1924 obit-Eugene Knight Date: 98-04-11 23:18:12 EDT From: tess@sover.net (Terry Perham) from the Brattleboro Reformer Brattleboro, Windham County, VT 1924 INHALES GAS TO END HIS LIFE ----------- Eugene Knight Has Attack of Despondency Over Ill Health -------- COMMITS SUICIDE IN BROTHER'S HOME -------- Pulmotor not in Good Working Condition for Using Oxygen--Deceased Formerly was Express Co. Emoloye--Recently Worked for Chair Co. Becoming despondent because of ill health, Eugene Knight, 57, of 14 Pearl street, committed suicide yesterday afternoon about 4.10 by gas poisoning. He was discovered by Mrs. George F. Knight, who lives in the same house and who detected the strong odor of gas emanating from the kitchen. Entrance to the room was gained through a rear window, and when found, Mr. Knight was beyond medical aid. Dr. B.E. White was called, but he said Mr. Knight had been dead half an hour. Mr. Knight lived with his brother, Spencer W. Knight, letter carrier, and the latter's son, Harry Knight, in one part of the house, while Geroge F. Knight, another son of Spencer W. Knight and his family occupied another part of the house. He locked the kitchen door before opening the gas range. A pulmotor was brought from the fire department headquarters, but it was not in good working conditions for the use of oxygen, and other methods of resuscitation were attempted. Employes of the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., also attempted to restore breathing, but all efforts failed. Eugene Knight was born in Brattleboro in December 1868, a son of Jesse and Maria (Thrower) Knight, who at that time lived on Washington street. He attended the public schools here until the age of eight, when he moved with his parents to Athol, Mass. Following his father's death there in 1878, he came back to Brattleboro with his mother, finishing his schooling with two years in the high school. He then was employed for a time in the news store owned by E.J. Carpenter, now the Brattleboro News Co. later he was employed as driver for the American Express Co. and several years later he became night foreman for the express company at Springfield, Mass. Two years later, on account of ill health he gave up night work and worked for three years at Norumbega Park, near Boston, and after three years there joined a high wire troupe with whom he was chief mechanic. While with the troupe he traveled extensively in the West and Middle West for a period of three years. At the end of that time he became a traveling salesman for the Wheatlet company of Michigan and for 10 years traveled in the interests of that company, covering a large section of the country. His health gradually becoming worse, Mr. Knight was obliged to give up his traveling position and relocated in Brattleboro, taking a position as inspector at the White River Chair company which he retained until last spring, his health becoming so poor that he was obliged to give up work. In the past three months he had become despondent. In his younger days, before he left for the West, Mr. Knight was a member of the Vermont Wheel club, at the time when the high wheeled bicycles were in vogue, and he was an ardent rider. He also belonged to Quonekticut tribe of Red Men. Mr. Knight leaves one brother, Spencer W. Knight, three nephews, Harry C. and George F. Knight both of Brattleboro, and Frank R. Knight of Springfield, Mass; also two nieces, Mrs. Douglas Spinner of Richford, N.Y. and Mrs. Dana H. Stafford of this town. The funeral will be private and will be held tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock at Grove Terrace. Rev. Walter C. Bernard will officiate. The body will be taken to Athol, Mass. for burial in the family lot in Silver Lake cemtery. ************************************************************************ (c)1998, Terry Perham Courtesy of Terry Perham Hinsdale, NH tess@sover.net ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.