Rochester, Monroe, NY Democrat & Chronicle July 14, 1913 CHESHIRE FARMER HANGS HIMSELF Had Brooded Over Death of Daughter for Two Years Wife Discovers The Body William S. Johnson, on First Day in Summer Home on Canandaigua Lake, Commits Suicide in Barn at Water's Edge - Endowed Vassar Canandaigua, July 13, Despondent by reason of ill health probably induced by brooding over the loss of his only daughter, a girl just blossoming into young womanhood some two years ago, William Seymour JOHNSON, 51 years of age, hung himself in his barn at Bay View on the west shore of Canandaigua lake about 9 o'clock this morning. Mr. JOHNSON took the loss of his daughter much to heart and for some time past members of his family have been watching him, as he was thought to be irrational at times. The family resides at Cheshire, five miles southwest of this city. Mrs. JOHNSON was desirous of taking possession of their cottage at Bay View for the remainder of the summer, but Mr. JOHNSON was not inclined at first to go there. Yesterday, however, the family moved to the lakeside and prepared to remain for some time. After breakfast this morning, Mr. JOHNSON went to the little barn on the cottage lot and when he did not return, his wife went to look for him and found him in the barn dead, with a halter about his neck in a slip-noose fashion. One end of the halter-lead was tied to a post and the other end had been fixed into a slip-noose and slipped over the man's head. Then he had lain down and the weight of his body had caused the noose to tighten more and more effectually choking him to death. Mr. JOHNSON was one of the best known citizens of the town of Canandaigua. He was born in the vicinity where he died, having been the son of the late John L. JOHNSON, Mr. and Mrs. JOHNSON, after the death of their daughter in September, 1910, just as she was preparing to re- enter Vassar College for her sophomore year, endowed a $10,000 scholarship at the college that some needy girls might perpetually have the opportunity of acquiring an education such as they had planned for their daughter. Mr. JOHNSON leaves his wife, a brother, Lewis M. JOHNSON, of Cheshire, and a sister, Mrs. Julia CRANDALL, of this city. The remains were removed to the residence at Cheshire soon after the discovery of the body and after Coroner Alfred W. ARMSTRONG of this city, had been called. The funeral will probably be held at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the late residence at Cheshire with Rev. William E. SEARLES, of this city; pastor of the Cheshire Union Church, officiating, and the burial will be made in Pine Bank cemetery, Cheshire. ** INFANT'S BODY IN SATCHEL Gruesome Find Made by Boys under Bushes in Seneca Park Two boys found a black leather satchel under a clump of bushes in Seneca Park late yesterday afternoon. When they opened it, the dead body of an infant a day or two old was discovered. It is now at the morgue, and an autopsy to-day will determine whether it was suffocated. A stocking was found stuffed in its mouth. After their discovery the boys went post haste to police headquarters, and turned the satchel and its contents over to Detective John SHAYNE. He notified Coroner KLEINDIENST, and carried the gruesome find to the morgue. The stocking jammed into the infant's mouth suggests that it was thus put to death. Clothing had been placed in the grip, perhaps with the idea that it would serve in burying the body. Copies of New York papers were also found with the body. ** CHILD STRUCK BY AUTO Just How Serious Injuries to Medina Child Are Is Not Ascertained. Medina, July 13 - Katherine ROACH, the four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John MACK(?), of Elm street, this village, had a narrow escape from death this morning. The child had endeavored to cross the road in front of her home, but upon reaching the center of the highway, she discovered an automobile approaching and turned back to avoid it. The machine, which was owned and driven by Bruce BRITT, of this village, struck her, knocking her to the ground. She was carried to her home and Dr. J. V. G??RANS was summoned. She received several cuts about the face and head, but whether she was internally injured or not, the physician was unable to ascertain, ---- the first examination. The machine was going very slowly and no blame is attached to Mr. BRITT for the accident. ** CHARLES GOODYEAR Seneca Falls, July 13 - Charles O. GOODYEAR, a well known resident of this village, died early to-day in a Rochester hospital where he had been under (line unreadable) was 69 years old, having been born in Cayuga county in 1844. H spent the principal part of his life in this village and had a wide circle of friends. His death came when his recovery was expected following an operation. Mr. GOODYEAR leaves his wife, Ellen GOODYEAR. The remains were brought here to-night. ** BODY OF NEGRO IN CANAL Found Floating in Water at Medina. No Identification Marks Medina, July 13 - This morning about ? o'clock, the body of an unknown negro was discovered floating down the Erie canal in this village. It was recovered — Chief of Police John STORK and taken to the undertaking rooms of O'Reilly A ____. Coroner Charles F. FAIRMAN was summoned and viewed the remains. The body had the appearances of having been in the water for some time. No papers or other marks of identification, with the exception of an open jack-knife bearing the name of Chase & Breed, local hardware merchants. There were no marks or bruises on the body to indicate foul play, and the whole affair is a mystery which will probably remain unsolved. The body is that of a man about 40 years of age, five feet ten in height and weighing about 165 pounds. The local police do not recall having seen the man about town. ** SONS INHERIT $33,000 Albion, July 13 - Letters of administration have been issued to B. Harold DENSMORE, of Rochester, and A. Willard DENSMORE, of Gaines, on the estate of their parents, Mrs. Alsetta C. DENSMORE, whose estate amounted to $3,000 in personalty which was given to Harold DENSMORE, Willard DENSMORE and their sister, Mrs. Merl BROOKS, of Knowlesville, and upon the estate of their father, the late Byron DENSMORE, of Gaines, who died June 26, 1913 leaving an estate of $30,000 of which $20,000 is realty and $10,000 personalty. ** FUNERAL OF JUDGE SEYMOUR Impressive Service Held at Mount Morris - Body Cremated in Buffalo Mount Morris, July 13 - The funeral of Henry H. SEYMOUR, whose death occurred at the Jackson Health Resort in Dansville on Tuesday evening following an illness of several months, was held from his palatial residence. "The Terraces"(?) here yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. George A. HARVEY pastor of Saint John's Episcopal Church, of this village, officiated at the services and the impressive Episcopal rites were listened to by many friends who had gathered to pay their last respects. The choir of the church sang two selections, "Lead Kindly Light," and "Abide in Me." The pall bearers were Norman A. and Edward C. SEYMORE of Mount Morris, brothers of Henry H. SEYMOUR. ** BARN AND CONTENTS BURN Loss on Rockefeller Farm Near Phelps Will Total $3,000 Phelps, July 13 - A barn on the Norman L. ROCKEFELLER farm, two miles northwest of Phelps, now the property of Ira P. ROCKEFELLER, was totally destroyed by fire of mysterious origin that broke out at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon. The contents, owned jointly by Cornelius WHITE and Mrs. ROCKEFELLER, consisted of twelve tons of hay, eighty bushels of oats and numerous farming implements. They were all burned, entailing a total loss estimated at $3,000 on which there is $800 insurance. Two horses and several head of cattle were taken out of the barn after the flames had been discovered. The farm is occupied by Hector MORTON. A high wind prevailed while the fire was in progress and attention was devoted to saving other buildings nearby. ** FUNERAL OF HUMPHREY DONOHUE Canandaigua, July 13 - To-morrow morning at 10:30 o'clock will be held the funeral of Humphrey DONAHUE, who died at the age of 45 years at his home in Wood street, Friday night, after a long illness with tuberculosis. For many years, Mr. DONAHUE had been a trusted employee of the New York Central and his last service for that road was as a passenger trainman on the "peanut" branch between this city and Batavia. He leaves a wife, Catherine DONAHUE, and eight children, Alice, Edward, Charles, Leo, Howard, Ray, Osborne and James DONAHUE, all of this city; his parents and a sister, all residing in Ireland, and a brother, Florence DONAHUE, of Rochester. The funeral will be held from St. Mary's Church, but the interment will be in Penn Yan. ** TROUBLE AT HORNELL Hornell, July 13 - Considerable damage was done by a high wind which swept over Hornell this afternoon. Trees were uprooted, wires are down and many windows are broken. ** FARMER FALLS FROM CHERRY TREE AND BACK IS BROKEN Injuries to John Trou of Millville, Probably Fatal Medina, July 13 - John TROU, of Millville met with probably a fatal accident this morning. Mr. TROU was standing at the top of a high ladder picking cherries when the ladder broke, precipitating him to the ground, a distance of about fifteen feet. His cries for help soon brought members of his family to his side and he was carried into the house and attended by Dr. Fred ECKERSON. An examination revealed the fact that his back had been broken. He was brought to Medina and taken to the hospital in Buffalo. Little hopes of his recovery are entertained. Mr. TROU is a prosperous and well known farmer in Millville and is about 65 years of age. He has a wife and several children. ** ALBION BRIDGE IS SPUNKY Goes Up in the Air and Refuses to Come Down for an Hour Albion, July 13 - Traffic across the Erie canal in this village was at a standstill for about an hour Saturday afternoon during the rush hour when the Main street electric lift bridge refused to work after being elevated to permit a boat to pass. The bridge is the only one — admission for a distance of about two miles east and west and all of the state highways leading into Albion. ?? well — residence of the northern part of the village were compelled to wait or travel two miles to cross. The bridge --- given considerable trouble in being ----ted and experts who have charge of that work for the state have (unreadable) the defect. Electrician Paul R. WEST, of this village was summoned after the bridge had been out of service an hour and discovered that a piece of cement which had been d----ed had fallen back of a (unreadable) causing it to fail to release. He removed the cement chip and the bridge was lowered. ** Find ALL of the News Abstracts for Monroe Co., NY at http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/NY/Monroe/index.html -- GjS