Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-08-09
From the Madison Wis.] Inquirer of July 10Th
DREADFUL SELF.MURDEE.

The American Hotel 10 this place. was,
on Sunday afternoon las. the scene OF hor
rid occurrence OF this kind. AT about 4 o.
clock, the attention OF Mr.. Fake, the keep
er Of the American, was attracted by a
gurgllng noise; and N casting his eye,
observed standiug in the door of room
short d,stace from him. man literally
covered with blood, pointing to his throat,
and reckoning him to approach Startled
and shocked Mr.. Fake advanced towards
and followed him into the room, where he
beheld a scene horr,d and sickeniDg in the
extreme. The floor and bed covered with
blood; an opened razor, the implement of
death. lying on a chair; and the wretch
self. murderer, who had sunk upon his
knees, struggling for breath, with his
throat cut--,he trachea completely sever
ed Surgical assistance was Immediately
called; but nothing could be done for him,
as he de,erminedIy and tranucly resisted
every attempt made to dress or even touch
| he wound.
His Gully desire was to see his wife, who
was N ,he mmi,y; and having Obtained a
| slip of paper, wrote with a pencil, I wan
to see my wife. It's all ask. N. IT, D.
It was deemed proper, however, no, tc
grant his request; and after half an hou'
of intense sutferings he expired. His name
was Nathaniel y. Duncombe.
As will be seen by the following letters
which we publish, one OF which was ad
dressed to his wife an hour or two before
aud the other touGd on his body after BIZ
dea h, the cause of the suicide was an un
fortunate difficulty between himself ant
wife. which, it appears. he could not sue
coed in reconcing. This difficulty arost
from brutal treatment at his hand, ant
which compelled her SIX or eight month
ago. to leave hun. During this time, sht
lived at Madison, and was IN the family o
Mr.. Fake. The husband who resided a
Jefferson, came to thus place two or thre
days before MS death, for the purpose o
reconciliation.
Having failed in this, he came to the de
termination of destroying himself; an
waited until his wife and Mr.. Fakes fam
ly had gone TO church, aud then crawIe
through window INTO her apartment
where, after cutting his arms, winch wer
found to be deeply ga-hed IN several places
cIol nlng, and besmeared each separate al
tIcle with blood, wrote the INITIALS of hi
name, N, II. d., in garing capitals, WIT
:, blood, upon the wall, and then cut h
throat!
Duncombe formerly resided in the city {
New York, where he now has brother
, aud was baker by trade.
Thn fall n iha lpttpYs uhiph
/ above alluded to:
9 i find 1t impossible to bring about r,
9 Cancellation with my wife, and feel hi
a is impossible for me to survive it. 1t cou
y have been effected aud we should ha,
f., been happy, # 1t was not for a few wi
e have taken mistaken view of my action
= | forgive them. Let them remember :
e err is human, to forgive divine ha'
e slrlven hard in this new country to obla
r a home for my family. My affections we
e wholly placed on my wife, notwlthstandll
some things that have occurred to mar Il
t., married I,te. freely forgive her. and no
Is ! am out OF the way OF persecution, ho
e she will forgive what has gone amlss
my side, as she would not do It when | "
still living. | used every persuasion tina,
{, was capable of, but By the interference
lew folks who wished x x
e = | have failed; on them rests hea
II responsibility. 1t is II,
Sunday, the 3Oth June.
After writing the above, have COZ
10 the determination to try once more a
if all fails, and she remains ntlexlblc
my request, as find It hard to part W
:; her, as well as with hfe, my doom Is seal
d and | shall leave this world. with all It's
urements, to find that rest, which Dea
;" the poor mans friend, has for me.
or N. II. DUNcoMBE.
er An inquest having been held over