The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-01
For the Standard.
Suicide of Sidney J. Croker.

Suicide of Sidney J. Croker.
Mr.. Sidney j. Croker, of Wake County,
Is miles west of Raleigh committed suicide
on Monday morning the 18th inst. Mr..
Croker had been in feeble health for some
time, but was thought to be improving by
his relations and friends. He was likely
and very intelligent young man, of good
moral character, and a member of the Chris
tian Church and we'll beliked by all who
knew him. He was born and raised within
one-fourth of a mile of the place where ne
killed himself. No one knows the cause of
the commission of the act. He was thought
by all of his relatives To- be in his right mind;
and wrote a note few days before his death,
which was found lying by his side after he
had shot himself. The day he wrote said
note, he burned all the letters that he had
ever received then in his possession, and
wrote short will. The nj CHIT before he shot
himself he went to the house of one of his
neighbofs and remained all night. Soon af-
ter he arrived here, he complained of being
little ill and called for bed and asked the
gentleman of the house to come into the
room and have a conversation with him,
which he did. Soon after he had taken a
seat by the bed Mr.. Crocker asked him if he
could borrow his rifle to shoot squirrel with
the next morning. He told him yes, having
no idea of the intended use of the weapon
The gentleman sat with him until bedtime
and then retired himself. Mr. Crocker CON
versed all the while in his right mind and
expressed no sad feelings whatever
The next morning he rose very early. took
the gun and shot-bag and left the house In
a very short time, fifteen or twenty minutes,
the report of a gun was heard in the direc-
ton whence Croker had gone But very
little attention paid to it us they thought he
had shot a squirrel. However about 8
O'Clock small lad passed the path close to
In flo oil,
twenty persons were at the spot where he lay,
with his gun between his knees, his left hand
about inches from the muZZlc and his right
lower down. clasped round the barrel of the
gun. 1t seems that he took the ramrod or
stick from the thimbles in order, as is sup
posed, to get the muzzle of the gun in his
mouth. The stick was longer than the bar
rel. As well as could be ascertained the ball
entered about the palate and ranged up
wards, but did not come out, as no place
could be discovered. He bled copiously
from the mouth, nose and ears.
The body was removed to the residence of
his brother-in-law, where he had been board |
ing, and buried on the day following, accor-
ding to his request as set forth in the letter
found by his side All being satisfied as to
how he came to his death, it was deemed |
useless to hold an inquest over the remains |
The notice of this suicide which appeared |
in the Progress of the 22nd inst, stating that |
MIR: Crockcr was a married man and that his |
wife resided in Tennessee, is thought to be |
mistake. Ii he was married it is a fact I'M |
known to his relatives and friends in the vi |
clnlty where the deed was committed He |
has some relatives in Tennessee. and had not !
been long returned from that State, whence |
he had been to pay them visit.
The following is a copy of the letter found |
by his side:
"NOVEMBER 18th 1866
This is my desire. Please do this for nv |
sake. L want You to bury me just as you |
find me. Don't strip me, but wrap my shawl |
around me. Don't put any thing white about |
me in the way of clothes. only what you find |
on me. 1 don't want any to say why this was
done, for you know not, and for that reason |
| don't want you to make false Impressions |
| don't want any swearing about my grave. |
want no foolish expression. 1 don't want |
any one to speak evil of me at all. If have |
done anything evil enough for people to
speak evil of me, my God will punish me-
want you to send for four or five good |
s0ngsters and sing the following songs:
"Jesus, my Saviour, to Thee will SUBMIT
and two other suitable hymns. want E. L.
Mills to make my coffin, and make it good
light coffin. My last writing. May God, Jesus,
Dur Saviour, our King. bless you ALL
SIDNEY j. CROKER"
The letter was backed as follows: ITO all |
whom it may concern" A FRIEND.