Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-04
> From the Petersburg Express, June 2S.a
CI1IEInE OF E-a(I. S1,AINR AJAX -.


of in the prime of heal tn and yiger OF
i body, and seemingly ordinary pr sver of mind
When contemplate the act of determined suicide
of such man, by which he leaves in deep distress
family of six children young, beautiful and good,
and affectionate wife, and leaves to queer world
lcence comment upon his seif-destroying act in
1 every form the worlds mind wlEso strangely ina-
CINE. When we consider all these things we repeat
! that we and the community generally of this city,
were panied and grieyed to hear yesterday, as the
first news of the day, the awful suicide of FRANCIS
| CHARLES STAINBACKS
Perhaps no man in this city was better known than
the above. In probity, honorable transactions, and
| business dealings he was equaled by few, and as
| shrewd calculator regarding the changes and uncer-
| tantes in the commercial world, and as man who
well knew how to foresee and profit in business deal
ings by the state of various markets. he could not
perhaps be equaled by another in this city. His
! age about AS he was of quick temperament,
fond of excitement in his calculations, and his
! deductions all matters evinced an uncommon
power of mentally weighing the scale of chances
! as to make his opinion almost generally one worthy
| of claiming attention In a word, he one of
those who love have their hands full of affairs
to keep them in constant excitement.
PREVIOUS SUICIDE.
During portion of Tuesday, he in town at
business in his capacity of Flour Inspector both at
his Bollingbrook and in other parts
of the city. He number of persons on bust
matters but seemed rather to prefer being alone
and while talking others on business transactions,
prior object of greater mental interest seemed to
be working i'm his mind. He appeared less excited
and interested general affairs than. usual, and
looked if he had hard mental problem to
sclve to the labor of which he desired to be left
alone. On that day he Mr.. F. Pace and told him
the store he had been preparing Old street was
great deal of trouble to him. He also wished to
know if the doors and windows could not be replaced
as formerly. To other persons his discourse
abrupt, he would make a quick remark and then
walk up and down as if in deep thought.
In the afternoon he went home to his residence
on the hill side in Blandfnrd. Some of his children
wore 1t hnn,n md ia 1bc i,, fbo
try, but expected back daily. He gave some orders
to his servants relative house keeping affairs,
seemed to look with anxiety for the from City
Point and those who saw him he appeared cllmer
than usual, as if he had made up his mind for some
object and resolved not to allow anything turn
his main attention away from it. \ person called to
see him, and he sent message that he could attend
TO no further business that day. He also to
neighbours for of his little daughters and took
her in his and Rugged her with an unusual de-
gree of affection. He gave her piece of money to
amuse her. lie told the servant he did not need
any dinner, and would have anything till his
wife
ACTIONS JUST BEFORE COMMITTING SUICIDE.
In the evening he was in his room very busy wri
ting letters at small writing table and remained
employed till late in the night. The members of
the family present retired about the usual hour about
10 O'Clock, and soon no lights could be seen any
where around except in the bed room of the dccca-
Sed. Having written number of letters, he took
off his coat, vest and boots and as ifto think wheth-
er there were any other points he had to make
about he threw himself careleS'y upon his bed if
to think and not to sleep or rest
Having arranged all as he thought for the regua
ton of matters after his death, he took small
single barrel pocket pistols, four baded knife and
and descended into the cellar by stair case
from the dining room. Here he Invested himself of
his pantaloons and laid them by behind Il box part
ly filled with bran. He next got into this bran box,
and must have used the penknife partly for wound
ing himself, as it was cast aside clothed with blood,
as were also the two pistols neither of which had
been dlschared. He graSped the and the first
wound inflicted upon himself circular cut of
about four Or five inches in the abdomen from which
the lnteStlneS protruded and fell the bran in the
box Finding that this would not terminate his ex-
iStence speedily, he applied the his throat,
and made most fearful cash nearly from ear to ear,
by which death was caused almost instantaneously.
DISCOVERY AND APPEARANCE OF THE BODY.
BY carly dawn Yesterday morning female serv-
ant came to the cellar to get bran for the COW,
and STOPPING down 10 get some she saw the body of
her master. She away terrified and screaming
My God Mas>a Charles is dead!' proceeded to
alarm the neighborhOOd. \ number of persons
came and saw that the body cold in death and
had been for few hours it was left in that state
till jury should be summoned AT 10 O'Clock
Coroner j. Davidson and the jurors examined and
recognized the body 1t lay in the bran box on its
right side with limbs and arms bent mp rigid in
death. The left hand was firmly clinched while
the right hand held the razor in a manner to give
the holder great power the blade. The rich.
side of the body all covered with clothed blood
and portion of the bowels lay the body The
whole aspect showed that the suicide had been per-
pctraed with muc! pain and resolution not to be
banked.
On the badly pair of drawers, stockings
shirt and inside shirt and round the waist tied
Il black silk neckerchief. which, upon being looSed,
disclosed three sealed letters carefully directed,
to L. E. Stainback. his son, to r. g. A:friend,
Esq, and one to Francis Pace, Esq.
Eleven jurors, with Mr.. c. I. Scott foreman,
were summoned by Officer Peterson, and no testi-
mony could be adiuced other than such facts as al
ready stated above The letter to the
opened and merely giving him good advice
for leading moral and honorable life in the world
Mr.. r. G. Alfriend opened the addressed to him,
and informed the jury that it solely of bust
ness nature and made no allusion to why the de-
ceased had committed suicide.
The letter to Mr.. F. Pace written if by
thick quill, and in the cover were two small notes
relative to business transactions between them
The outside letter read to the jury and may
yet be published. 1t well couched in friendly
terms. requesting Mr.. Pace to to the welfare and
advising of deceaseds 1t also stated that many
persons might think he, (deceasedO had lost by
gambling, and called God to witness that such i
not the case and that for number of years back he
had lost nothing by cards or betting 1t also recon-
mendcd an honest, upright business, and that if
young went into business with $I0O capital he
should not involve himself i'll debt, &c. beyond that
amount, and the same way if with $1,000, &c.
The letter also spoke against the practice of bet
ting, however party might be of winning,
let the by betting be any possible amount,
one zenith of such gained by business industry would
of1u and haft Int