Middlesex County Newspaper Abstracts

The Marlboro Daily Enterprise, 12 August 1901

MET WITH INSTANT DEATH. ————— Michael Ahearn Has Life Crushed Out By Street Sprinkler. ————— HORSES STARTED AND HE FELL BETWEEN THE WHEELS. ————— Had Been For a Long Time In The Employ Of the Marlboro Coal Company.
Michael Ahearn, 77 Florence st., was instantly killed Sunday evening about 6 o'clock by the rear wheel of a sprinkling cart on which he was working passing over his head. The accident took place opposite the high school common and occurred while the street was crowded with people. Never did the lamp of life burn out more quickly than in the death of this man, who a few moments before was in the bloom of health. He had been driving the sprinkling cart of the Marlboro Coal Co. and had just finished filling it with water from the pipe near the Billings factory. Some of the witnesses of the accident say that he had just turned off the water, when the horses started. He fell from the top of the cart to the ground and the rear wheel passed over his head. A number of those standing by say he did not utter a sound as he fell to the ground. William Burns stopped the horses immediately and a number of bystanders rushed to the unfortunate man's assistance. He was past all earthly aid, however. His head was frightfully crushed and many a person paled at the sight as he lay on the ground with his feet on the curbstone and his body in the gutter. His wife heard of the accident and was soon on the ground. Her manner was almost hysterical as she came up the street and many of the large crowd that had gathered were moved to tears as the poor woman approached. She asked concerning the fate of her husband and upon being told that he was dead returned to her home sobbing as if her heart would break.	There was not a person in all that crowd whose sympathy did not go out to the woman who had been so suddenly bereft. Shortly after the accident Medical Examiner Hoitt arrived and after viewing the body, rendered a decision that death was caused in a manner in accordance with the facts already stated. Undertaker McGill then took charge of the remains and carried them to his undertaking rooms on Huntington av. Mr. Ahearn was 35 years old and a native of Ireland. He had been in Marlboro for a long time and for many years in the employ of the Marlboro Coal Co. He was industrious and trustworthy and was held in high favor by his employers. He had charge of the sprinkler and did his work well. A wife and four children survive. He also leaves two brothers. The body of the deceased has been removed to his late home, 77 Florence st. The funeral will take place at the Immaculate Conception church Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock. Division 16, A.O.H., of which he was a member, will have a meeting at 8 o'clock this Monday evening to take action on his death. Besides the wife and little children above referred to, Mr. Ahearn leaves two brothers, Timothy of Milford and William of Worcester; also two sisters, Mrs. John O'Brien, Cambridge, and Miss Minnie Ahearn, Allston. Something over a year ago a brother, Matthew Ahearn, was found dead in the woods near Allston [sic].¹ Foul play was suspected but nothing in this line was ever proven.

MET WITH INSTANT DEATH.
—————
Michael Ahearn Has Life Crushed Out By Street Sprinkler.
—————
HORSES STARTED AND HE FELL BETWEEN THE WHEELS.
—————
Had Been For a Long Time In The Employ Of the Marlboro Coal Company.

    Michael Ahearn, 77 Florence st., was instantly killed Sunday evening about 6 o'clock by the rear wheel of a sprinkling cart on which he was working passing over his head. The accident took place opposite the high school common and occurred while the street was crowded with people. Never did the lamp of life burn out more quickly than in the death of this man, who a few moments before was in the bloom of health.
    He had been driving the sprinkling cart of the Marlboro Coal Co. and had just finished filling it with water from the pipe near the Billings factory. Some of the witnesses of the accident say that he had just turned off the water, when the horses started. He fell from the top of the cart to the ground and the rear wheel passed over his head. A number of those standing by say he did not utter a sound as he fell to the ground. William Burns stopped the horses immediately and a number of bystanders rushed to the unfortunate man's assistance. He was past all earthly aid, however. His head was frightfully crushed and many a person paled at the sight as he lay on the ground with his feet on the curbstone and his body in the gutter.
    His wife heard of the accident and was soon on the ground. Her manner was almost hysterical as she came up the street and many of the large crowd that had gathered were moved to tears as the poor woman approached. She asked concerning the fate of her husband and upon being told that he was dead returned to her home sobbing as if her heart would break.

    There was not a person in all that crowd whose sympathy did not go out to the woman who had been so suddenly bereft.
    Shortly after the accident Medical Examiner Hoitt arrived and after viewing the body, rendered a decision that death was caused in a manner in accordance with the facts already stated. Undertaker McGill then took charge of the remains and carried them to his undertaking rooms on Huntington av.
    Mr. Ahearn was 35 years old and a native of Ireland. He had been in Marlboro for a long time and for many years in the employ of the Marlboro Coal Co. He was industrious and trustworthy and was held in high favor by his employers. He had charge of the sprinkler and did his work well. A wife and four children survive. He also leaves two brothers.
    The body of the deceased has been removed to his late home, 77 Florence st. The funeral will take place at the Immaculate Conception church Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock. Division 16, A.O.H., of which he was a member, will have a meeting at 8 o'clock this Monday evening to take action on his death.
    Besides the wife and little children above referred to, Mr. Ahearn leaves two brothers, Timothy of Milford and William of Worcester; also two sisters, Mrs. John O'Brien, Cambridge, and Miss Minnie Ahearn, Allston.
    Something over a year ago a brother, Matthew Ahearn, was found dead in the woods near Allston [sic].¹ Foul play was suspected but nothing in this line was ever proven.

Submitted by dja

The Marlboro Daily Enterprise, 13 August 1901

LAST RITES Funeral of Michael Ahearn Held This Morning
All that was mortal of Michael Ahearn, the victim of Sunday's accident, was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery this Tuesday morning. The services took place in the Immaculate Conception church at 9 o'clock and a delegation from Division 16, A. O. H., escorted the remains from the late home of the deceased, 77 Florence st., to the church and thence to the cemetery. The office of the Marlboro Coal Co., of which Mr. Ahearn was a faithful employee for a number of years, was closed during the services and associates of the deceased attended the obsequies in a body. The firm was represented by C. F. Robinson and F. H. Morse who occupied seats in the rear of the mourners. The hearse was drawn by the pair of gray horses which were usually driven by the deceased and which were attached to the sprinkling cart when he met his death. The religious services consisted of a mass of requiem celebrated by Rev. J. P. Sullivan. F. A. McGill sang the Piu Jesu at the offertory. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery. The bearers were C. H. Coughlin, John W. Hutch, D. C. Downey, B. P. Clancy, Martin Gunning and William Fitzgerald, all members of Division 16.

LAST RITES
Funeral of Michael Ahearn Held This Morning

All that was mortal of Michael Ahearn, the victim of Sunday's accident, was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery this Tuesday morning. The services took place in the Immaculate Conception church at 9 o'clock and a delegation from Division 16, A. O. H., escorted the remains from the late home of the deceased, 77 Florence st., to the church and thence to the cemetery. The office of the Marlboro Coal Co., of which Mr. Ahearn was a faithful employee for a number of years, was closed during the services and associates of the deceased attended the obsequies in a body. The firm was represented by C. F. Robinson and F. H. Morse who occupied seats in the rear of the mourners.

The hearse was drawn by the pair of gray horses which were usually driven by the deceased and which were attached to the sprinkling cart when he met his death.

The religious services consisted of a mass of requiem celebrated by Rev. J. P. Sullivan. F. A. McGill sang the Piu Jesu at the offertory. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery. The bearers were C. H. Coughlin, John W. Hutch, D. C. Downey, B. P. Clancy, Martin Gunning and William Fitzgerald, all members of Division 16.

Submitted by dja

The Concord Enterprise, 14 August 1901

MAYNARD
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   Misses Maud and Mary McNamara of Chicago are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Dacey, Main st.
   Joseph Anderson has accepted employment in Collinsville.
   Herbert Salisbury now has charge of the tramp lockup.
   Henry Ledgard attended the Ayer-Hudson hose race in Clinton on Saturday.
   The turnout which brought the Fitchburg cricketers to town on Saturday was the subject of much comment. It was a handsome six-horse affair and was pronounced to be one of the finest hitches ever seen in town.
   John Moynihan of Brockton was a Sunday visitor in town.
   Lawton's orchestra played at a dance in Stow Tuesday evening and is to play at the annual reunion of the M. H. S. alumni on the 21st.
   Joseph McManus of Marlboro was a Sunday guest of P. H. DeLee.
   Miss Annie Glynn of Waltham was a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Driscoll, Main st., early in the week.
   John Church, who has been working at Hyde Park of late, has returned to the employ of the Assabet mills.
   The fire engineers are in need of a horse for the hose cart, as they are unable to procure one from D. E. Sheehan's stable, as all of his horses are hard at work.
   Mrs. C. F. Williams of Farley has joined her husband who succeeded George N. Salisbury at the station.
   Fred Schofield of Leominster was the guest of Maynard friends early in the week.
   Tilly Haynes, the famous hotel man who died last week, has many relatives in this section.
   Some time ago, Thomas Higgins, a former resident of here, fell heir to $20,000. As Mr. Higgins is the husband of Mrs. Mary Higgins, better known as Ollis, now an inmate of the town farm, the overseers of the poor saw a chance to lighten their burden and sent a representative to see Mr. Higgins in regard to supporting his wife. Mr. Higgins, who is at North Billerica, has as yet shown no inclination to do so and further steps will probably be taken.
   Members of the band are anxious that the public should know that no outsiders are allowed on the Congregational church lawn during the concerts and request that no one will intrude.
   Miss Mamie McLean of Newton spent last week as the guest of Miss Clara Green.
   Local horse owners are greatly troubled over the great amount of sickness existing among horses at the present time. It is supposed that the unusualy hot summer is the cause and cool weather would be greatly appreciated. During the past few days four horses have died while the number sick seems to increase rather than diminish.
   Miss Alice Pushee is the guest of Mrs. Robert Carter.
   Another delegation of bricklayers arrived in town on Monday, but returned to Boston as they were unable to secure boarding places.
   Fall hats and caps at J. F. Gannon & Co's.
   John Veitch spent Saturday in Woburn, renewing old acquaintances.
   Timothy Delacour started on Tuesday for Oregon City, Ore., where he is to reside.
   Joseph Gately was a Sunday visitor in Fitchburg.
   William Downs was a recent guest of Worcester friends.
   James McGill visited friends in Saxonville on Sunday.
   James McGrath was a Sunday visitor in Lexington.
   John Moynihan visited Waltham early in the week.
   The management of the fair held at Clinton each fall, is planning to give Maynard folks the advantage of a cheap trip by electric cars.
   The cricket team will play at Fitchburg Aug. 24.

ACTON CENTER
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   Miss Sadie Waterkin and Clifford Harmer of Bridgeton, Me., are the guests of Mrs. Jennie Potts, Pleasant st.
   George Chidley and Thomas Kelley, while wheeling home from Acton on Friday evening, narrowly escaped colliding with a rapidly driven team. In trying to escape the collision Mr. Kelley fell from his wheel which was badly damaged, but he fortunately escaped injuring himself.
   Miss Mary Joyce is enjoying a three weeks' vacation.
   Misses Mamie Driscoll and Inez Scully are visiting Boston friends.
   Miss Elizabeth Gallagher is to enjoy the pleasure of the Buffalo exposition late in the month.
   Miss Florence Haynes is spending the week at Nagog with a party of Littleton friends.
   William Jordan has been assisting John Coulter on the National express team the past week.
   Miss Bridget Punch of Philadelphia is the guest of her cousin, Mrs. Michael Murray, Parker st.
   Miss Mary Peters of Worcester has been spending the past few days in town.
   The boom of one of the derricks at the new mill fell on Friday, a number of workmen escaping injury.

WEST ACTON
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   Miss Emma Hart, and Carl Hoar, with the former's brother and his family of Medford are spending their vacation in Connecticut.
   Mr. and Mrs. George Crampton are receiving congratulations on the recent birth of a son.
   Miss Grace Richardson of Stoneham spent Sunday at home.
   Miss Lillie Lentell of Amherst, is visiting at S. R. Burroughs.
   Word was received here Saturday from Nova Scotia of the death by drowning of Harry Spinney, formerly of this place. He was a brother of E. L. Spinney and was married about a year ago to Miss Bertha Downie.
   Miss Mabel Priest of Boxboro with friends, is spending some time at Provincetown.
   Miss May S. Flagg is enjoying the breezes at Hyannis.
   Mrs. J. E. Richardson and daughter Katherine are visiting in Stoneham.
   Miss Alice Teele of Malden was a recent guest of her uncle, F. R. Knowlton.
   Chas. H. Mead and family are spending their vacation at Juniper Point, Salem.
   Luke Blanchard is on the sick list, being threatened with pneumonia.
   O. W. and Hobart E. Mead started for the west Saturday night, the long continued drought making it necessary for them to attend to their cattle and other property there.
   Orman Ewings of Hillside farm with his daughter Miss Henrietta and grand-daughter Louise Whitney of Somerville, have gone to Townshend, Vt. to enjoy the festivities of Old Home Week.
   D. H. Hall has so far recovered from his recent illness as to be able to drive out.
   Margaret, daughter of Sumner Wright of Watertown, has been spending a few days with her grand-parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wright and Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Meade.
   Homer J. Brown, with his family, of Washington, D. C., is visiting his sister, Mrs. Mary Willard.
   Mr. and Mrs. Charles Twitchell are in Malden for a week or more with Mrs. Maria Patch, sister of Mrs. Twitchell.
   Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Foley are to take a trip next week to Buffalo by way of Niagara Falls, to visit the Pan-American exposition.
   Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Gardner spent Sunday in Everett, the guests of Dr. and Mrs. Rufus Hall.

CONCORD JUNCTION
———

   Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Leland visited the former's parents at Sherborn on Saturday.
   Capt. John Boardman arrived at San Francisco on Monday morning from Manila and may be expected here within a very few days.
   Mrs. W. S. Leland and Mrs. E. H. Hatch are at Greenacre, N. H., for the week. They will attend the course of lectures being given at the summer school.
   John H. Pierce of Providence, R. I., is visiting the family of Dept. Supt. C. S. Hart.
   W. A. Hart is acting as teller at the Union Savings bank, Fall River, during the month of August.
   P. Prendergast spent a couple of days at Beach Bluff, Swampscott, last week.
   Miss Clara Hart has returned from a visit to Miss Rose Bowker at Surfside.
   Misses Reece M. Grant and Ethel G. Blossom spent Saturday in Boston visiting various points of interest.
   James Hart is clerking for Geo. G. Russell during the vacation period.
   W. C. Merrill has returned from a week's visit on the Cape.
   James Adams is camping at Nagog with a party of friends from Littleton and Maynard. Mrs. Haynes, the popular chaperone is with them.
   E. E. and Miss Marie Giles have returned to Mrs. Roberts' from Nagog, where they spent the month of July.
   On Monday John J. Fitzgerald received a handsome lot of brook trout sent from his brother-in-law at Norton, Vt. They were beauties.
   The Concord Junction brass band are engaged to play on the steamer King Philip next Sunday.
   Miss Marion Williams, who has spent some time with the family of F. C. Ring at Nagog, has gone to Becket and later will visit her brother in New York city.
   Clara and Rodney Pratt are spending their vacation in Maine at the old homestead, in company with their aunt, Mrs. Asa Durgin.
   Do not forget the lawn party Thursday evening at the Musketaquid club house. The Concord Junction brass band will furnish good music for dancing.
   Jacob Noll has closed his connection with the reformatory.
   Ernest G. Howard, the popular young electrician, leaves the reformatory service Sept. 1, to engage in business at Springfield.
   It is contemplated to make large additions to the reformatory woollen plant and the new machinery is arriving.

CONCORD JUNCTION LOCALS.

If you want a nice tent, don't fail to call and examine one pitched in my yard, for sale, cheap. Mrs. A. P. Joyce.
Remember at O. L. D. is the place to buy celluloid collars, the cheapest and best at all times.

CONCORD
———

   The paving of Main st. through the center of town has been completed and is an improvement to the street and an advantage to the railroad.
   John M. Keyes and son Joe sail for Halifax on Thursday, from which point they will visit all of the places of interest in the provinces, returning by way of Yarmouth.
   Harvey Wheeler and family are at Hyannisport.
   Misses Harriet and Helen Brown have been spending their vacation at Bristol, N. H.
   S. H. Tuttle is at Lakeport this week and from there will take short trips, making up his vacation time.
   Thomas Todd, jr. is gunning at Scituate.
   The dial on the town clock has been completed by gilding the numbers on the face. To look at this makes the clock look well, but for distinctness the black was much better.
   The cinder running track on the playground will be greatly appreciated by the would-be athletes of the schools. The back part of the Ripley school has also been moved on to the playground to be used as a dressing room for those training and for the base ball players.
   Mrs. H. P. Richardson is at Plainfield.
   George L. Dunning is in Wisconsin on a business trip, buying lumber.
   Mrs. George L. Dunning and daughter are at Plainfield.
   Thomas Todd and family return to Concord from Pigeon Cove next week.
   The horse sheds on the Concord golf grounds will be much appreciated by the horses and do not mar the landscape at all.
   The Coffin's Beach party, who have been there for the past three weeks, returned to Concord Monday.
   John Hansen has opened a shoe repairing shop in the building on Walden st. formerly occupied by H. Tuttle for clipping horses.
   The ice water fountain is a great success. Hot as it was Sunday and notwithstanding the number who used it, the water was cool all day and only 300 pounds of ice were used. Some one was at the faucet all the time.
   The Invincibles of the 7 o'clock train and the Hustlers of the 7.36 will try conclusions at base ball on the fairgrounds Saturday afternoon at 3.30.
   A stalk of white clover was given to the Enterprise correspondent on Saturday which measured five feet and 10 inches green. It was cut on the land of George D. Sohier and is the highest up to date.

———
A Custard Pie Social

Norway, Me., Aug. 14.—The Hartford Custard Pie association, of which John D. Long is a member, had its picnic and pie spread at Swan lake yesterday. The secretary of the navy was to have occupied the seat of honor at the table on which the work of art was a great cluster of custard pies, but he was not present. There were enough of these pies to supply the full appetite of 400 pie-eaters, who had come to town for old home week, or to take their customary outing with the association.

———
Alleged Assault With Bottle

Boston, Aug. 14.—Mrs. Elizabeth McCarthy is at the city hospital suffering from a compound fracture of the skull, caused, it is alleged, by a whisky bottle in the hands of her husband, Joseph. McCarthy is under arrest, charged with assault and battery, but judging from the woman's critical condition he will have to answer to a more serious charge. The couple lived at 31 Edenboro street, and it is said that quarrels have been frequent between them.

———
Death Rather Than Jail Sentence

Lowell, Mass., Aug. 14.—Katie Connors committed suicide by hanging in a cell in the police station in this city yesterday afternoon. In court she was charged with drunkenness and received a sentence of four months in jail. While waiting to be removed to the jail, she cut up her mattress and hanged herself to the door. She came to this city about a week ago. It is understood that her home was in Montpelier, Vt.

———
Police Looking For Murderer

Charlton, Mass., Aug. 14.—Covered with cuts and bruises, the body of Peter Filasca, a railway laborer, is awaiting burial, and the police are searching for the murderer. Filasca was found in a pool of blood in the road near Hornesbrook bridge. He died without having gained consciousness. His head was badly mutilated with cuts and bruises which were probably made with a broken beer bottle and a heavy club. The doctor thinks it probable that the man would have died from loss of blood if the injuries to the skull had not proved fatal. Pasquale Nicola, who has charge of the camp of workmen where Filasca lodged, said the last seen of Filasca was with his two brothers and several friends. Some of the men, said Nicola, were considerably under the influence of liquor.

Submitted by dja

Footnotes:: 1 — “HAD FROZEN TO DEATH.; Body of Matthew Ahearn of Bedford Discovered. Perished in the Storm of Feb 17 in a Field on His Way Home. Left Boston and His Disappearance First Known 10 Days After.” — The Boston Globe, 9 March 1900.

1901 Newspaper Abstracts
Middlesex County Massachusetts

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