Daily national Democrat., 1859-11-19


SUICIDE OF DR.. Henry SmPLEy.-This gen
tlrman, well known in this city in 1853 and
1854 as Associate Editor of the Marysvilt
Herald, committed suicide in Sacramento or
Thursday evening last. The Union gives the
following account oft:
We regret to announce that Henry Ship
ley. late editor of the Oregon Weekly Times,
published ut Portland, committed suicide last
evening at the Merchants Hotel, on K street,
between Second and Third streets, hy taking
strychnine. lie retired to his room as usual
about p. NJ, disrobed himself, and having
taken the poison, took to his bed. About 6
o'clock lady hoarder, hearing groaning in
the room, advised Mr.. Hand that there was
some one there very sick requiring attention.
Mr.. Hand went to the room immediately
finding Mr.. Shipley in great distress, who
called him hurriedly and repeatedly to 90 for
a doctor. DR. uarkncss was Immediately
called in, and percieving evidences that he
had taken stryclInine, asked attendants to
look around for the bottle. Mr. Shiplev re
marked, "YOu will find no bottle" and i'm
mediately after requested the doctor to ad
minister TO him an antidote for strychnine
DR.. Hnrkness used all known appliances to
save him. but without success. lie died soon
afterwards. The deceased was born in Shir.
ley, Massachusetts, and aged about 80 years.
His father, familiarly known as Deacon Shin
ley connected with the Baptist Church., con.
Quoted business in Boston as a baker for sew
eral years, and was long recognized as
prominent politician He has since deceased
Henry Shipley graduated at Amherst College
Massachusetts in 1850, and conducted busi-
ness as a druggist in Covington, Kentucky
whence he came to California. Here he was
connected as associate editor of the Marys-
vile Herald, afterwards as editor of the
Grass Valley Telegraph and the Nevada
Democrat; subsequently, a reporter of the
State journal, during the proprietorship of
Redding & Co. Upon the failure of Redding
IL Co. it was conducted under his editorial
management, under the same name, the press
and material having been purchased by him
and an association of practical printers. Early
in the Spring Of 1858, Shipley sold out to 5.
w. Rayeley. when the name was changed to
the California Statesman. During the Fraser
river excitement he visited Victoria, What
com, and the Fraser river region. At the
Dales he was thrown from n spiiited horse
and severely injured-picked up for dead
and laid for weeks in an insensible condition
In fact n zinc coffin was made and carried
into his loom with the view of sending his
remains to this State. it being supposed that
he was dead He recovered sufficiently to
edit for a time. the Oregon Weekly Times,
published at Portland, but finally concluded
for relaxation, to visit this city, arriving here
on the 2d of September last lie contemplt
ted, last week, to make 1t trip to the Sand
wich Islands on the vessel which transported
II. q. Lees Circus troupe. and made every
preparation therefor, hut. on Friday. receiv-
ed dispatch from San Francisco announcing
that the vessel had gone. This was sad
disappointment to him, and from his frequent
illusions TO the circumstance must have
preyed upon his mind, and possibly may
have impelled him to the preparation of the
act which has resulted in his death. lie
leaves a mother, Sarah IL. Shipley, resident
at Pepperell, Mass. The body and effects
were taken in possession last evening by
Coroner Murray, who will hold an inquest ut
10 o'clock this morning. The contents of his
trunk were examined by that officer, and
many letters, papers, diaries and manuscripts
found therein, together with his diploma con.
terring the degree of Bachelor of Arts issued
10y the Faculty of Amherst College