The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-06-22
Death of MIR. Vallandigham
A Terrible Affair-He Accidentally Shoots
Himself While illustrating how Myers
might have Shot Himself.

A Terrible Afair-He Accidentally Shoots
Himself While Illustrating how Myers
might have Shot Himself.
CINCINNATI, June l6.-A special to
the Gazette says Clement L. Vallan-
digham, one of the counsel for the
defense of Thomas Mcclellan, acci-
dentally shot himself tonight at nine
o'clock, at the Lebanon House. He
was in a room in company with Gov
ernor McBurney, and while showing,
with pistol, how Myers, the muir
dered man, might have shot himself,
the pistol was discharged, the ball en-
tering the right side of the abdomen,
below the ribs. Which direction the
ball took is not known. Surgeons
are now making an examination. DIR.
Reeves at Dayton has been dispatched
for. The latest word is that the ball
did not penetrate the intestines, and
the wound is not mortal. He has per-
feet possession of his faculties. The
pistol used was Smith and Wesson's.
No one knows how it came to be dis
charged. The accident has produced
intense excitement in Lebanon.
CINCINNATI, June 16-Midnight.-
The Commercial has special from
Lebanon, dated at eleven O'Clock,
which says Mr.. Vallandigham was
vomiting, which was regarded as an
unfavorable sign, and one of his ply
sicians said there were indications of
internal hemorrhage. Drs. Scoville
and Drake ceased their fruitless search
for the ball about an hour after the
accident. They then closed the
wound, and placed the patient on his
right side, where he lay as white as
the sheet upon which he rested. He
was calm and collected. 1t appears
that no one was present with Vallan-
digham when the accident occurred
except ex-Lieutenant Governor Nc
Burney, who has been associated with
him in the defense of Mcclellan. Nc
Burney had expressed some doubts
as to the theory that Meyers had shot
himself, and Vallandigham picked up
the pistol from the table, saying he
would show him in half second
Two pistols were on the table, one
was unloaded, and he by mistake took
up the loaded one. He put it in his
pocket and withdrew it, keeping the
muzzle next his body: Just as it was
leaving his pocket it was discharged,
the bail entering, it is said, near the
same place Meyers was shot. He at
once calculated "Oh, murderp and
said he had taken the wrong pistol
While the examination was going on
he watched the surgeons at work
with eager eyes, and even assisted
them in their search for the ball. The
locality of the ball is not known. Ii
appears to have taken a downward
course-in the direction of the bladder.
DIR. Dawson of this city was tele-
graphed for, but received the dispatch
too late for the train. He has taken
a carriage and will arrive about four
| O'Clock Tomorrow morning. The LIE.
banon House is crowded with anx-
ions inquirers, and the excitement is
| great.
A later dispatch to the Gazette, da-
ted IL AT, saws the symptoms are
growing more unfavorable, pulse
above one hundred. The surgeons
do not appear hopeful, though they
are reticent.
| A dispatch received at eleven
O'Clock says he was suffering no pain
Still later dispatches from Vallan.
digham state that his hands and feet
were growing cold. He yomits often
but throws uD no blood. DR.. Drake
says he is sinking fast. His pulse il
still rising.
CINCINNATI, June 17-2 80 A. MA
special to the Gazette, dated o'clock
says DR.. Reeve had arrived from Day.
ton, and pronounced the wound of 9
most serious character. Vallandig.
ham's surgeons and friend from
/ r IL l. r.
others are admitted. About midnight
DR.. Scoville asked Vallandigham if he
was aware of his condition. He re.
piled yes. He has thus far shown nc
alarm. There seems now no doubt OF
internal hemorrhage. Vallandigham's
son Charles arrived with DR.. Reeve
at quarter past one. The father had
an interview with the son, told him to
be good boy, and gave directions
about dispatching to his mother.
Mr.. Valandigham died on Saturday
morning at ten o'clock and fifteen
minutes, and his remains were taken
to Dayton that evening. The funeral
took place at one o'clock Tuesday af-
ternoon. His death caused the great.
est excitement and sorrow not only in
that city but throughout the country
At the time of the sad occurrence Mrs
Vallandigham was at Cumberland
Nd, attending the funeral of a broth
er, and upon receiving the news of the
terrible disaster became almost dis
| tracted.
MR.. VALANDIGHAM'S LAST HOURS.
AS everything relating to the last
hours of Mr.. Vallandigham is eagerly
/ Ioov,nrhf oft hn inn
from the dispatches of Saturday eve
ming:
Mr.. Vallgndigham was hardly
aware of the severe nature of tht
wound, as he walked around the room
awhile before lying down. Governor
McBurney, alarmed at the sudden ap
pearance of tragedy, rushed to th'
adjoining rooms and at once sum
moned aid. AS soon as the person
came Vallandigham said that it was
foolish act, and later adyerted to it a
the most reckless act of his life.-
Though he seemed to be conscious tina
he was badly hurt he appeared de
cidedly hopeful during the early hours
Rev. Mr.. Haight called to see hin
and Mr.. Vallandigham, taking him b,
the hand, said substantially that h
had too much faith in the Calvanisti
doctrine to believe that he would no
get safely through this misfortune
, Once he told the surgeons to take car
of the pain and he would manage tn
rest. When impressed with the ap
proach of death he was calm, and me
the news of his condition bravely.-
After DR.. Reeve arrived from Day to-
he soon had the room cleared, and
when no one was present, intimate
to Mr.. Vallendigham the very natur
of the wound. The patient, seekin
for something on which to build hope