Madness Monday - Frank C. Davis (1860-1910)

Here is an interesting newspaper article my older sister, Sharon found while doing family genealogy research on a trip she took to Exeter, New Hampshire in the late 1980's. The article is about my Great Grandfather Frank C. Davis born June 27, 1860 in Newfield, Maine and died in Exeter, New Hampshire on December 13, 1910.  

Suicide at the Jail

Frank C. Davis, aged 53, who had laterly lived with his daughter at Winthrop, Mass, committed suicide Tuesday afternoon a the jail by hanging himself from a door. The act was committed between 2 and 3 o’clock, during the absence of the Turkey Beverly S McGaughey at the station, whither he went for a prisoner, Oscar Santos of Newmarket, committed for stabbing Emmnuel Silver, a fellow Portuguese.

It need not be stated that Mr. McGaughey and his prisoner were startled at entrance to the corridor Santos was hurriedly placed in a cell and the officer then cut down the body, but life had sped. Santos, thinking the hanging an act of punishment and further frightened by the officer’s knife, was literally terror-stricken. For hours he lay with face covered.

Davis came last Saturday evening to the home of his father-in-law, Edward Nichols, High Street. Sunday morning, in sudden frenzy, he seized a hammer and dealt three blows at William Foss, of Lynn, Mass.. Mrs. Nichols’ brother-in-law, who was lying upon a lounge. Fortunately a chair before the lounge broke the force of the blows and Mr. Foss was not badly injured.

Davis was arraigned in police court Monday for assault with intent to kill and committed to jail. For four years he had suffered from locomotor ataxia, which doubtless affected his mind.

He was born in Newfield, Maine and was a carpenter. Besides the widow he leaves, in Winthrop, a daughter by a former marriage.

Definition: locomotor ataxia (noun) Wordnet
1. Syphilis of the spinal cord characterized by degeneration of sensory neurons and stabbing pains in the trunk and legs and unsteady gait and incontinence and impotence.



Suicide at the Jail
Exeter, NH
Frank C Davis
December 1910