Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28
A TERRIBLE DEATH SCENE.
A Young Husband shooting Himself
at the Death.bed of his wife.

IFrom the GAINESVILLE Courier, Oct. 1871
The citizens of this community were greatly
the death of Charles H. Durham and wife-the
one dying from the effects of pistol ball In the
head, fred by his own hand, and the wife dying
OF consumption, ten minutes after her husband.
The circumstances of this painful occurrence,
as near as we can gather them, are as follows:
Mr.. Charles II. Durham, son of our well known
citizen Thomas Durham, Esq, about . years of
age, practicing attorney, was married last
spring to Miss Lucy Seaman. 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. She con-
tnued TO grow worse, and as the prospect of her
recovery faded away Mr.. Durham grew sad and
gloomy.
DIR. Ball visited Mrs. Durham Yesterday morn
ing, and found that she could not long survive
few days at the most. In the evening he was
sent Tor again, and arrived at the bedside of the
sufferer ten minutes before six O'Clock. Mrs.
Durham wished to take some medicine, NOR
when she %ss aBs S 1ns
sleep. Her husband asked the doctor about
giving it, expressing himself if fearing the de-
sire for sedative might increase. The doctor
requested him to give her the medicine. which
he did, at the same time seeming very nervous
and excited. He walked partially around the
room with his hands in his pockets, and finally
stopped at the foot of the bed. The remedy did
not seem to produce relief. She was then breath
ing very hard. The doctor then gave her some
valeriate of ammonia, Mr.. Durham still standing
at the foot Of the bed and seemed to be suffering
intensely.
He said to the physician Doctor, for Gods
sake, can't you give Lucy (his wife's name)
something to relieve herr" The doctor told him
10 wait, that the remedy had not had time to
act. AS the difficulty of breathing seemed to
increase the doctor told Mr.. Durham to bring
some unslacked lime, that she might inhale It
wnlle II stacked He did 50, and attempted to hold
IL to her face, but seemed to be unable from ner-
vousness. She then took severe At of coughing,
when the doctor took his place, and Mr. Dur
ban passed to the foot Of the bed, saving,
as he did so, Doctor, can't YOU do anythin1
more for her; she is dying ?" The doctor found
that she would suff0cate unless Der position i'm
the bed was changed, and with the assistance of
her mother and Mrs. Evans was trying to change
her position, when report rang out which filed
the room with the sound. The doctor plancino
up, noticed Mr.. Durham staggering, and sup.
posing that he might have accidentaIly shot
himself, rushed to him and laid him on the
shot. e'' ~ WIZ
His wife seemedfully conscious of what had
taken place; said she was sorry, but couldn't
cry. she tried to speak again, but the words
were not understood, when she breathed her
last, there being from five to ten minutes in their
deaths: The ball took effect in the right temple,
little above and back of the eve. In his pocket
was found letter addressed to his wife, saying he
could not live without her, and if he died first
letters also to his parents and a note requesting
that no eoroner's inquest be held upon his
body; that 1t was a matter between himself and
his God.