Norwich bulletin., 1920-02-25
A. F. WC-1 The Local Undertaker' OEN:GLSoN, CONN Partora . Nickname Strooa

pressing emergency upsets present prospects and possibilities.
 Senator Archibald Macdonald of this city is not a candidate to succeed him self. One hears that Woodstock will present it's claim that it is that towns turn to select the candidate. Others will tell you that Killingly may fur nish the man. Eastford or Ashford may also have a claim. At present waiting Sh developments seems to be the proper procedure, but there is promise of some lively times just ahead
 The body of Byron Smith, 72 which had been gnawed by rats as it lay on the floor where he died a week ago at his forlorn home in West GlouceS- ter, over the Rhode Island border was laid at rest Tuesday afternoon in the Smith family cemetery at that place. MT. Smith was a recluse, liY- ing alone on barren farm where he had managed to eke out a living for many years, one of his neighbors stat ed Tuesday. In the neighborhood he was regarded as being well able to afford more comfortable home sur roundings than he permitted himself, but he seemed to prefer living in quarters that were appalling squaaid. He had complained to neighbors of not feeling well for about two weeks before his death and means of keep ing in touch with him were estab- tshed. It was the custom of a school boy living in the vicinity of the Smith farm to go there morning and after noon to see as to MT. Smith condition and to care for the sick mans cattle.
 Tuesday of last week, on his way home from school, the boy called to find the old man lying on the floor and gasping. He hurried for assistance, procuring Alden Sherman, who found MT. Smith had died when he arrived at the Smith home.
 Word of Mir. Smiths death was sent to the coroner for the district, but he was unable to get through to view the body on account of the condition of the roads, which are impossible with snow in that district. The next day when neighbors returned to care for the body. whicsl had been covered with blanket where it lay upon the floor, it was found that rats had gnawed the face and ankles in a hor- rible feast upon the dead.
 To prevent a recurrence of this happening action was taken in the neighborhoodI Ito procure the neces- burial of the body. A casket was ob-
 
 and the body was placed within for protection from further molestation by the rats. Preparations for getting the body over -choked roads to the cemetery could not be completed to permit of holding the funeral earlier than Tuesday afternoon, when a sled was used to carry it to its last rest ing place.
 MT. Smith had lived for many years on the place where he died. His kitchen, where he ate and slept, was so crowded with boxes and crates and refuse of all kinds that one could barely open the door wide enough to squeeze into the room, a neighbor said Tuesday afternon. He has a ne- phew and some other relatives i'll that desolate section of country where he lived, but preferred to be alone.
 The discoveries made by the local police and officials of the state auto mobile and state police departments as to stolen cars has put many an owner of a "used'' car under a spell of nervousness. often without cause, as has just been demonstrated here. Reports keep coming in about stolen cars. Captain Bulger was called upon to investigate another of these stories, but found that the car in question was o. K.
 March is the date set for the an- nual city meeting at which electors will pass upon the budget recorl- mended by the common council. The tax rates for the present year also will be fixed at this meeting.
 Ponnfret is the first town here aIbouts from which unofficial census l figures have been obtained. The. 1920 population is given as 1452, or about
 300 less than. the figures for 1910. | This shrinkage is explained in part by | the fact that construction workers, ln- | cluding about 100 men employed on a l telephone line. were included in the 1910 census. and-nohe ot them were permanent residents of Pomfret. l w. G. Clark, the West Woodstock man, who is nearly 100 years old. is reported as having withstood the hard