Thomas Houghton Hepburn (1905 - 1921)

Born 8 Nov 1905 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Died 3 Apr 1921 at age 15 in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Thomas Hepburn has Scottish Ancestors.

Thomas Hepburn has English ancestors.

Thomas was born in 1905. He was the son of Thomas Hepburn and Kit Houghton.^[1][2] He passed away in 1921. ^[3]

Boy Hangs Himself While He's Asleep, Is Suicide Theory^[4]

Youth Repeats Bedroom Crime Seen in Theatre Same Day; Known to Be Highly Nervous

New York, April 3, Having witnessed a theatrical production in which one of the characters hangs himself in a bedroom, Thomas Hepburn, 15, son of a prominent physician in Hartford, Connecticut, is believed to have ended his life in that manner in his sleep last night at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Sarah Toll of No. 26 Charlton street, this city, where he had been visiting with his sister Katharine, 14 years old. The girl discovered the body this morning.

Young Hepburn had been suffering from nervousness, according to his uncle, who also lives at the Charlton street address. On several occasions he had to be taken from school in Hartford and sent away to rest, he declared. The boy was a somnambulist and often was discovered wandering around in his sleep.

The youth and his sister came from Hartford to visit their uncle last Thursday. They had been with their uncle on several excursions.

Yesterday they visited the Woolworth tower and ended up by dropping into a downtown theatre. One of the scenes showed a man hanging himself after his criminal activities had been detected. The scene made a distinct impression on young Hepburn, it was explained, and he returned to the home of his aunt in a highly nervous state. Last night he had regained his composure and entertained the family with his banjo. He retired at about 9:30 in the best of spirits.

The youth failed to appear at breakfast this morning and his sister went to his room to call him. Getting no response, she entered and found her brother hanging from the chandelier. A noose had been made from bed sheets and rope, and the youth's feet were dragging upon the floor. it appeared as if he stood on the floor when applying the noose and, bending his knees, threw his weight upon the rope.

The girt's outcry brought Mrs. Toll upstairs. She was overcome, but managed to compose herself and take down the body of her nephew. Members of the family are convinced youth Hepburn hung himself while walking in his sleep. He had everything to live for, they explained and was happy in his home surroundings.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK2Q-KZQ : accessed 3 April 2020), Thomas H Hepburn in household of Thomas N Hepburn, Hartford Ward 10, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 204, sheet 16A, family 240, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 133; FHL microfilm 1,374,146.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCFY-WCK : accessed 3 April 2020), Thomas H Hepburn in household of Dr. T N Hepburn, Hartford Ward 9, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; citing ED 115, sheet 3B, line 52, family 74, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 184; FHL microfilm 1,820,184.
3. ↑ Find a Grave Memorial for Thomas Hepburn.
4. ↑ Philadelphia Inquirer, Monday, April 4, 1921, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, page 1.