Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-08
REMARKABLE SUICIDE.

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&C.. &C., &c.
The suicide at Hodges Hotel, on Staten
Island, New York, Monday night, of Hon.
Obadiah Bovine, formerly member of
Congress, and during his political life
man of considerable influence and ability,
was one of the most remarkable events of
the kind that has been reported for long
time. From the New York "Sun" the
following circumstances are gathered:
Mr.. Bovine called on Monday morning
at the office of the 'Sun," and said he knew
of good sensation which it would pay to
work up. He asked that reporter meet
him at five o'clock on that day at the Sta
ten Island ferry house for the purpose OF
going to the island together, which was as
sented to. MI. Bovine was seen by several
friends at the ferry at the time mentioned
He spoke with them pleasantly, and once
or twice remarked that he expected to die
Of heart disease within forty-eight hours
AS, however, he appeared to be in good
spirits nobody took what he said seriously,
and as his habits were known to all Staten
Islanders those who heard the remark
thought it one of the results of drinking.
After landing, Mr.. Bovine, in company
| with the reporter, took the cars for Rich
mOnd.
On the way Mr.. Bovine remarked that he
| had most extraordinary story to tell-a
story that would astonish everybody. He
| then called the conductor and told him he
desired to get out at Richmond station
The conductor told him that it was no
longer called Richmond station; that it
was called Court House station. ''Things
are changed around here since [ built that
| otofion said Mr. ROypua
| "Did you build that station ?" inquired
| the conductor.
"Yes, / built the station there when the
| people around there were so ID poor
that they were not able to build anything"
! The profanity seemed to horrify beau
| tiful brunette who sat with a gentleluanin
| front of Mr. Bovine and the reporter. She
| turned around and frowned upon him, and
soon the gentleman also turned around and
looked displeased. Mr.. Bovine paid no at
tention, but continued to speak of the res
idents Of that particular part Of the island,
and in doing SO also spoke of their I'D
ignorance" This brought another back
ward scoWl from the beautiful brunette
and her escort but Mr.. Bovine wound up
with ''d--'em, they didn't know enough
to catch cold, and they don't yet"
He was silent for moment, and he then
turned to the reporter and said Now,
|
| you consider that Pm a jolly sort of fellow
| going to die ?"
"Going to die! What do you mean 7"
II mean that shall not be alive to-
morrow. have heat disease, and have
had the warning that proves to me that [
am going. shan't live forty -eight hours;
no, not twenty -four; but Pm not afraid of
death. don't remember that l was afraid
of being born, and | don't know that |
should be afraid to die.'
Again the lady and gentleman turned
around to gaze upon him with horror. The
lady at length bent over her seat and held
her hand over her face. Possibly she was
praying for him.
At Court House Station Mr.. Bovine and
the reporter got out and started to walk
along the road to Richmond. From the
station to the village of Richmond is about
three quarters of a mile. 1t is Il lonely
but very pretty road. When about half
way Mr.. Bovine stopped, and, pointing to
a field, said II can tell you a story about
that place. When President Lincoln was
killed the news was telegraphed to Quar-
antine, and was the first man that re-
ceived it here took my horse and went
around to tell my neighbors, and the first
man met was Mr.. Proctor, in that cor
ner over there in that field. He was a
strong churchman's Presbyterian.
said to him, MIR. Proctor, President Lin
coin is dead!' Dead, said he. What did
he die of ? He was killed at the theatre
last night We'll, that comes of people
going 10 the theatre That was the first
answer got"
The reporter said that several religious
people had made the same charitable re-
mark-that he had heard it before.
"There, +" Mr.. Bovine said, pointing to
an old farm house, sis the old homestead.
There is my fathers old home" He pass
ed on in silence. IT the recollections of
his childhood and of happier days crowded
upon his mind they made no change in his
face. ellis look belied him ii his heart
was sad"
Further on he stopped in front of a field
where there was large pond. only to say
that 1.-THE id fool who has the place now
should drain that water" "When / was
here" he continued, s'all that was well
| drained. Well, l can stand it," After
pause be continued, 81 am the happiest
man that ever you saw, reporter, going to
die. Don't you think so In forty Eight
hours, ut furthest, l shall be Il dead man. :"
He ratified OIL in this way, saying, among
other thirgs, that his father knew when he
was going to die. adding:
| II remember | went to him short time
Lefore his death and asked him for a check
for $500. He said, You had better make
it 81 ,000, for [ may not be able to sign
check when you ask for another I said,
DO you feel SO bad as that p He answer
ed. I shan't be alive long now 'Well,'
said l, make it $500 that will be enough.
He drew check for $500. Next day I
heard him get up In the morning and open
| the window. I went into the room and
there 1 found him lying across the bed half
dressed and dead.
ellis check, of course, was of no use, and
my hank account was in his name, and,
rich man as he was, l had to borrow the
money to bury him, But thank my God
that / am to die like him. have horror
of suffering, bnt no fear Of death"
After reaching the hotel Mr.. BOVINE met
several friends, and they all had drinks,
and he continued chatting merrily. reyiv-
ing many interesting "Reminiscences of
Webster, Seward Sumner, and other pub
to room, where Mr.. Bovine dictated the
following;
"My name is Obadiah Bovine. l was
born in the county Of Richmond, on the
10th Of May, 1922. l was born to for
tune. l was educated at Princeton College
New Jersey, and was elected member of
Congress for the first district of New
York. At that time the first district in
cluded the counties of Kings and Rich
mond. was elected in 1850. was also
quarantine commissioner during GGyner-
or Kings term, and was presidential cleo
tor at the time OF MI, Lincoln's second
term. Istudied lazy sitter left Congress,
under Messrs. Whiting and Clark. 1
studied it merely for amusement, and as
matter of education.
previous to that time I was divorced
from my wife. After the divorce she at
tempted to set it aside, but failed for the
well known legalreason that she could not
take advantage of her own wrong. l was
married again, and lived eight years in
perfect Harmony with my second wife
After her death married the wife from