Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-05
WIFE DEAD, COMMITS SUICIDE
Harold Higgins Worried Over Fate Of
His Five Children Ends life
with Rifle

Hardwick, Aug. 1.-Harod Higgins OF
this place, driver on a milk route for Leo
johnson. committed suicide early Satur-
tay morning by shooting himself with a
rife. Death Is thought to have been in
Simultaneous. The bullet went through tho
mans forehead just above the eye. almost
in the center. and practically blew off the
back of the head. Higgins wife died about
three months ago, leaving him with FIVE
small children. The Oldest of these is now
about 10 years of age. while the youngest
Is three months old. 1t is thought that
despondency following the death OF his
wife and worry over the children brought
on the deed.
: All except the youngest OF these chill
dren were with relatives. two being with
the grandpa rents and Mr. Higgins brother
in Craftsbury, and two with Mrs. Hig-
eins' brother in wentworth. y. ". The
baby was being cared for in the family
+ Of Mr.. and Mrs. Chelsea Goodwin Of this
place. It is understood that they were
! ready to adopt the child. but Mr.. Higgins
did not wish to give it up. However he
, had no way of caring for It, and was owl
IDENTIFY fearing that he would have to find
! n new home for IT in the fall. if he did
not consent to the adoption.
Mr.. Higgins, who was % years Of age,
had lived alone at his homo in this place
since the death OF his wife. and II was
in tho kitchen OF this house that his body
was discovered about five O'Clock NeSter-
day afternoon by small girl who while
attending an auction sale next door, ran
around the house and peehed IN at inc
7 window.
Attention OF neighbors was called to the
bod,. and selectman Charles stanford was
! soon on thc scene Entrance had to be
"A W,
both doors wero securely fastened. II was
later found that one of tho doors was
locked nm the inside. while the other had
been nailed tight.
A., Medical examination brought out tho
fact that the man had been dead in the
vicinity Of IL hours. He was lying on MS
back on the kitchen floor, with riflc
beside him. a pecuia" circumstance OF
the affair was that tho bullet which nad
killed Higgins lay on his chest TINS NJ
tic flattened piece Of lead had prooapIS
gone through the mans ncah' MT 'ne
ceiling and then fallen hack on his chest
az hc toppled over. Plaster from hole
in the ceiling. directly overhead lay all
. about.
A string attached to tho trigger Of inc
rifle and fastened around the dead man
foot. as we'll as the fallen plaster. fur'
, nishcd tho clues to work out the theory
NJ how the shooting was done. Mt h'G
Gins had evidently carefully fastened the
, string to the trigger to his foot. ther
, pointed the barrel at his head. whlcr
was bent over TO receive the bullet. Thf
rifle must have been a borrowed one
, pointing to generalization. as the deac
mans father-in-law declares that Mr.
Higgins never owned a rifle in recon
years.
;e hal
CURED about $50 O'Clock yesterday morn
, ing It was about that time that James
Simon going by the house where Mr.. iliS
. gins lived heard a noise inside which n
, described as sounding like a TIN pan ran
ing. He thought no moro Of the natte
until he heard of the suicide. This hou
comedies with the period which Mr.. HiT
gins was thought to have been dead
the time he was found
Probably the last man to talk with Mr.
Higgins before his death was his hrothe
nv adoption Arthur Chase OF Craftsbury
These two were together at Mr.. Chase
home early Saturday morning and cam
. to Hardwick together on the early morn
ing stage They parted about six o'clocl
in the morning. according to Mr.. Chase
host recollections and Mr. Higgins the'
, said that he must hurry homo and chang
. his clothes 10 start on his milk route
Harold Higgins has lived in Hardwicl
. for about two years past. coming her
!. from Craftsbury. Since his marriage il
: 1?nS to Miss Indy Wiley. daughter o
: Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Wiley OF Crafts
hurry. he has spent most Of his time il
Orleans county. He was born in King
man. Me. His father. Charles Higgins
survives him and lives in Brownvie Me
The other survivors. besides his fiv
children. are the brother mentioned above
father-in-law and mother-in-law. Mr.. an
. Mrs. Charles Wiley of Craftsbury.
=, At the last announcement. funeral ar
. rankements had not been made. hut
:, had been suggested that they might b
= held tomorrow.