The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-05
For the Standard.
Suicide of Sidney J. Croker.

For the Standard.
Suicide of Sidney J. Croker.
Mr.. Sidney ]. Crocker 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 member of the Chris
tian Church and well beliked by all who
knew him. He was born and raised within
one-fourth of mile of the place where he
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 IA 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 night before he shot
himself he went to the house of one of his
neighbors 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
seat by the bed, Mr. Croker 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 gun was heard in the direc-
ton whence Croker had gone But very
little attention paid to it as they thought he
had shot squirrel. However about
o'clock small lad passed the path close to
him, and gave the alarm. Some fifteen or
twenty persons were at the spot where he lay,
with his gun between his knees, his left hand
about inches from the muzzle 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 o.
his brether-in-la 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 Pfegress of the 22nd inst, stating that
Mr.. Croker was a married man and that his
wife resided in Tennessee, is thought to be
mistake. II he was married it is 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 copy of the letter found
by his side:
NOVEMBER. 18th, 1866.
This is my desire Please do this for nv
sake. 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. Idon'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.
l don't want any swearing about my grave
want no foolish expression 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
songsters 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 a good
tight coffin. My last writing. May God, Jesus,
our Saviour, our King, bless you all.
al SIDNEY j. CROCKER.'
The letter was backed as follows ITO all
whom it may concern" A FRIEND.
AbdicatiOn of Macmillan.
THE EMPEROR LEAVES VERA CRUZ.
New ORLEANS, November 24.-Maxim-
ilian has taken the decisive step of abdica-
ton. The rupture between himself and the
French Government being complete, he has
left Mexico in the hands of Bazaine and Cas-
telnau, the latter of whom is understood to
have full authority from Napoleon to super
sede the Marshall himself, if necessary The
late Emperor left Vera Cruz ON Thursday,
and may be expected at Havana, on way to
Europe, on Monday or Tuesday next The
CONSERVATION of the Mexicans, at finding the
T, question of their future RENTED absolutely
to negotiations between France and the
United States, is general and confined to no
party. have the best authority for stating
that all the preparations for embarking the