran Of the Civil War. committe1
suicide by shooting Thursday fore
noon. in the stable Of his home on
Winter street. Dependency because
Of the death of his wife and failing
eyesight are quite nkely to have been
the cause Of the rash act. He had no
nearer relatives than cousins. one OF
whom Henry Parlin had been living
with him and caring for him since
last August. Mr.. Thompson used an
old army musket in committing the
act, having driven nail into one of
the treads on a flight OF stairs. He
hooked the trigger over the nail,
seated himself in a chair and then
apparently pulled the muzzle Of the
gun to a location over his heart and
leaned back in his chair to cause the
discharge of the weapon: He fell
over backwards and the bullet pass
ed through the body and the back of
the chair apparently into the wood
pile. His attendant and companion
had gone down street in the morning
ana was away when Mf. Thompson
died. A neighbor. Mrs. Joseph Chab-
OF, heard the report Of the gun and
looking from her home noticed Mr..
Thompson falling. When she reached
the stable he was practically gone.
Sheriff Mooers. the medical examin-
er, DR.. Stinchfield, and County At
torney Mooers were notified and soon
arrived on the scene. There was no
evidence Of anything but suicide re-
ported. Before firing the shot Mr..
Thompson had apparently laid his
watch and a note on a nearby chair
The note-was intended for E. B.
Chase, who, with A. c. Dinsmore of
Bingham are executors named in Mr.
Thompson's will. 1t made no mention
that he was intending to commit sui
eide and related strictly to business
affairs. According to Mr.. Parln. the
companion Of the dead man. he had
been in his usual health which was
quite good and had seemed the same
as usual Thursday morning. Beside
this gentleman there are two other
cousins. Mrs. Elizabeth En1erton and
Miss Flora Bassett Of Bingham A
Niece, Mrss Ida Cummings Of Lewis
ton Is expected shortly.
Mr.. Thompson's career was rather
an interesting one. He was born in
Bingham April 10. 1885. He passed
his childhood and early youth in the
community up to the age Of II years
when he came to Skowhegan. He
occupied various positions after this
change and finally accepted work
with the late Joseph Malbon as the
driver Of his six-horse truck team to
Waterville. He was thus employed
for about two years. but In 1856 was
among those who helped to build the
railroad into Skowhegah. During
the earlier years Of his life time he
also worked in. the woods winters and
in the spring found employment at
river driving. In this variety OF &C.
equations the deceased was engaged
until 1859 when he went to California
to work in the woods. While in that
distant state the Civil War broke out
and in obeyance to his countrv's cali
on the 18th Of September in 1861 he
enlisted in Co. Of the 4th Infantry
of California volunteers. At the
time Of enlistment it was thought
that the soldiers would come direct
~ East but instead the company was
sent to Fort Yam fill in, Oregon in
order that Phil Sheridan. who was
then only a lieutenant. might Be re-
lieved. Together with the other men,
bers Of his company, the soldier
youth was kept at Fort Yam fIili for
three years. At the END of that time
4 regiment which had been raised
IN Washington territory. was sent
to that location with thu result that