The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-07
D1srREssrse SUIo1pE.-On Sunday eve

DISTRESSING SUIcIDE.-On Sunday eve
ming last, about half past o'clock, young man
named THOMAS ENRoUGHTY, residing in Rockets
old field with his father and family, committed sui
eide by shooting himself with pistol. Yesterday
morning Justice NErTLEs of Henrico county, aid
ed by Constable CHILDREY, held an inquest over
the body, when the following witnesses were ex-
amined:
Richard Enroughty, sworn.-I am the father of
the deceased, who lived with me- We were strip
ped to go to bed-Thomas having his boots off and
my shoes down at the heels-when he took a no.
ton to broil some meat. After he had cut SLICE
thought would also broil me piece, and when
had the meat ready to cook, went in the back room
to broil Ton the fire. When | got in there found
that there was scarcely a handful of Goals left
nothing like enough to cook the meat and turned
to Thomas and told him that neither of US would
be able to have broil, as the fire was out. With
this he got into passion, threw his meat down, and
putting on his boots swore that he would die in
them. He then walked through the house. and re-
turning passed out of the South door, closing it af
ter hun. He had not been out more than one mi.
mute, when heard the pistol fire, but supposng
that he only fired it to alarm me, did not go out
until my two daughters gave the alarm that their
brother was shot. He had attempted to kill him
self several times before He had been drinking
that day. and was not sober at the time he commit
ted the deed. He was in the employ OF the Messrs
Sharp, and was in the 2sth year of his age
Thomas always carried his pistol in his pocket
night and day, asleep or awake.
DtCy EHFOugHtY SWOT0.-1Ue uecedSeQ Is INV
brother. Sister Martha and myself had gone to
bed. When we heard the pistol fire, we got up
was the first one that got out doors to Thomas-
He was then lying upon the ground, and his shirt
was on fire. called to sister Martha to bring me
some water and when che did so extinguished the
flames. The pistol was then lying by his side.-
He groaned twice. but never spoke. When father
told him the fire was out, he threw down the
meat, cursed it, and swore he would kill him.
self
Martha Fnrouobta syyorn--Sister nicv told mo
tobring her some water. | did so, and she put out
the fire. Sister and myself were the two first who
got to Thomas. He went out OF the house by him
self and shut the door after him. Saw one in
the old field when | went out. Thomas always
kept pistol in his pocket.
Charles Sharp, sworn-I was at Mr.. Enroughty's
house when the deceased shot himself. About half
past O'Clock he cut piece of meat to broil. His
father did the same and the two then had dispute
about there being no fire. Thomas then threw
the meat down and swore he would not have it.
After this he sat down on the bench, put on his
boots and swore he would die in them. He then
went out OF the house, shutting the door after him
and in about one minute heard the report of the
pistol. | remarked to his father, who was sitting
me that he had better go out and what was
the matter-that possibly Thomas might have shot
himself. The old man laughed and said 'oh no
he has tried that often before. He has not hurt
HIMSELF In a little while after this caught the
scent OF something burning, and called his sisters
to go outand see what had happened. When they
opened the door Thomas was lying some ten or fit.
teen feet from it. and his shirt on fire. The
deceased had been drinking that day and par
TALLY intoxicated. Liquor had very strange ef-
feet upon him. He had been working in the coun-
try with since Christmas. He always
carried his pistol in his pocket even when asleep.
Two other witnesses were examined. but their
evidence was not material.
The Jury on examining the body, found wound
as if caused by pistol ball, the right side be-
tween the ribs, which, in all probability passed
into the heart producing an inward hemorrhage,
which resulted in instant death. The jury,
therefore, rendered as their verdict that the de-
ceased came to his death, by a wound from pistol
ball fired by his own hand.
Thomas Enrouehty was Woodworking man,
but addicted to excessive drink. He had been on
cunning excursion that day with party of friends
and is said to have partaken quite freely of ST. ong
drink; and it is not at all improbable that he was
laboring under an alteration of mind when he de-
stroyed himself.