The Sad Tale of William S Flynn, Part 1
SHOT HIMSELF
Wm. S. Flynn Disappointed in Love
Asked Annie Wilkins
to Walk With Him.
Went Down to Pier at Bass
River, Beverly,
And Fired Shot Into His
Right Temple
Now Hovering Between Life
and Death at Hospital
Heartbroken and evidently crazed by being denied the girl he loved, Williams Stevens Flynn of this city, hardly 19 years of age, deliberately planned to shoot himself before the girl on whom his affection was bestowed, and nothing but an avowal of love from the girl herself prevented him from first killing her.
After telling the girl what he was going to do, he left her side at the Bass River bridge in Beverly, walked out a few steps upon the pier, and with a prayer for forgiveness upon his lips, fired a shot into his right temple. At the Beverly hospital, where he was taken after the shooting, the young man lay hovering between life and death this morning.
It was the young man's intention to make a double tragedy out of the affair, but at the last moment, he determined to spare the girl and only make way with himself.
The girl in the case is Annie C. daughter of Franklin Wilkins of 72 Chase street, Beverly, and she is only 16 years of age. She is a protestant, and Flynn was a Catholic, and it was because this fact came between their marrying, so the girl says, Flynn tried to end his life.
THE RASH ACT
Leaving the Girl standing on the Bridge, He Knelt in Prayer an d Then Fired, According to his custom of the past few weeks, Flynn went to the Wilkins house on Chase street yesterday afternoon, intending to spend the evening with Annie. He seemed to be in his usual spirits during the afternoon, but towards evening spent a great deal of time in meditation, appearing to be deeply thinking, so Mrs. Wilkins says.
He ate a hearty supper, however, and remained until his usual time, which was 10:30 o'clock, it being his custom to leave then and take the car for Salem, where he resided with his parents at 26 1-2 Peabody street.
Last evening he asked Annie to go out to the car with him, and she put on her things and they left the house together. The car came along, and as Flynn did not start to take it, Annie asked him what if anything was the matter. He replied the he was never going back to Salem, and added that he should never leave Beverly alive. He then invited her to go over towards Rial Side for a walk, and without making any further reference to his intention to make way with himself, started along with her towards River street, which crosses Bass river not very far away.
Stopping at the rail through which there is an opening leading down upon the pier which runs out in the direction of Salem, he said: "I hate to leave you behind, Annie; I love you so but I will not kill you unless you want to go with me."
At this, the girl became frightened, and hardly knowing what answer to make, she said: "No, Willie; I don't want to die that way. It seems terrible; any way but that."
"I love you too much to harm you," was his reply, "unless you want to die with me; so good-bye. When you hear the report, go home and don't say anything to anyone. Go to sleep, and when they find my body, you can tell them how it happened."
He then walked down upon the pier, and the girl remained leaning over the rail. She says that even then, she thought he would not do anything to himself, although she says he showed her the revolver.
About 15 feet from where the girl stood, Flynn dropped upon his knees and prayed for forgiveness for the act he was about to commit; and for forgiveness from his mother, whom he said he loved better than anyone but Annie. All the while, the girl stood only a few feet away, watching him, and listening to his words. He had the revolver in his hand by his side while praying, and suddenly he raised his arm. There was a click as the hammer fell upon the empty cylinder, and the girl says she distinctly heard it. She said nothing, and again Flynn pulled the trigger. This time there was a report, and the girl say Flynn fall backwards upon the pier. He had said he would shoot himself and drop overboard, so that in case the bullet did not do the work he would drown. As there was about 10 feet of water off the pier at the time, he would undoubtedly have done so, had not his body been canted away from the water.
Not until she heard the shot and saw him fall, did the firl really believe her lover really meant to kill himself, and she says her belief was further strengthened when the hammer clicked for the first time, and the revolver did not go off.
As soon as the shot sounded, however, and Flynn fell, Annie started for home. She says she was so overcome that she hardly knew what she was doing. She first met a man, whom she afterwards learned was Officer Mitchell, but said nothing to him. Although he was in uniform, she says she was too dazed to even notice that he was an officer. She kept on her way, and finally met Fred Bragdon, a 17-year-old friend who resides near her home.
She did not say anything to him about the suicide until he asked her if Willie was coming over this evening. She answered him: "No; he'll never come again; he's dead."
Young Bragdon seemed incredulous, but her manner made him think something was up, so he did not go home. Annie went directly home and her mother asked her if Willie caught the car. She said: "No; Willie's dead. He's shot himself."
Astounded, the mother questioned Annie, and upon learning what had been done, called her husband and son. The latter were quickly informed of the circumstances, and they started for the bridge.
Bragdon, who was waiting on the outside, also went along, and on the way, the party met Officer Munsey, who went along.
They found the body at the spot stated by the girl. Flynn was lying on his side, his head resting in a pool of blood. On his right temple, about two inches from the eye, was the bullet hole. Flynn was unconscious, but could move his hands.
Officer Munsey had notified Capt. Burnham, who has charge of night force, and the latter was soon on the scene with another officer.
Dr. Stickney was notified, and he ordered Flynn's removal. A team was procured at Murphy's stable, and Flynn was taken to the hospital. Drs. Stickney and Manchester made an examination of him at the time, and probed for the ball, but failed to find it.
Flynn remained unconscious, and Capt. Burnham called up the Salem police by telephone, and requested them to notify Flynn's parents at 26 1-2 Peabody street. Flynn's father and brother James came over in response to the summons, but were not allowed to see the patient.
Transcribed from the Salem Evening News, September 1896