The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-20
LOCAL MATTERS.

MEIAscuory SuIcIDE.-We announced
yesterday the sudden death OF Mr. john W. D W sed-
son. OF this city who was ~
were of the oriu;ou that he had destroyed himself
Knowing him intimately, and beisg unable 70 algine
any cause for the self destruction oil young
temperate and industrious surrounded by friends
and apparently in the perfect enJsynens 81 every
comfort that cond add TO tne chalns =. ne, lns
his death was produced from disease, ana therefore
did net feel free TO pronounce i suicide pnt re
runor coming the ears of the coroner ne lett Cali
ed upon to INQUIRE into the facts, which we greet to
lind has too clearly established the repeetso P1eac
ton tina; the poor fellow came 70 ~ =. enh y
Ply result is more than we can even CONJECTURE IL
may have been that he crossed Ia iove-tnAf ms
warm affections had not been requited-and that ne
sought to rid himself of the annoying reiecnsns ins
cdent thereto-but If this be So no proof has been
elected establishing that fact, and ms neares. and
dearest relations of whom he was the IDOL cannot
speak knowingly. Time the unfolder OF all secrets
may yet throw new light upon the cause OF this
sad calamity but whether it does not he has gone
down into the lonely of the grave, carrying
with him the purest sympathies OF ali VINO knew
him.
lowing his usual vocation Saturday, and that
nj ght attended concern at metropolitan Hail. From
there he accompanied q shop mate to his mothers
residence and remained all night. No change
discovered in his usual how OF spirits, and up TO the
hour of retiring to rest he was iveiy and laxative,
rernarkinp freely upon what he at the exhibition
and how he was pleased with the performances
Sunday morning he arose short time before o'ck,
md
Northern cars to see Mrs Lyons, who was then on
her way to New York, but on reaching there, he
found that the cars had LEFT few minutes before
He then went to the residence OF bis bretherin-law
on CLAY street, two doors above the Chapel, tMr P.
w Raston) where he partook of hearty breakfast,
amused himself with Mr.. RS children and CON
versed with his brotherin-aw aud sisters until near
time GO church, when he went up stairs in his
| sisters room to dress. After being up there
time Mrs Raston went to her rooH and there found
her brother upon his knees, his face the ocr
If the attitude OF prayer and finding his face livd
and cord around his neck, she gave scream, which
imme diate brought her sister to her aid 1t
that he had adjusted cord to the top of French
post bedstead and around his neck and then throw
ing bis weight upon il. had by that produced
excitement of the moment, had released the cord
and calling for water, did all she could to him.
but without effect. During the progress of the in
quest, Mrs. Ralston not called upon to testify
ner mind being in such condition to render her
| an incompetent witness. From what can learn
however, the facts already given by about the
| substance of what she could have stated We now
give the testimony of other witnesses taken down
| by the Coroner:
| Peter w Ralstop, sworn-I am the husband of
| the sister of the deceased. On yesterday morning
about O'clock was in the il of my par
| ior when heard scream up stairs. went up and
found Mr.. Woodson sitting the floor reclining
| position, think resting against my wife. Thinking
he had tainted, took water and sprnkled his face.
| He opened his eyes and looked at me- and irmedi-
| ately closed them / then directed that some ply
stefan should be sent for. DR.. Cunningham, who was
passing along the street at the time, called in
| He examined Mr.. Weodson and pronounced him
| dead l asked the Doctor what he thought caused
his death. He replied shat he thought it was dis
of the heart. The deceased then taken from
the floor and placed upon the bed The Doctor asked
for piece of glass which was given him. He placed
it before Mr.. Woodson's mouth and there being 10
signs Of breath upon it, he said ne could do nothing
for him. The deceased had no handkerchief around
his neck | did not see any handkerchief at that
ing He appeared to be ia his usual good health
After breakfast heard him in the porch at play with
my children He kept his clothes in his sister Elne-
| let a WAS ted tn hyr
| wife when entered the room
| Emeline Woodson, sworn-I am sister to the de.
ceased. He left me in the parlor to prepare fol-
church. After the children had started for Sunday
School he went up stairs. He was dressed i'll mis-
| binary dress. | did not notice whether or not he
| had handkerchief around his neek--he always wore
one met him III the porch after he had been to
breakfast heard scream, ran up stairs, and ga W
room with him. l ran into the room Ny sister
(Mrs. Ralston) called for water, water ran and
got some and carried itup. think my sister threw
it in his face He did not say anything. Sister told
me to run for the Doctor and down stairs for
| that purpose. / think some of the servants came
into the room. Sister said something ncoherently.
| think she made some remark about cravat. She
| found him upcn his knees, with his face near the
floor She thought he was at prayer. Ny sister said
| afterwards that ne had cravat around his neck.
have ssme recollection of long black string, which
was confined TO the bed post, but have not it
since.
Drs. Bolton and Garter were called upon by the
Coroner, and made pest mortem examination
They found the body in a perfectly healthy condi-
Ilon Win the e4eepton OF large amount OF cotted
blood upon the lungs, which seemed to have choked
or forced back upon them showing conclusivey that
| he had died from strang ulation.
For several months past, until very recently Mr..
Woodson has been at work in Petersburg, where he
became member of the Petersburg G-sys"-
| Wherever he is KNOWN all speak in the highest
| terms of him, steady, Industrious honorable
young man. and his loss is deeply regretted by his
| young associates
| The Jury, under the control of Coroner Wicker,
rendered their verdict, that the deceased killed
himself by strangling and suHocation,"
His body inferred yesterday afternoon, at FIVE
| O'clock