Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-10-12
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
The pcnth or DAVID Richard-on.

dlltE year NllA some tlldi' u MutNh lllt
world knows nothing until some sudden snap !
ping Of the heart-strings carries the strugger
unexpectedly from friends aud sight A life
givenup to some great work, spirit burned up
inthe enthusiasm and devotion to some great
life scheme, like a candle burned out in the
socket, leaves the pathway Of followers and
friends in. sudden darkness and arrests for
moment the attention Of the busy world
On Monday morning our people were astound-
ed to hear that one of their number one Of the
best, truest, and most useful had taken his own
life. The news was 90 startling as that men
looked at each other with wonder, and were led
TO excairn what nextl But, that all surInise
and conjecture, and unworthy suggestions, may
be arrested, we have thought i but just 70 the
memory of David Richardson that the full facts
surrounding his mysterious death should be
made known. There is nothing about it of
which he or his friends need feel ashamed, and
that this may be demonstrated 70 ali we have
taken the pains to gather the following statement
of facts
AS most of our citizens well know, AIr
Richardson has had exclusive charge Of erecting
the mammoth wholesale house of Cowan, Nc
Cluug Co, on the corner Of Gay and Union
streets. The whole supervision Of the work was
given into Mr. Richardson's hands. Contracts,
plans and execution were all confdcd 70 him.
For two months he has given to the work Al
the spirit, force, and enthusiasm, of his terribly
energetic nature From early morning till late
at night he has pushed the work vigorously and
most efficiently and even at night, in restless
slumbers, planned aad worked over again the
business of the day. The work on Monday
morning had about reached to the completion of
the entire foundation, and was ready for the iron
plates for the sills of the front doors On Satur-
day, or perhaps earlier, he mad discovered that
a slight mistake had been made in placing some
brick pillars upon which iron columns and the
iron castings were TO have been placed. On
Monday, he sent for Dir. Lewis OF the Knox
vile Iron Company, and together they CAREFUL
ly measured the work 70 find out the error, 1t
then appeared that the error would necesstato
slight change in some Of the pillars; change
attended with trihing expense, and but little
delay. But to his mind, worn out with heavy
cares and trials weakened still more because of
his physical prostration brought about by his
hard work and constant application to the great
work in which his whole life was centered, the
little mistake was magnifed and distorted by
him into one which would compromise his repu-
tation as builder, of which he was extremely
Jealous, and probably lose him the confidence
of the members of the firm, all of whom were
his personal friends and ardent admirers. In
this frame of mind, az soon a. the mistake was
certain from the measurement referred 10, he
said TO Mr. Lewis IS am ruined man unless
the grace of God con save me. To which Mr..
l.. said "Oh, no, Richardson the mistake can
easily be repaired It is not serious But, to
his sensitive disposition, the mistake was not
one to be measured by the cost of time or
trouble TO repair it. 1t was mistake which he
would have to rectify before the hands em-
ployed and tho public that watched the pro-
gress of the work with interest, and that was the
great trial to him. 1t was the CONFESSIONAL at he
had made mistake that he dreaded
1t was his pride that was wounded. 1t stung
him to the heart and he felt it leenly-so kee,ll :
as only his friends who knew his punctilious dis
position in such matters can understand. The
final demonstration of this mistake threw him
into the widest excitement; he WAS so bewild-
cred that he could do nothing, and IN this state
he left the building, probably to get away from
the work, in order TO become tranquil With
this purpose, he started for his home He met
his wife, to whom he was devotedly attached, at
the door, as we stated yesterday, but she noticed
nothing unusual in his appearance. He went
into his room, where he had II fewpriy ate memo
randums in regard to his work and opening
the drawer in which they We're con-
tanned, the first thing that met his eye was his
pistol. The Sightof II fastened upon him the fatal
spell In the fit of temporary insanity into
which the whole circumstances threw him, he
sezed the pistol, went To the stable and shot him
self through the head. Il was all done in Q
miuute-no deliberaton reconciliation. II
was the impulse of a brain overworked, broken
down, diseased Of pride, deep, sensitive, un-
yielding He had suffered for weeks from thi:
Overworl To Mr.. Lewis, Il few moments before
the shooting, he said Il would not spend
another such month as Septcmbcc for all the
world. To his wife on Sunday morning he
said he did not believe he could stay through
church, his head panied MIN so; and he die
leave the church, after showing signs of sever,
pain He had taken medicine for some days
lie had eaten but little for some time previous
and had had for nights, broken, restless slum
bers. The entire confidence of Messrs. Cowan
McCung * Co, which he enjoyed, made hin
feel too kecnly the responsibilities, of his work
In it the whole force of his trelcss nature wa
thrown. To the writer, Unexpectedly remarked
that the building was 20 he one Of the best il
the State, and he would so construct It that !
should be monument, which
would outlive him aud hi
family Ii was this work which ent out the yer,
life from his powerful physical constitution ant
left him a mere wreck, prey to the ippalse
which in mon,eht Of insanity siezed him.
These are the facts which We know brough
about the melancholy act which has brough
grief to his home and sorrow TO the whole com
munty. Ii was not from any enberrassmen
in his business-t was nU amy worldly trOubl
ether than the circumstances, We have stated.
Mr.. Richardson died yesterday morning ut
o'clock peacefully. He was senior member Q
the firm of Richardson, Burr Il Terry; n mos
useful, public spirited citizen; man universal
ly loved and respected thoroughly, scrupu
lousy honest, and devoted sincere Christian
He was faithful active and Zcalou
elder of the Second Presbyterian Church
foremost in the many good and noble works I
which they have given the aid of their strong
jealous organization, and no where will he D
more missed than in it. councils and labnrs.
1t is from no desire 10 satisfy the idle curiOs
ty of the public, that we have thus minute
stated the causes and given the facts of his death
but rather from n desire TO give shape 10 publ