The call came in to the Keene Police Department at 5:30 p.m., according to Lt. Todd Lawrence.

 

Police said the man was thoroughly burned when they arrived at the scene.

 

Images: Man Engulfed In Flames Dies In Front Of Courthouse

 

The man was later identified as Thomas Ball, 58, of Holden, Mass. An autopsy showed that he set himself on fire and that he took his own life.

 

 

Witnesses said what they saw in front of the courthouse almost defied belief.

 

"I saw a man standing on fire. He walked around a little bit, walked on to the grass, collapsed on all fours and literally sat there and burned," said witness Dan Koski.

 

"(The flames were) over his head, and when he was on the ground, they were probably a good foot over his body," said witness Jerry Goodrich.

 

Several men said their attempts to help Ball proved ineffective, partly because it appeared he did not want to be helped.

 

"He just looked like he was just chilling there, doing yoga or something. It was weird. We were all stunned," said witness Sean Desio.

 

Investigators have not released any possible motive in the fire.