Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-13


vile, shocked by this sad termination of |
life, full of honors, naturally desire to know
the particulars. We give them below from
the st. Louis Democrat Of Tuesday:
One Of the most shocking and lamenta-
BILE suicides that ever occurred in this city
was committed on Sunday night under pain-
ful and distressing circumstances. The
victim was Benjamin NJ. Runyan, for many
years a prominent banker and public spirit
ed citizen of this city--a man universally
esteemed, and whose character for honesty.
integrity and fair dealing had never known
blemish. Surrounded by family OF
sons and daughters, blessed with the love
of an amiable and affectionate wife, with
hosts of friends to cheer and assist him,
misfortune overlook him like a sudden
blast of winter, and weighed down by the
cruel blow, life became uncomfortable, and
in a moment of despair and agony heter-
minated his life.
The news of the suicide soon spread over
the city, exciting the deepest sorrow among
the many friends Of the unfortunate man.
Various rumors were circulated concerning
the circumstance, and some of the friends
of the deceased, naturally enough, made
efforts to conceal the fact that he died by
his own hand. But the investigation which
took place before the Coroner's jury yes
terday afternoon left no doubt that such
was the case The inquest was held at 9
o'clock.
Mr.. Moore testified that he was called to
see the deceased about eleven o'clock on
Sunday night; found him in bed-pulse-
less-had been dead about two hours. There
was strong evidence of dislocation of the
neck.
DR.. ]. B. johnson, the family physician
of Mr.. Runyan, was examined, and stated
that he had known the deceased twenty
years. Had seen him the day after the
suspension of his bank in March, he was
exceedingly depressed, and on consultation
with his wife, they came to the conclusion
that he meditated self-destruction and
would have to be closely watched. Daily
he grew more melancholy; on one occasion
he said that life had no attractions for
him that, were il not for his wife and
children, he would not care to live an
hour. DR.. johnson was of opinion that
deceased committed suicide in fit of mel
ancholy.
Mr.. A. B. Sluder and Mr.. Runyan, "a
brother of deceased stated that the de-
ceased changed greatly after his failure.
He was extremely melancholy, and was
never known to smile since the day of his
misfortune. Soon after he made an attempt
to take his life, but was prevented by some
of his friends, who since that time had con-
stantly watched. him to prevent him from
destroying himself
Another witness said he saw deceased on
Saturday afternoon ON Walnut street. near
his residence, seemingly greatly excited,
gesticulating and muttering to himself.
His countenance exhibited great mental
distress, and he had noticed his changed
condition for at least a week.
Mr.. V. Runyan, the eldest son of the
deceased young man about twenty-one
years of age-testifed that on Sunday night
at church time, his father declined going
to church, and requested his mother and
son 10 go. As he appeared calmer than
usual, Mrs. Il. concluded to attend church,
having no suspicion of the horrible tragedy
that would be enacted in her absence
Young Runyan conducted his mother to a
street car and she went TO DIR. Brooks
church, corner of Fifteenth and Walnut
streets, while the young man went to Trini-
ty church, on Washington avenue, taking
a young lady with him. After the church
services were over, he escorted the young
lady to her home, and after talking with
her awhile he returned to his residence,
corner of Sixth and Walnut, at eleven
o'clock. He found his mother in great
distress on account Of the absence of her
husband she had searched throughout the
house and could not find him; and was
fearful that some accident had befallen him,
that he had gone upon the street and prob
ably wandered away. The young man and
his mother renewed the search, and found
the hat of the deceased on the hatrack in
the hall his boots were also found in the
sitting room. Taking lamp, young Run
van searched through the bedroom, the
kitchen, the servants rooms, the cellar, etc,
but found nothing of his father. At length
he started to go to his own room in the up
per or attic story, and on turning to ascend
the upper flight of stairs came in contact
with the body of the deceased, suspended
from the banisters by the neck with rope.
He ran into his room and snatching mp
razor, cut the rope, and the body fell to the
floor, bruising the cheek and the bridge of
the nose. DIR. Moore, whose Office is on
the opposite corner, was sent for, and pro-
nounced that the man had been dead about
two hours.
The servants stated that they had heard
deceased go up stairs in his stocking feet
about nine o'clock, and had not heard him
descend They took no notice of the cir
cumstance, surprising he had retired to
bed.
The verdict of the jury was that de-
ceased came to his death by strangulation
with rope, the act of his own hands.
Mr.. r. NJ. Runyan was about fifty years
of age, native of Tennessee, and leaves
a wife and several sons and daughters. He
came to this city about twenty years ago,
and for many years was engaged in the
iron business, being the head of the house
of Runyan, Hillman a. Co. Eight or ten
wears ago he sold out his iron business
and engaged in banking. In March he
failed, and gave up everything to his cred
itors, paying, it is said, 80 cents on the
dollar. Hewas of proud, sensitive nature,
and his failure in business was probably
the sole cause of the commission of the
rash act.
The Republican says:
Mr.. Runyan was born in Frankfort,
Kentucky, in November, 1915, and was
fifty-one years of age his last birthday.
He came TO st. Louis to reside March 5th,
l847, as the representative of the iron
house of Messrs. Hillman q Brothers, who
established branch house here, entrusting
its entire supervision to Mr.. Runyan. He
continued in the management of that house
until 1857, when, as senior partner, he
opened the banking house of Runyan q
Brown. Mr. John Brown, the junior part
ner, died two or three years thereafter, and
Mr.. Runyan continued the business until
the spring of this year. His career during
this period of twenty years was an honora-
Bile one. in which he won for himself the
confidence of the community and an enyia
bic reputation as an upright citizen and a
business man of rare capacity. His asso-
ciaies in commercial circles recognized
his merit and trlstworthiness by electing
him director in several Insurance compa-
MES. while the list of names of his
depositors furnished gratifying evidence
of the high favor in which he stood as a
banker among leading business men. He
developed early after his coming here a
liberal, accommodating spirit, and as a
citizen he displayed generous disposition
TO support every public enterprise. In social