The Lincoln County herald., 1871-06-22
THE II ERALD.


Death Of Hsa. @. l. vallaD6lshau.
Last Friday the startling news Ssshst
over the wires thst Hon. Q. L. vallsadig
ham had accidentally shot bimself. sot
the moraisg following, the saddsr istsl-
figencs ,hst be had died from it, edsct'
at eightssn ninstss before ten o'clock
At the time hs wss st Lobspou, Ohio
engaged % one Of the counsel for ths
defense Of Thomas MeGehsm, and while
showing Gov. McBurney, his associate
how Meyers, with whose murder NcGs'
ham 10 charged, might have shot himself
his pistol was accidentally discharged
and the ball entered the right side Of biz
abdomen, below the ribs.
It appears that no one vss present with
vsllsndighsm when the accident occurred
but ex. Lieutenant Governor MoBurnsy.
MeBurnsy had expressed some doubts %
70 the theory that Meyers had shot him
self, and Mr.. vallandigham picked up .
pistol from the table, saying hs would
show him in . half second. Two pistols
we're on the table, one unloadsd, and be BY
mistake took up the loaded one. He put
IT in his pocket aud withdrew II, keeping
tho muszls next to his body. Just % il
vas leaving his pocket il was discharged,
tho ball entering, it is said, near the same
place Meyers Was shot. He a once ejac.
platcd, "Oh, murder I" and said hs had
taken the wrong pistol. While the ex-
animation vas going on be watched the
surgeons at work With eager eyss. and
even assisted them 10 their search for the
ball.
Throughout, Mr.. Vallaodiehsu was
cool and hopeful, and uheu Impressed
ui,h the approach Of dissolution he met
the news of his ,ondition bravsly. His
family physician, DR.. Reeves, arrived
from Dayton few hours before his death,
Who soon had the room cleared, and shen
no one vas present intimated to Mr.. Vii
lsndigham the very serious nature Of his
wound. The patient, seeking for some
thing on which to build hope, reminded
the Doctor Of tvo bad cases Of injuries
rot fatal, known TO both, and asked if bis
we're worse than theirs. To which the
reticeut reply vas, possibly not. The
Doctor then told Mr.. val,andigham, who
Was suffering pain, that they would have
to administer medicines Of sedstive
nature, and suggested that If he had any.
thing to say he lad better communicate
it then. Vallandigham then conversed
with the Doctor concerning private mat
tiers, giving directions in regard to his
business after which medicine to relieve
the pain WAS injected by the hypodermio
process. After this there was no time
when he was not under the influence of
spiates that affected somewhat his sensi-
bility, but he nevertheless appeared to
keep possession Of his faculties to the
last. In his last moments there we're signs
about his face that indicated great phys.
ical suffering.
At the time of the accident his wife
had been called to Baltimore to attend
the funeral Of q brother, and when the
news Of her husbands misfortune reached
her, she became completely distracted, and
was taken back to Dayton. The remains
Of Mr.; Vsllandlgham we're taken to Day.
ton Saturday afternoon.
The death of this illustrious statesman
10 felt throughout the land. We can i'll.
offord to lose so refined . gentleman, 90
talented lawyer and so brave states
man, but the power of man to save or
direct 10 confined within narrow limits.
Nay . Higher Power pour balm upon the
sgonised heart of bis widowed wife.