Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-11-18
A Disfressiny Suicide.


furnishes the following particulars Of
most distressing tragedy which took
place il that city on Tuesday last: The
citizens Of this community were greatly
shocked at an esrly hour Yesterday
evening by the intelligence Of the death
OF Charles II. Durham and vile, which
had just taken place at the residence Of
Judge Evans, in the Sixth wsri. under
the most SAL and painful circumstances
the one diving from the effect Of
pistol ball IN the head, fred bv lis own
hand, while the wife lav diving in the
same room, of 4 lingering disease--con.
sumption-and expiring ten minutes
after her husband had gone into e,erni.
". That our citizens were startled hy
the announcement of so tragic sn occur
renee would be but family express the
feelings Of sadness aud horror at the
event, and of the sympathy Of The pa.
rents, relatives and friends of the Ioccrs
ed The circumstances Of this painful
occurrence a. near IS We can gather
them are rs follows.
Mr. Charles H. Durham. son of our
well-known fellow citizen, Thomas Dur
ban Esq, 4 young man about twenty,
three Years of age,a practicing attorney,
Office in the Atheneum building. WAS
married last spring to Miss Lucy Sea.
man. After marnags, owning to the
falling health of Mrs Durham, they resi-.
ded at Judge Evans. The disease with
which she was afflicted was consump-
tion ofthe lungs Mr. Durham from tie
testimony of all, was the most devoted
of husbands, kind generous aud noble.
hearted of sons. DR.. Ball was the At
tending physician Of Mrs. Durham dur.
ing her illness, and he was requested by
NJ. Durham TO visit her every day, TO
spare no expense whatever in procur-
ing her anything that would tend tU her
comfort OF aid in her rccoVuy The
Doctor did, on one occasion, om;; lis
daily visit for one day, when the next
morning, Mr. Durham called On him and
begged him '.ut to fail visiting htr
daily until her health WAS recovered or
death put IN end 10 her suli,rinss.
She continued 10 grow worse, and as
thc prospect of her recovery faded awav,
Mr. Durham grew sad and gloomy. Dr
Ball visited Mrs. Durham yesterday
morning, and found that she could not
long survive, few days at the most.
In the evening he was sent for again,
and arrived at the bedside Of the sufferer
ten minutes before siN o'clock. Mrs.
Durham wished TO take some medicine.
morphine and chlorotorm. prescribed by
the Doctor when she was restless and
could not sleep. Her husband asked
the doctor about giving il expressing
himself rs if fearing the desire for The
sedatiye might increase. The d.. re-
questcd him TO give her the medicine.
which he did, at the same time seem.
ing very nervous and excited. He
walked partially around the room
with his hands in his pockets. and final.
ly stopped at the foot Of the bed. The
remedy dld not seem 10 produce relief
She was then breathing very hard. Tho
DIR. then gaze her some valeria;c Of
ammonia, Mr.. Durham still standing at
the foot of the bed, and seemed 10 he
suffering intensely. He said 10 the ply.
sician doctor for Gods sske, cant Ncu4
give Lucy (his wife's name) something
TO relieve herr" The doctor told L.m 10
wait, that the remedy had not had time
TO act As the difficulty Of breathing
seemed to increase, the doctor told him
to bring some unslackel lime, that sho
might inhale it while il Stacked. he
did so, and attempted 10 hold it 10 her
face, but seemed 30 be unable from ncr-
vousncs5. She then took a severe III Of
coughing, when the doctor took his
place aud Mr.. Durham passed TO tho
foot Of the bed, saying as he did SO, "Doc-
tor, can't You DO anything more for her,
she is dying?' The doctor found that
she would suffocate Unless her POSITION
in the bed was changed, AMI with the
assistance Of her mother and Mrs.
Evans, was trying 10 change her posi-
ton, when report rang out which I'll.
led the room with sound. The Doctor
glancing mp noticed Mr.. Durham stag
gering, and supporting that he might
have accidentally shot himself rushed to
him and laid bin on the floor He did
not breathe, seemingly, after the shot
His wife seemed fully conscious ofwhat
had taken place, said she was sorry. hut
couldn't cry. She tried TO speak again,
but the words were Dot understood.
when she died, there being from five 10
ten minutes in time bctw cen ihoir death.
The ball took effect in tho light tempe,
a little above and back of the eye. In
his pocket was found letter addrc.sed
to bis wiic, saying that be could lot
live without hcr, aud ifhe did irst ths.
he would meet her in Paradise. There
were letters also to bis parents, aud
note requesting that no Coronocr's in
quest be held upon his body, that IL wss
that it was a matter between himself and
his God.
The parents and friends of the deceas.
cd have the sympathy OF the entire com.
munity in this double calamity that has
belallen them.
The LrxrRY or LAzISIss
yoors ao,o I4zy Man, Soc;sty mn. re-