Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-05-07
A Remarkable Snicide.


In the Times of yesterday morning ap.
peared the melancholy announcement Of the
suicide of Mrs. Elizabeth Haines, wife of MIR.
Braxton j. Haines, of Charles City county,
which occurred on Monday last. What could
have been the incentive which led to the ter
rlble deed, is a profound mystery, as her do
mestic relations were of the most conrenial
character, and she had health and everything
of comfort around her. Mrs. Haines had
only been married a few mouths She was
Miss Goddin, and was the neice of Mr. We'll
llngton Goddin of this city. The particulars
OF the distressing affair are as follows: On
Monday moruingsafter the family had break
tasted, Mr.. Haines repaired to his sitting room
for the purpose of arranging some accounts.
and shortly after called his wife to assist hin,
in so doing. She made no reply to the re-.
quest, but asked him where his pistol was
On being informed that it was in a drawer.
she took it out and asked her husband to load
it for her He declined, and INQUIRED what
she wanted it loaded for Her reply was
that she intended killing herself. and if he
wouldn't load the pistol for her she would do
it herself. Mr.. Haines paid no attention to
this remark, and continued making out his
accounts till he was interrupted by his wife the
second time, who asked why the ball wouldn't
go down the barrel Of the weapon. He took
1t from her, aud finding that the bullet was
too large, trimmed it off o.that it would fit.
and then handed it back to his wife. Subse.
quently upon her reiterating the threat to
kill herself, AIr. Haines asked her to give him
the pistol, but she refused to do SO, and it
was only afteEa struggle that he again secured
1t. This time Mr. Haines went to the porch.
hred OFT the weapon, and returned it to the
drawer where he had been in the habit of
keeping it. Soon after, his wife again cot
the pistol and set down by him to load it, after
accomplishing which she handed it to her
husband asking him to cap it. Knowing that
she frequently INDUCED in pistol shooting. he
thought nothing of her saying she intended
to commit suicide, and accordingly put the
cap on the weapon and handed it back to her.
Mrs. Haines then left the house. and her hus.
band proceeded with his accounts. Shortly
afterwards he heard. the report of the pistol.
and Immediately ran to the door TO see what
had happened, when the first sight which
caught his eye was Mrs. Haines, with uplifted
arms, running towards him, aud CRYING s'saye
me-" lie caught her as she was about faint
ing and bore her into the house, where she
fingered only about fifteen minutes before she
died. Previous to her death she called for
water, but was unable to swallow any, owing
to Protuse hemorhage from the lungs Upon
examination 1t was ascertained that the fatal
missile had entered the right lung and passed
obliquely down towards tie spine She as
signed no reason for the strange act, and her
last words to her husband were those of en-
dearment and opportunities for him to save
her. From little son of Mr. Haines, who
was witness of the affair, it seems that as soon
as Mrs. Haines left the house she went into
the garden, and after walking around the path
ways several times, with the pistol in her
hand, she then put it to her breast, and. bid.
ding the child goodbye" fred the fatal
shot.-I2icInona Times