By His Own Hand |
Winthrop Harrison Faulkner, residing on Claremon street, West Somerville, committed suicide¹
early Tuesday morning, in the loft above his store, on North avenue, by shooting himself in the region of the heart. He left home Monday afternoon at 1.30 o'clock, and was observed on the train going to Boston by a neighbor, when he appeared to be chatting with an acquaintance in his usual manner. As he failed to return at night, the family became alarmed about him, and as they also missed him from the store one of the employes sent to the house the following morning to know if he was ill. Mrs. Faulkner replied that she knew nothing of his whereabouts, and was herself anxious, and soon after went down to the store, but learning nothing satisfactory, returned to the house. Very soon after she left the store the young man employed there went up-stairs to the loft that was used as a storeroom to get some goods, and was horrified to find the dead body of Mr. Faulkner upon a lounge, his left hand still pressed above his heart. Medical Examiner Holt viewed the remains, and later in the day they were removed to his home. Mr. Faulkner was born in South Acton, Jan. 14th, 1841, and was a son of the late Col. Winthrop B. Faulkner, of that place, being at the time of his death the last survivor of four sons, one of whom, having just entered Harvard, was killed by the cars at Porter station, March 16th, 1861. Deceased resided in South Acton during his early life, and going to Pike's Peak about the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion served during the war in the 7th Kansas Cavalry. He removed with his family in 1878 from South Acton to their present home. For some years past he has been in poor health, and has at times suffered acutely, having had within the past year two severe attacks, during which he was insane. Of late he has been very much depressed, his wife and daughter having noticed a great change in his manner within a week, which became more and more marked. Without doubt he took his own life while laboring under an aberration of mind, caused by ill health and great physical suffering. He leaves a widow and one daughter, who have the deepest sympathy of all in their affliction. The funeral took place from the Third Universalist Chapel Thursday morning, Rev. C. A. Skinner officiating. Among the floral tributes were a crescent and star, on stand, from the Third Universalist Society, and a star, on stand, from neighbors. The remains were taken to South Acton, where services were held at the homestead. |
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Fire Alarms |
The alarm from Box 28 at 2 A.M., on Tuesday, closely followed by an alarm from Box 29, called the department to a fire in the two-story wooden dwelling house on the corner of Vine and Beacon streets owned by the Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank, and occupied by Peter Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzmorris and Mrs. Mary Nolan. The fire is supposed to have caught from the furnace in the cellar and spread so rapidly that the inmates of the house barely escaped with their lives, saving absolutely nothing of their property. The occupant of the upper portion of the house in his alarm his baby from a second story window to the piazza roof below, from which it was taken by the firemen, while he himself with his wife escaped hurriedly by a back stairway. The house was completely gutted and with its contents is a total loss. It was valued at about $3,500 and is insured. Fitzmorris had an insurance of $1,500 on his furniture, but believes it will not cover his loss. Fitzgerald estimates his loss at about $2,000, not insured, while Mrs. Nolan's loss is about covered by her $500 insurance.
The alarm from Box 28, Wednesday evening, was for the burning of a garment in the house occupied by Richard Fleming, on Somerville avenue. The loss was trifling. The alarm bells were very much out of order and played many peals during the entire night. |
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