Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-11-10
: DEATH OF WILLIAM $. FIRST.
Discarded Love CHnses Suicide.


Mr.. William S. Fiist, which occurred on I
Wednesday night about eleven O'Clock, 10 I
the library of William G. whitley, Esq '
Coroner d. Il. Woodward held an inquest |
over the body yesterday morning with The
following jurymen :-Messrs. Thomas N. (
Culbert, Isaac c. Pyle, Adam Grub, James
McLanan, George Il. Robinson, Joseph
mond, VIM. Ferris, Joseph Teas, John Is.
Stevens. James France, Rohelt Logan,
Daniel Farra, Frank B. Danny, Samuel
Cubreth.
Mrs. Cathariue c. First, the mother Of the
deceased, testified He went TO PA adel-
phia on Monday noon and Intended RETURN
ing at I'VE O'Clock. He came home about
ten O'Clock at night. saw he was excited.
He asked me to light him up stairs. l &C.
comranied him to his room; staid with him
all night He was very thirsty after water.
lie wanted laudanum, which hesiiated to
administer, telling him he had better see
physician. gave him eight drops OF lauta-
mum. He had a cold and said if be would
take some medicine for the cold, it would
quiet him and enable HIM to sleep. He long
ed for sleep, Ga Tuesday morning asked |
him il he had sleep during the night. He |
said rObably he had. lie came down stairs |
and lett the hOu,e before eight o'clock. He |
seemed calm then and did not allude 10 this |
trouble. On Tuesday night, l think he said |
he got prescription from Dr. Kane for an
opate. He took it as the doctor directed.
On Wednesday morning, he looked better
and seemed calm and as il he had gotten
over his trouble, or making an effort 10. lie
came in between one and two O'Clock in
the afternoon Tor diuneT. lie said he had
case to try before Justice OF the Peace.
He went out and never saw him any more
alive. He left the house about two o'clock.
To lady who was present, he told what
was his prospects for the next year. knew
| he had the pistol. lie frequently went into
the country and told me he carried the pistol
for protection when out late at night In the
country. On Monday night when he came
in and went up stairs to lis room. l saw he
was in trouble. lie told me frankly saying
he was hard worked man; that lie was
done. He requested me TO leave the room
that he might 60 10 bed. / stepped outside
and heard the small bureau drawer shut.
The thought struck me that he was taking
the pistol out l was much alarmed, went
in and demanded the pistol. He said it was
in the drawer. lie refused 10 give 1t to me.
l lie said, VIII you give me your word as a
= lady that you will not take it out OF the
4 drawer? l will give you my word as a
q gentleman that will not" Afterwards, on
+ Tuesday, on looking in the drawer, l found
n it gone, He was as sane when at dinner as
ever. He cOnVersed with a lady visitor in
q this room, and at the dinner table. Later
4 in the evening lie called at my sisters after
y, six O'Clock. That looks like the pistol,
=, pistol exhibited by Coroncrl.
n At this point IN The proceeding, the COrO
ner and jury went 10 the Office oil Charles u
p. Lore, ESQ, where the taking of testimony
y under oath, was resumed.
~ DR.. Kane testified Saw Mr.. First OF
Tuesday afternoon. tue day bliore ueuccur
IS sec lin WHO was ,ppf sN'1S.'iifSte TINT Il,
would do himself injury. lie had evidently
been drinking quite heavily be was ner
ID vous and excited. He expressed himself il
&c some great unhappiness. lie said he hat
n not slept Tor one night certainly and thinl
IL perhaps two ; lie sad lie hsd taken at eas
=" sixty drops Of laudanum, besides a consider
v bic number of drinks. | gave lin this new
remedy IlydTaie of Chloial, which he took
te he saw me the following morning, he sail
O. he slept well that night and had eaten
r. hearty breakfast; He spoke OF mutua
is friends Of ours. In The evening about NM
IS. O'Clock ! saw him again at my tflce. II
ne was perfectly rational. lie slaid halt an hour
nj lie said lie had not come to Sec me proies.
A. si0nally, only on a visit. Mrs. Kane was II
We the oflice. When lie went 10 leave, though
NJ he appeared shaliy and nervous. / notice
n, Tor the first Time he was tremuluus ulthuup
mt be looked like man who had been crnl
TO ing. / took him to my dining room an
he gave lin some wLiskey, aad had long tail
lis about his habits. told lin how iniutlou
IN it was, On account of the condition Of hi
lat lungs He sHid | would drink il as unhapl
cd as he was. lie lell with II promise that b
ed Wollu DC m1le aOslemlous. That was TIN
pie lasl l saw 81 Inn till saw him peilecll
rat deau IN Col. W lltley's back sitting rOol
lid amer ~ clock Ills wound was above I'll
ter llght temple lusl where the hair joins til
ERE forehead. On luesdny and Wednesday, Il
ult was ID condition that l would not lru
ity nm. regarded nm as unsafe TO DC uusie
ct- WIN deadly weapon.
nal MI j. fMra asked whether the ball w
sun IN ~ skull. DE- Kane replied that Il
hau no Coubl OF y.
MI. Harry Fusl testified Saw broth,
on tuesday morning. ] got my dnncr b
~ lute nm. lie looked MS II troubled. ID
not hear him say anything about trouble
up saw AN envelope directed to Constable ID
ran
ma Mr.. John j. Gallagher testified keep
are dug Store at 18th and Market streets. II
IN deceased never got mrdnnum ! me. kpO
ma nothing Of the shooting. MI Fust
es, Tuesday, got a prescription ordered by d
led Kane. saw mul last evening. lie got son
on cigars. To my mind lie was eiltCtly =
are tional.
Mr. Walter Cummins testified nj
Frisl was man OF very deep feelings {
rs. Monday, lie received letter which was {
nh. most ike a death-blow to him. The lett
W. had reference TO A love nlTnr lie scam,
OK almost beside himself with grief. Occasion
by. ally he exclaimed, that it could not be So
liic accompanied him 10 the country mad we
adc turned that evening. Abou, ten O'Clock, III
no night / saw him Ms / was going 10 post ],
rec ter. saw him at TIE Office the lollowil
use morning lie said "take Charge OF these i
ing pers, don't know what may happen"
and seemed to think that lie would not live I
Spring. lie gave me his papers and told |