The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-17
SUICIDE OF REV. JOHN HOWARD,


On returning from a visit to his friends
in Richmond, two weeks ago, Rev. John
Howard, the worthy and highly esteemed
pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this
place, exhibited strong symptoms of mental
arrangement. It may be proper to state
that Mr. II. was man of delicate constitu-
ton, a ripe scholar and laborious student
sedentary in his habits, and, it is believed,
for some time, had used tobacco to excess;
indeed, for several days, he had chewed an
incredible amount of tobacco. These facts
form the basis of the most plausible causes
of his fatal and affecting malady
Mr. Howard had morbid conception as
he expressed it, that he had been 6 COM
manded to warn men that the judgment was
near at hand;" and so intent was he upon
the accomplishment of what he believed to
be the command of his master, that he
could scarcely be induced to take either
rest or refreshment, but went from house
to house, delivering his solemn message,
quoting several passages of Scripture per-
tinent to his theme.
On the 21st ult., one of Mr. HIS brothers,
who had been informed of his condition, ar
rived from Richmond, and, accompanied
by Col. Albert, proceeded Immediately to
Staunton with him, where they arrived on
Sabbath morning. Under the delusion that
these gentlemen had no right to interfere
with him in his work. Mr. III. became quite
FESTIVE and ungovernable. 1t was hoped
that, under the judicious treatment of the
physician at the Asylum, he would again
be restored to the bosom of his deeply af-
ficted family. But, alas! how mysterious
are the designs of that all wise, overriding
Providence, s'whose ways are past finding
outr' This cherished hope was not to be
realised the lacerated heart of his sorrow
stricken companion was to receive deeper
wound! At 10 O'Clock ON Thursday night
last, as we learn from letter from one of
the attendants at the Asylum, Mr. Towards
room was visited, and he seemed to be rest
ing well, and had fair prospect for good
nights sleep. Early next morning his room
was again visited, when, horrible to relate !!
the unfortunate man was found suspended
by his handkerchief at the window, his body
perfectly cold. He had fastened one end
of the handkerchief to one Of the iron bars
across the window, the other end tied around
his neck, and then swung himself down, his
feet resting upon the floor. His mortal re-
mains were sent to his friends at Richmond.
This is truly a melancholy affair, and it
has cast deep gloom over our community :;
all seem to participate in the general feeling
of sorrow and sympathy for the family and
friends of the deceased. Indeed, Mr. H.
was highly esteemed and beloved for his
uniform piety and zeal as a christian min
lister, and his upright and dignifed deport-
ment as a citizen. How one who had been
SO sincerely devoted to the great and ardu-
Gus duties of the christian ministry-one
who by every act of his life, no less in its
private walks than in his public ministra-
tions, seemed to have an eve single to tho
highest interests of the society in which he
moved-that he should die under circum-
stances so well calculated to cast a shadow
over his fair name, is a matter deeply mys-
ferrous and incomprehensible, and cannot
be satisfactorily accounted for by any sys-
tenn of human reasoning. When we remem-
Der, however, that he committed the deed
under the firm conviction that, in taking
his own life, he obeyed the command of his
Maker-for he had remarked, when first
conducted to his room that he ''had better
be dead than detained from his work"-we
cannot but believe that he was not guilty
of murder, in the moral acceptotion of the
term Woodstock Tenth Legion ia.
March 5.
WILD WOMAN In Observation-Disclosures
county, Alabama, is all astir on account Of
a wild woman that recently appeared in the
woods and hills of that neighborhood to
party of huntsmen. She is medium sized
woman, fair and quite naked, with the
exception of moccasins. She runs with