The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-11-01
A Terrible Scene.
a Desolate Husband Shoots Himsef at
the DeatA-5ed of HIS WUe.
Tbe cit;zansof +b;s conmnn;tv ve,

The citizenso of this community were
greatly shocked at an early hour yes
terday evening by the intelligence Of
the death of Charles III. Durham and
wife which had just taken place at the
residence of Judge Evans, in the 9Th
ward, under the most sad and painful
circumstances-the one dying from
the effect of pistol ball in the head,
fired by his own hand, while the wife
lay dying in the same room of that
lingering disease, consumption, and
expiring ten minutes after her husband
had gone into eternity. That our
citizens We're startled by the announce
ment of 50 tragic an occurrence would
but family express the feelings of sad
ness and horror at the event, and Of
the sympathy for the parents, relatives
and friends of the deceased. The
circumstances of this painful affair, as
near as we can gather them, are as
follows: 'hf
Mr.. Charles II. Durham, son of our
well known citizen, Thomas Durham,
Esq, young man about twenty-three
years of age, practicing attorney,
Office in the Atheneum building, was
married last spring to Miss Lucy Sea-
man. After marriage, owing to the
failing health of Mrs. Durham. they
resided at Judge Evans. The disease
with which she was afflicted was that
of consumption of the lungs. Mr..
Durham, from the testimony of all,
was the most devoted of husbands,
kind, generous and noble hearted Of
sons. DR.. Ball was the attending
physician of Mrs. Durham during her
illness. She continued to grow worse
and as the prospects for her recovery
faded away Mr.. Durham grew sad and
gloomy, DIR. Ball visited Mrs. Dur
ban yesterday morning, and found she
could not long survive few days at
the most. In the evening he was sent
for. again, and arziyedat the bedside
of the sufferer ten minutes before six
o'clock. Mrs. Durham wished to take
some medicine, morphine and chloro-
form, prescribed by the doctor when
she was restless and could not sleep.
Her husband asked the doctor about
giving it,. expressing himself as if fear
ing the desire for the sedative might
increase. The doctor requested him
to give her the medicine, which he did,
at the same time seeming nervous and
excited. He walked partially around
the room with his hands in his pock-
cts, and finally stopped at the foot OF
the bed. The remedy did not seem to
produce relief. She was then breath.
ing very hard, and the doctor gave her
some valcriate of amonia, Mr.. Durham
still standing at the foot of the bed,
and seemed to be suffering intensely.
Doctor, for Gods sake, can't you give
Lucy (his wife's nancy something to
relieve her?' The doctor told him to
wait, that the remedy had not had
time to act As the difficulty of
breathing seemed to increase. the DR..
told Mr.. Durham to bring unslacked
lime that she might inhale it while it
Stacked. He did so, and attempted
to hold it to her face, but seemed TO
be unable from nervousness She
then took severe fit of coughing and
the doctor took his place. he passing
to the foot of the bed, saying as he did
so, Doctor, can't you do anything
more for her, is she dying| Doctor
Ball found that she would sufOcate
unless her position in the bed was
changed, and with the assistance of
her mother and Mrs. Evans was trying
to relieve her, when report rang out
which filled the room with the sound.
The doctor glancing up, noticed Mr..
Durham staggering, and supposing he
had accidentally shot himself, rushed
to him and laid him on the floor. He
did not breathe, seemingly, after the
shot. His wife seemed fully aware Of
what had taken place; and said she
was sorry, but couldn't cry. She en-
deavored to speak again, but the words
could not be understood, when she
breathed her last, there being from
five to ten minutes in the time between
their deaths. The ball took effect in
the right temple, little above and
back Of the eye. In his pocket was
found letter addressed to his wife,
saying that he could not live without
her, and that if he died first he would
meet her in Paradise. There were
letters also to his parents, and note
that no coroner's inquest be
held upon his body; that it was
matter between himself and his God.
Courier. (Oct. 1Sth.)