Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-01
The Hon. Francis T. Brooke
a Pripale end P,tbHe Calamitr,

II
1t is with much pain, that we have to state GER
tain occurrences which have excited great feeling
III this City, and are interesting to the whole State
Jerman Baker, the Treasurer of the Common
wealth, has terminated his own existence On
Thursday night, he manifested great unhappiness:
but, after he had promised to retire in a few mo-
ments TO bed, his family went TO their rooms. A
bout l o'clock, Mrs b. being uneasy at his alb
sence, sought him in a lower apartment, and hay
ing received his promise that he would soon retire
to bed, returned TO her room. Towards morning
another member Of his family was aroused by a
noise below, and communicated her approximations
to Mrs. Il. who again went below, and found the
parour door locked. With the aid of a servant she
obtained admisson-and horrible to tell she found
her husband stretched upon the sophia with cord
| around his neck; drawn over his shoulders, and
connected with his hands-and he struggling al
most in the agonies Of death She cut the cord
dispatched a servant for a physcian-and 10 ef-
forts spared to save his life. In the mean
time, he had recovered his senses obstinateIy re-
fused to be bled III his arm; though yielding 70 the
pathetic intreaes of his family, lie consented to
take dose of medicine from the hands of his
daughter. Nature, however, was too much ex-
hausted; and after taking most affecting leave of
his family, he breathed his last about O'clock on
Friday morning.
He had dispatched note TO his son in the course
OF the highland he lett farewell letter to his
family and also short aad pathetic one to an old
acquaintance and one Of the Securities to his
Treasurer's bond-prayng him TO pity, to forgive
and TO forget him. In his memorandum 10 his IA
mily, he requested not to be shrouded; TO be put
into pine coffin, and TO be buried in Chesterfield
county.
1t is painful to to state the circumstance of this
tragical event; but still more, the causes which
are supposed to have hurried him TO it.-He could
not Withstand the contunely of the world; which
he had reason TO anticipate. No man ever dis
charged his domestic duties with more exemplary
propriety than Jerman Baker;--he was a man Of
nice feelings; and his character as a man Of honor
was as high as that Of any man. But in an evil
hour, his strength of mind gave way before the
pecunary embarrassments which beset him-and
the death which he inflicted with his own hand
and The humble disposition which he made of mis-
remains, sufficiently attest the deep sense of shame
which he had brought upon himseif.-The amour,
OF his detacation has been ascertained 20 be about
S2So6o' We need scarcely say, that the securities
(Inore than % Of themD are amply sufficient, be-
sides such parts Of his own property as are unin-
numbered, TO insure the Commonwealth against all
loss whatsoever.
Believing that the reader will be anxious to
know the circumstances attending this defaIcaton.
we have inquired into them, and submit the fol-
lowing summary, as the result: The Committee of
the Executive Council (Messrs. Pendicton and
CamPbelD appointed, agreeabIy to law, to exam
me uie IreasureTs accounts for the quarter end
ing the 3lst December, addressed notes on the Isl
January to the Presidents of the State Banks 10
know the amount then in Bank to the credit of Inc
treasurer at the end Of the quarter. They called
on the treasurer TO count the money he might
have D har5 IN his of1ce, VIII p wss5oae on The