The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-18

w
lIumor columns of every country pape
in the land, every newspaper reader wa
familiar with them. We advise the DR.. t
drop his anecdotes and stick to his lectur
proper and his poem, " Geraldine" whic
is quite pretty.
On Tuesday evening next, 21st inst, MI
Vandenhoff will close the course by readin
from Byron, Shakespeare, Dickens and othe
works. We need say nothing in the wa
of commentator of Vandcnhoff Gu
readers are familiar with this splendit
elocutionist. There will be no discount OF
| Tuesday evenings entertainment Thos
who appreciate a rare literary treat will
not fail to attend.
Dreadful Affair at Rising Sun.-A mos
distressing and shocking affair occurred il
Rising Sun, on Friday of last week. A
young man named Vincent Augustus @
Vandever, son Of 3. F. Vandever, agee
about 90 years, deliberately and coolly sho
himself through the heart. The circnm
stances attending this affair were as fol
lows:
Young Vandever some weeks since wen
| to Philadelphia when he obtained employ
| ment as conductor OH one of the Chestnut
street railway cars, and having associated
| with bad company, was finally arrested OF
the charge of having stolen about $500 from
drover named Miller At hearing be.
fore an alderman he was released on bail
He then came home, and was to report him.
self for hearing of the case next week;
but his surety fearing that he would moi
appear sent city constable after him on
Friday. When the officer arrived at Rising
Sun on the 1870 AN, train, he attempted
to arrest young Fandever at Kimbell &
Taylor's hotel, and on producing pair OF
handouts the young mans father, who was
present, interfered and told the officer that
he should not be handcuffed. After 4
promise ON the part of the father that he
would accompany the officer and son to the
city on the afternoon train, the latter was
allowed his liberty.
Shortly after this affair it appears that
young Vandever contemplated suicide, as
he procured bottle and obtained an ounce
of muriatic acid at DR.. Kinks drug store;
the doctor supposing it was for his father,
who is a veterinary surgeon, gave it to him,
when he remarked, IF a fellow would put
this under his vest it would put his light
out" The doctor renlarking that it would
be slow poison, proceeded to some other
duty, and the young man went out, but
presently returned with another bottle and
obtained an ounce of creosote, remarking,
"He's poison, too" On being informed
that all caustic poisons would cause slow
and horrible death, he went home. Ills
father had not ordered him to get the acids.
Soon after This he was sent to provision
store to purchase meat for dinner, and on
his way home he stopped at another store
and purchased sheet of paper, remarking
that he intended to write his will. He
then went home and deliberately sat down
at the desk and wrote in a cool and collect
ed manner in the presence of his father and
mother, the address to his friends which
will be found below, and which he placed
in his pocket. After partaking of his din
her as usual he went up stairs for few
minutes and on descending took a short
walk and then went into the stable, where
he shot himself.
The father having prepared himselfto go
to the city, went out to look for his son,
and after looking around and not finding
him, concluded to 60 to tho stable, sup
posing he might have gone there to feed the
horse. On entering the stable and not find
ing his son, b:r. Vandever concluded to go
into the hay NOW and throw down some
hay for the horse, and thsre found his son
lying upon his back, but supposed he
had lain down and fallen asleep, with his
hat over his eyes. Failing to arouse him
by shaking him, the father took hold of his
coat to raise him up, when he was Mortified
to discover that he was dead. The neigh
bors were soon brought to the spot, and it
was discovered that he had deliberately I'M
buttoned his vest, turned it back and fast
ened it behind him, and then placed the
rhuzzlo of large Colts revolver to his left
side and fired.
Coroner's jury was summoned by Isaac
r. Taylor, Esq, and an examination made
by DR.. George S. Dare showed that the
charge had entered between the fifth and
sixth ribs, passed through the heart, and
emerged about two inches below the shoul-
der blade. The ball was found in his cloth
ing. The verdict of the jury was that
the deceased came to his death from gun
died instantly, as there were no signs of
struggle, and he was found upon his back
with his pistol at his feet
The deed was cool and deliberate affair,
as tho deceased was in good spirits up to
the time of the accomplishment of it, and
no one had any idea of his intention. AL
though he had said to some Of his COM
panions that he would not be taken alive,
it was regarded as an idle threat. The fol-
lowing is the letter young Vandever wrote
about half an hour before he committed
the last act in the drama of his life. 1t
was found in a memorandum book in his
pocket, written on one side of sheet of
foolscap, with a lead pencil, and in a bold
hand and fair pennmanship:
RISING SUN, Dec. 10th, 1867
Friends and ,olom IL may concern:
have suffered for crimes unjust-it has
brought me to my tomb at last. l wish to
be laid away peacefully in the land of rest.
Friends, do not weep for me, but hence
forth and forever try to mend your ways.
Mother and father dear, do not weep for
me am satisfied that l will have rest
hereafter. Give my sincere love to my
dear Annie. know it will almost break
your hearts, but do not weep for me-the
one that wronged shall be blessed, hope.
Good bye, friends have no enemies.
One whom trouble has laid in his grave
Young men, beware of bad company and
shun it. Take your dear mothers advice,
you will be better off in the end. Please
| take advice from me.
Have this last published in all the public
columns Put NV name to if as follows