Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-23

It will be remembered that ON the
night of the duel Mr.. Mordecai was
taken, at his own request, by his
friends, Messrs. Royal and Trigg, to
the residence of his cousin, Major Il.
T. d. Myers, on West Franklin street,
near Monroe Park. Here he was the
recipient of the kindest and most con-
slant attention that could be rendered
by the hands of affectionate relatives
and friends or of accomplished and
experienced surgeons. Under tins
treatment he seemed to be doing and
really did
REMARKABLY WELL
and although it was reported that his
wound was mortal, his friends were
| encouraged to hope that LIS recovery
was only matter of time. But yes
| terday afternoon
A CHANGE sUDDENY TOOK PLACE
| q change for the worse. Major Myers
was at dinner-the hour being quar-
| ter past 3 o'clock-when the atten-
dants reported observing some OF the
alarming symptoms which the physl-
| clans had said were indicative OF APP
preaching dissolution. Mr.. M0rehead
| began to suffer violent nausea, which was
| followed and accompanied by intense
| physical suffering and occasional con-
WILSON'S Messengers were dispatched
in great haste and speed on willing
| feet for the physicians, both Of whom,
| DIR. Mcguire and DIR. Cullen, as quickly
| as possible responded to the distressing
summons. Their experience told them
in a moment that
| THE CASE WAS HOPELESS
Death was nigh at hand. The patient
| sufferer could !inger but few hours at
the most. As gently as possible the
| sad news was communicated to the
weeping relatives and friends around
the bedside, and then, in the dis
charge of a painful duty, to Mr.. EIoEde-
cal himself. He received ii with
the fortitude always characteristic
of the man, and in the inter
walls of paroxysms Of pain babe
farewell to al who were admitted into
the room Thus a word of farewell
| was spoken to his cousin, TO his two
brothers, and finally to his broken
hearted mother. Only a few minutes
| before his death he said, Good bless
you all !" and then added, cit is not
so hard to die as l thought ~ In
perfect self-possession, he called for
his friends Royal and Trigg, and to
them spoke a few words, the purport
of which, of course, no one else has Il
right to know. He made the former
gentleman his administrator. Finally,
at about a quarter to 9 o'clock, entire
ly calm and with comparatively little
pain, the brave fellow breathed his
last.
SKETCH OF TIE DECEASED.
John B. Mordec5i was son OF Nj
Augustus Mordecai, ali old citizen OF
Henrico county, and was nephew OF
Mr.. Samuel Mordecai, author of the
celebrated book entitled ''Richmond
in By-Gone Days" The family is one
of an honorable record in the history
of Virginia. The deceased was born
in 1910, and was therefore in his thirty
third year when he died. The break
ing out of the Confederate war for
independence found him student
at the University of Virginia.
When Virginia seeded he joined the
University company, and went with it
to Harper's Ferry. From there he
went to Yorktown. and at that point
! joined the second company OF Rich
mond ROwitzers as a private. With
that battle-scarred organization lie re-
NAMED, bearing a part i'll every ell
gagement, until the surrender of Cen
eral Lees army, when he laid down
his sabre and assisted to bury the guns
of his battery on the fields of Apo
mattox. Returning to the home Of his
youth, after the war he commenced
the study OF law with his uncle, Col
onel John b. Young, and was soon ad-
mitted to practice. Though resident
Of Henrico his business kept him a
great dealin this city, and he soon be
came well and fayOrably known, NOV
ing III the highest social circles, and
enjoying the confidence of all who
made his acquaintance. In Henrico
also he was highly esteemed. At ore
time he was the Conservative superin-
tendent for the county. BY his anti
mate friends lie was dearly beloved,
by all acquaintance he was respected;
and all who can in contact with him
were impressed with the suavitT OF his
manners and his uniformly quiet aitl
I'm Intrusive denCanor
ARRESTED FOR MURDER.
As soon as Major Poe, Chief Of
Police, heard OF the death of Mr.. Nor
decai, fearing that an attempt might be
made to remove M. McCarty from the
city during the night, he placed po-
iceman in the vicinity of his residence
with instructions to keep Il sharp look
out upon the premises. Several hours
later the intelligence was COMMUNE
Gated to Justice White, who at once
issued n warrant for the arrest of Mr.
NcCartv, and Messrs. ). S. Meredith.
d Ok T i -
Trigg, upon complaint made ley the
Chief of Police on the charge that they
did ''feloniousiy and Of their malice
kill and murder one John 3. Nor
decai." This warrant WISE placed i'll
the hands of Captain John disney, of
the Second district. He found AIr.
McCarty in bed at the residence Of his
mother, on Main street. He had been
suffering little from his wOund during
the day, and had been in excellent
spirits until informed, short time
before the arrival OF the police, Of the
death OF Mr.. Mordecai Captain
Disney placed him under arrest and
left policeman Oh duty in the house.
Captain Disney then went to the
residences of the other gentlemen
named in the warrant, but WAS unable
to find either one of them, and at ,
o'clock this morning their arrest had
not been effected.
SPECIAL POLICEMEN.
After midnight number Of mutual
friends of Mr.. Mordecai and Mr.. Nc
Carly called at the second police sta
ton and requested Justice White. in
view of the condition of the prisoner
and other peculiar circumstances of
the case, to swear i'll several of them
as special policemen. To this request
the magistrate acceded, and Messrs.
Sprigg Campbell, Edward Mayo, John
S. MOrson, VIM. ID. Coleman and
Philip L. Sutton were accordingly
sworn i'll at once, and ordered 10 ye
heve the regular policeman on duty at
the door OF Mr.. McCarty's residence.
NOT \ BAILADEE OFFENCE.
Mr.. McCarty and all the seconds