Webster Evening Times, Webster, MA

Friday, January 18, 1929 - Front Page

Willard Feige Ends Life with Illuminating Gas at Chase Avenue Home

Found in Locked Room with Gas Tube in Mouth by Daughter - Physician and Police Work for Over an Hour with Pulmoter in Effort to Revive Him -- Despondency Over Poor Health Believed to be Cause of Act--Leaves Wife and Seven Children

Despondency over ill health is believed to have been the cause of the suicide of Willard Feige, 38? year old, who was found at noon today in his home on Chase Avenue with open gas jets pouring deadly fumes into a closed room.

Feige had evidently made careful preparations for ending his life, and had closed all the doors and sealed the windows to prevent the escape of gas. He then opened the gas jets and waited for the end.

The tragedy was discovered by a daughter, who came home and smelled gas, which she finally traced to a front room. The room was closed and locked and it was only after aid was summoned that entrance was effected.

Chief James Hetherman, Officers John C. Templeman and John Kloss assisted Dr. Joseph N. Roy to revive the man, but after an hour's work, it was realized that their efforts were of no avail.

When the room had been cleared of gas sufficiently to allow the police and doctor to enter, Feige was discovered with a gas tube in his mouth and there was every indication to point to carefully laid plans for suicide.

Relatives stated that he had not been in good health, and had returned from a hospital in Worcester a few months ago. He was apparently discouraged by his failure to return to usual health.

For more than an hour the pulimoter was used by police under the direction of Dr. Roy, with no results.

Feige is survived by a wife and seven children. He has always been employed as an electrician.

Willard is buried at: Mount Zion Cemetery
Old Worcester Rd.
Rte 12
Webster, Massachusetts, USA



Added: 12/16/1999 12:00:00 AM