Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-28
SAD SUICIDE OF A MINISTER.
Rev. j. n. Coombs Cuts His yhroat
with n Razor


west, and yesterday morning came down stairs
At the usual nOur, when he conducted family
prayer and partook Of hearty breakfast, after
which he purchased the Sunday papers and re-
turned TO his room to attire himself for church.
At a few minutes before IL O'Clock it was found
that his o7ercoat AMI hat were still in the hall
strange circumstance on Sunday morning
and servant was sent TO his room. On OPEN
ing the door she found Mr.. Coombs lifeless on
the floor, a pool OF blood about his head and
two TaZOTs wing beside him with which phastIv
wounds had been made across his throat, ON
the bed was his shirt and other articles of cloth
ing which he had evidently intended to mt on
preparatory to conducting church services.
The discovery OF course caused great cOnster-
nation in the household, and word was inme-
diately sent TO the church, when Dr. Sweatman
announced the sad fact to the congregation.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Patterson was summoned, and with
his assistant, DR.. j. +. Hartigan, held an inouest
IN the afternoon; The following jury was sum
mODsd:-C. ID. Drake, Amos Webster, l.. D.
Wine, Geo. a. McIlhaney, K. F. Keech, NJ R.
Thorpe, ii. II. Smith, Thos. F. Hardness w
h. Pearson, ThOs. j. Barclay, W. r. Singleton
and jas. Henning, After hearing the testimony
they returned verdict that the deceased came
10 bis death by cutting his throat with a pair OF
TazOTs, held in his own hands, while labOrinD
under parOXysm OF insanity.
"A hasty examination was made showing five
distinct wounds by the throat, and Ie was ap-
parent from the appearance OF the room that
tbe hIst wound was given in his own room, and
be then made his way 70 the bath room where
lie hnisned the work. one Of the razOrs was
badly hacked.
AS To THE MOTIVE FOR THE ACT
there are many theories, but the following state
ments probably afford a clue. Mrs. COombs
some years ago had a severe attack of disease OF
the brain, from which she never entirely recov-
cred, and finally insanity eDsued. 1t was thought
best that she should return to her friends, and
she has been with them some months. This
aiillct0n preyed greatly upon her husbands
mind, and 30 impaired his health that of late he
had been subject TO attacks of nervous prostra-
ton and melancholy. Last spring he mads a
visit 10 Europe for his health, but received but
little benefit from the trip. On the table in his
room, after his death, was found a copy OF the
Sunday Herald of yesterday, which contained
the following article:
"a CLERICAL KLRPToMAsIAC.
"For many months past the store OF one of
our prominent booksellers and statiOners on
pennsylvania avenue has been visited by a
man well on in years and neatly dressed, after
the fashion OF minister OF the Gospel. He
would, on all his visits, walk around the store
examining books, sometimes lingering for half
an hour or so, reading passages of this or that
book, but never making q purchase. Lately
our ststloner friend has been missing many or
his books, and all attempts 70 find how they
were taken failed until yesterday, when the
remembering gentleman was discovered to be
the klepton4amac. He was standing in the
store, as was his wont, quietly reading a book
he had taken from the shelves, when a cust,-
mer entered upon whom the proprietor turned
TO walt. The instant his back was turned the
Gospel gentleman left the store. It suddenly
occurred to the proprietor that this man inVari-
ably did the same thing on all OF his visits, and
lie might be the person who was rObbing him
OF his property, so he went to the book shelf
and to his surprise he found the book the rev.
eTeLd had been reading was gone. He imme-
diately followed him up the street, and coming
up to him asked him what he did with that book
he Lad been reading in the store. The reTer-
end gentleman's face turned pale, and with the
exclamation For Gods sake don't expose me
publicly brought forth the stolen book from
under his coat. The book merchant asked him
his name, and he gave It as the Rev. -, pas
tor Of church in this city. Thinking prob
ably this was thief blind, he insisted on him
having himself identified, which he did through
a merchant from the ne gh bOrhood. The book
merchant saId II was thing most painful for
him 10 find a man who Is a minister OF the Cos
pei committing theft, and he would neither
prosecute him nor give his name to the neyspa-
peTs, but he hoped il would be a lesson to him
70 reform atonee. This indeed was most gra-
cious act, and a Herald reporter, in an inter
view with the book merchant, asked him how he
came TO be 80 lenient. He replied that although
not church member himself nothing made hun
30 sick at heart as these church scandals, and
be thought in the present case the culprit cOuId
be punished as he ought to without injurinp his
poor family and the church with which he is
by exposure in the newspapers or the
Police Court. Then, too said the book mer-
chant, she was such a tine looking man, and he
begged so piteously that couldn't in my heart
expose him."
The circumstance thus referred to occurred
az bookstore on Pennsylvania avenue,
about O'Clock on Saturday, and created some
excitement, and number Of Mr.. COombs' per-
SOnal friends and acquaintance were made cog
infant of the charge Of theft. This and the pG5-
.ica:ion reIS-red to, it is thought, threw him
into temporary 1t OF insanity, in which he
ended his life,
1t seems that the book-niarchsut had noticed
Mr.. COoIabs handling the book taken ME
DUhr's Lectures or the History OF ROme,") in
way that caused suspicion, and on his leaving
The store the dealer found that the volume was
and following MIR. Coombs, he tapped
him on the shoulder and asked him TO return
the volume in question, naming il by the title
MT. COMBS seemed unable to make any ex-
PLANTATION, and exclaimed, "FOr Gods sake
don't expose me :" On being asked his name.
be at first gave it as the ERev. Mr. Healy," but
afterwards gave his real name.
Distressing as the result has been, no blame
can be attached to the bOok-dealer in question,
who, though naturally feeling somewhat excited
by the loss OF his goods, seems to have acted
with 10 little fOrbearance under the circum-
stances, as, on ascertaining the name Of Mr.
COOmbs, he assured him that he should be
pared any further exposure or distress in the
matter, and the same evening he sent a further
assurance 70 the same effect by a friend Of the
deceased.
On Saturday evening some gentlemen who
had seen or heard of the occurrence suggested
that some of Mr.. COMBS brother ministers
should call on him, and DIR. Sunderland went
up to see him. MIR. COombs, on being asked as
10 the truthfulness OF the reports, SAID appar-
entity in broken spirit: sit is too true, / have
been caught taking a book from booksellers.
pay tor il" cat the same time showing that he
bad upwards of $50 in his pocket. he further
said to DR.. 5. that IL was too bad, and he could
not meet his congregation on Sunday.
On Saturday after the occurrence, and on his
return to Mrs. Cathcart's, he appeared to be
very much depressed, and in conversation with
her said Z" This Is a very short and brief life,
and so unsatisfactory" Mrs. G. attempted to
cheer him, and inquired why life was unsatis-
factory, and he replied: I" Ii lie 80 full OF sor-
rOws." He did not, however, say anything to
Mrs. e. about the occurrence.
II is apparent that the deceased had been Ia
BORN for manv years under this kleptomanic
We are informed by a leading city
bookseller that some six years ago Mr.. COombs
was detected taking books from his store. He
was followed TO his house and charged with the
deed, whereupOn he fell upon his knees and
begged for mercy, asking God to forgive him,
also, in the most excited manner. His piteOus
appeals Tor silence were acceded TO on cOndi-
ton that be would return the different books he
had taken, and he sent back some twenty vol
umes.
HIS CAREER AS MINISTER.
Mr.. CoOmbs was about II years of age, ma
tive OF LOudon county, Va, and was educated
az Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa, and after
graduating was received into the Baltimore An
nual Conference OF the NJ. T.. church, in which,
after serving on several circuits and In charge
Of several churches, he was assigned to Ryland
chapel, and then to L Mon chapel, in this city.
Over fifteen years ago his mind underwent
change a 70 religious belief, and he Joined the
Presbyterian church, and was placed in charge
Of the Western Presbyterian church, OF which
he remained pastor 70 the time OF his death IA