Wesley Eddy -- A Boy and His Mother

Eddy (real name Edward Gargiulo) was a versatile vaudeville and nightclub performer who gained renown as the one-time master of ceremonies at the Roxy Theatre in New York City as well as other large movie houses throughout the East.  Subject to fits of despondency since the death of his mother in 1926, the 31-year-old emcee had flowers placed weekly on her grave in St. Michael's Cemetery in Stratford, Connecticut.  During the night of September 16, 1934, Eddy visited the cemetery and shot himself once in the head over his mother's grave.  While police initially suspected foul play when the gun was recovered partially buried in the ground some 20 feet from the body, they decided upon suicide when they found two notes at the scene.  In one addressed to his brother, Eddy wrote:  "Please see that I am buried right away, next to our dear mother."  Authorities reasoned that an individual found Eddy's body prior to the person who notified them and, because of religious scruples, attempted to bury the gun.  The Bridgeport, Connecticut, medical examiner ruled the death a suicide.