New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-01
A MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY.

Inc report, early yesterday morning,
that United States District Attorney A.
b. Long had been found in his office
dead, with horrible cash across his
throat. startled the community. A large
number of people repaired to the scene of
the tragedy to view the mortal remains,
and to try and learn something Of the
manner of the untimely taking off. The
deed was evidently committed by using a
razor, which was found in the room. As
habit of shaving himself, there will be
little difficulty in determining whether
the weapon belonged to him, or was
brought into the room by an assassin.
We learn that he frequently went to a
well-known barber to have his razor
sharpened This barber will, no doubt,
be able to settle the question whether
the razor found in the Office yesterday
morning is the one presented to him by
the deceased for the purpose of being put
in order.
The fact that the razor belonged to Mr..
Long would not, however, be conclusive
of suicide as it may have been found in
sight by the assassin when he entered the
room, and used by him. Still, it is not
an instrument usually selected to attack
strong man with fatal intent. There
is, in fact, hardly any circumstance con-
nected with this tragedy, so far as is
known, which might not be cited to srs-
tain either of the theories entertained by
the public, one of which is murder, the
other suicide. There was no known mo-
tive, either Of gain or revenge, which
would prompt any one to the deed.
There was as clearly nothing in connec-
ton with his social, domestic, financial
or official relations to drive him to
self-destruction. And it is difficult
to believe that one in apparently perfect
health, with no embarrassments, no cares
pressing upon him, except such as arose
from his office, and were rather of a nature
to arouse and crafty a laudable ambition
to become distinguished, should so sud
denly conceive the determination to COM
NIT self-murder. The love of life is gen
orally deemed the strongest chord of the
human heart ''All that q man hath will
he give for his life," was spoken of sane
men, and is as true as its origin was di
vine. But with the evidence before us,
we are unable to determine the cause
Of this great tragedy An impenetra
bic mystery surrounds the deed. He
that was but yesterday full of life and
hope, with an honorable record for the
past and bright future before him, sur
rounded by none but friends, is laid low
in death, with scarce moments notice
He is found weltering i'll his blood, with a
horrid cash across his throat. another
across his right wrist, and wounds in
flicted or attempted to be inflicted on his
left wrist and the lower part of his abdo-
men, Here he had lain, as he died, alone,
with no friendly eye to watch over him
through the long hours of the night, with
no gentle hand to close his eyes, or to
receive his last words. While the world
slept his spirit winged its way to the God
who gave it, leaving the cold, inanimate
clay to be consigned to. its mother earth
BY those who had known him and loved
him. He died and left no sign, No clue
by which to tell whethe r we have crime
to avenge, or a terrible misfortune and
calamity to mourn.