Harry Baig

OBITUARIES: Saint John Globe, November 1, 1910 Harry J. Baig, A Suicide at Moncton: Arrested for Strange Conduct on Train, Hanged Himself in Lockup Harry J. Baig, A Jewish Junk dealer of St. John, hanged himself in the Moncton police lock up this morning between five and half-past five o’clock. Baig had been taken off of the No. 9 train on its arrival here from Amherst and was locked up, charged with cutting and destroying seats in the car. Shortly after 5 o’clock when Thomas Donnelly, night call man, had occasion to visit the cells, a shocking sight met his gaze. As he flashed a light into the steel lattice cell occupied by Baig he was horrified to see the prisoner suspended by a rope from the top of the cell apparently lifeless. The man who had been placed in the cell about an hour and a half before was cold in death. Constable Donnelly notified Coroner Purdy of the occurrence a few minutes after his discovery. When the night express from Halifax arrived in Moncton at 3 o’clock this morning, the conductor reported Baig for creating a disturbance on the train and cutting the seats. Officer Dryden at once took the man into custody and found him apparently suffering from some mental trouble. The I.C.R. officer telephoned for the city police patrol and had the man sent to the lockup. Upon arrival at the police station, Baig was searched and $97.67 and a flask of whiskey were found on him. He told the police he was going to St. John. The unfortunate man was about 35 years of age. A piece of rope was used by Baig to end his existence, but where he got it the police say they are unable to understand. An inquest will be held by Coroner Purdy. St. John friends of the unfortunate man were greatly shocked to hear of his suicide. It is said he was a temperate, but that he had been acting strangely for a month or more. He leaves a wife and six children, living on Pond St. Saint John Globe Wednesday Nov. 2, 1910 page 1, column 1 Baig Inquest Show Deceased Was Worried: Report That Rope Hung From Beam in Jail Cell Moncton, Nov. 2- The inquest into the death of Harry Baig, St. John, who hanged himself in a Moncton Police cell yesterday morning was continued this morning. Conductor Hopper, who gave Baig over to Officer Dryden at the ICR station, Moncton said the deceased boarded his train at Amherst and had a second class ticket for St. John. He then got off a Sackville while the train stopped over and when he got back on, the misconduct started. Maybe it was liquor at Sackville nobody knows, but Baig was wandering around the train with a knife carving up windowsills. That and similar things got him thrown into jail where he killed himself, want to read about it? Look at the handy dandy number for the whole story. Saint John Globe November 4, 1910 Page 5, column 4 'Enquiry into John (typo-Harry) Baig’s death- evidence heard at inquest at Moncton' MONCTON- NOV 4- The inquest into the death of Harry Baig, the Saint John Junk Dealer, was resumed last evening. After considerable evidence has been taken, the inquiry was adjourned till the evening of the 14th inst., to allow the procuring of more witnesses, and also to secure from the store of the deceased’s brother in Amherst a portion of rope, to ascertain whether or not it is the same as that with which the unfortunate man hanged himself. Sergt. Atkins stated he inspected the police cells at 1 pm on the 31st, and found them in good condition, fit for prisoners. He saw no rope around the cells. He did not look on top of the cells. He had no idea of how the rope came in the cell. There was a prisoner in cell No. 2, and it was not impossible that the prisoner could convey the rope from cell No. 2 to No. 4, in which the deceased was placed. Y. Charles Cosman, Provincial Constable, testified he was sent to the police station to get a piece of cord from one of the windows. He produced it. The end was cut when he found it. He would not say it was newly cut. George Browser testified he has been in the police cells. He saw a piece of rope tied up in the corner of No. 3 cell. It was there when he was put in and when he came out it was in No. 4 cell. Joseph Thistle got the rope to hang his clothes on. He asked if witness wanted it and he said 'No.' So Thistle took it in his cell. It looked like a piece shown him, rather dirty. To a juror- 'It was a cord similar to that before the jury.' To Mr. Allen, counsel for Baig family, when witness went in the cord was tied to the top of cell No. 3. It was stretched tight. Thistle came in and took the cord down himself and tied it up in cell No. 4, the day he came away, Oct. 28. Joseph Thistle said that he was in a police cell from Oct. 13 to Oct. 28. He saw some cord in cell No. 3, laced to the top of the cage quite tight. He asked Browser for the cord, and took it into his cell and ties it in the same manner, only looser. He did not say anything to officers about it. The cord had about six inches of a hang from the top of the cage. It resembled the cord on the table before him. To Mr. Allen- the rope would not touch his head when tied in his cell. It was higher up. To Chief Rideout- witness would not swear that either of the ropes before him was the one he had. Gravestone reference code(s): JM 998.61.226. Memorial plaque in synagogue: Kashetsky-Michelson - F3 . Additional notes: junk dealer

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