The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1871-11-09
A1ERRIBLE SCENE.


a Desolaas MusbaoA Hhooss Himself
&C ahe Death Bed sf HIS wife.
From the GAINESVILLE Courier
The citizens Of this community were great
" shocked at an early hour yesterday even
ing by the intelligence of the death O. Chas.
H. Durham and vile, which had just taken
place at the residence of Judge Evans, in
the Sixth Ward, under the most painful cir
cumstances-the one dying from the effects
Of pistol ball in his head, fired By his own
hand, while the wife Law dying in the same
room, of consumption, and expiring ten
minutes after her husband had gone into
eternity. That or citizens were startled by
tie announcement Of SO tragic an occurrence
would but family express the feelings Of
sadness and horror at the event, and Of
the sympathy for the parents, relatives, and
friends Of the deceased. The circumstances
of this painful occurrence, as near as we can
gather them are As follows:
Mr. Charles III. Durham, son Of our well
known citizen, Thomas Durham, Esq, a
Young man about % years of age, pr iciic-
ing attorney, office in the Athenaeum build
ine, was married last spring to Miss Lucy
Seaman. After marriage, owing to the fail
ing health of Mrs. Durham, they resided at
j ESdIS uc ulrcA6C VIII WHICH, rue
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. DIR. Ball was
the attending physician of Mrs. Durham
during her lines. She continued 10 grow
worse, and as the prospect Of her recovery
faded away Mr.. Durham grew sad and
gloomy. Dr. Ball visited Mrs. Durham yes
terday morning, and found that she could
not long urvive, few DAYS at the most. In
the evening he was sent for again, and ar-
rived at the brlside Of the sufferer at Ten
minutes before & O'Clock. Mrs. Durham
wished to take some medicine, morphine and
chloroform, prescribed by the doctor when
she wa, restless and could not Steep Her
husband asked the doctor about giving il,
and expressed himself as il fearing the
desire for the sedative might increase. The
doctor requested him to give her the medi
cine, which he did, At the same time seeming
| very nervous and excited. He walked par.
TALLY around the room with his hands in hi.
pockets, and finally stopped at the foot OF the
bed. The remedy did not seem to produce
relief. She was then breathing very hard
| The doctor then gave her some valerianats
Of ammonia. Mr. Durham, still standing al
| the foot of the bed, seemed TO be suffering
intensely. He said to the physician, "Doc
tor, for Gods sake, can't you give Lucy hi,
wifel something to relieve bery' The doctor
| told him 10 wait, that the remedy had moi
| had time TO act As the difficulty O: breath
| ing seemed 10 increase, the doctor told Mr.
Durham to bring somel unslaked lime, thai
she might inhale it while being slaked. He
did so, and attempted to hold it to her face
but seemed unable, from nervousness. She
then took severe fit of coughing, when the
doctor took his place, and Mr.. Durham pass
ed to the foot OF the bed, saying as he did so,
doctor, can't you do anything more for her
she is dying ~ The doctor found that she
would suiiocate If her position in the bed wa,
not changed, and with the help of her mother
and Mr.. Evans was trying to change her 20
sition, when a report rang out which filled
the room with the sound. The doctor, glanc
ing up, noticed Mr.. Durham staggering, and
surprising that he might have accidently shot
himself, rushed to him and laid him on the
floor He did not breathe, seemingly, after
the shot. His wife seemed fully conscious o.
what had iaken place; sand she was sorry,
but couldn't cry. She tried to speak again
but the words were not understood, when shs
breathed her last, there being from five tt
ten minutes in the time between their deaths
The ball took effect in the right temple, q
little above and back Of the eye. In hi
pocket was found q letter addressed 10 hi,
wife, saying that he could not live without
her, and if he died first that he would mee
| her in Paradise There were letters also tt
his parents, and a note requesting that nc
coroner's inquest be held upon his body; thai
| it was matter between himself and his God