Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-01-06
SUICIDE OF A PRESBYTERIAN MIN.
lister.
shocking Effect of HaliueinRtIon-
Particulars of the Anlair.


Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore SUM-
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 27-The COM
munity here was shocked at noon to-
day by the int diligence that the Rev.
J. N. Coomhs, pastor of the Western
Presbyterian Church, had committed
suicide. The church over which he
presided is one of the most flOurishiDg
in the western portion of the city. He
was expected To preach Hs usual this
morning, but ~ lac had not arrived at
some MINUTES paAt the usual time,
some of the mem bers Of the cungrega-
ton went to his residence on II, near
Nineteenth street, and learned that he
was in his chamber. Upon going to
the door it was found to be locked, and
az no sign was given after repeated
kDockiDgs, IL was burst open and the
minister was found lying upon the bed
in his own blood, dead. a razor near
at baud showed the instrument with
which the fatal deed was done.
OF late he has been known To be
restless and apparently troubled in
mind. His wife has been for some
time insane, and is now IA resident at
the insane asylum on the other side of
the Eastern Branch, where she has
been for twenty years. Brooding upon
his troubles and her sad condition is
supposed to have affected the reason of
the deceased, and 1t is said, too, that a
statement in the Sunday Herald, OF
this city, tended to lead to his sad
death. This publication stated that a
minister of one Of the leading churches
of the city had been detected in steal
ing first one book aud then another
from one OF the bookstores, that the
bookseller had taxed him with the
theft and that he had confessed, ex-
pressed great peniteDce, and begged
that he should not be exposed, and that
for that reason his name was Withheld
from the public. ..
II is thought that he has long been
laboring under some subtle form OF
mental disease, and that he believed
himself to be the person referred to,
and took his life under the fears en-
gendered by such an haliucination.
He was man of mature age, good
preacher, and most popular in all the
circles of his acquaintance. At several
late meetings of the presbytery TO
which he was attached he has been
The moderator. Soon after noon to-
day the coroner held an inquest upon
his remains, and the jury returned a
Verulct tnat ne came 10 DIS ueaIn 10y
suicide while laboring under aberra-
ton of mind.
Mr.. Coombs has been.a minister in
This city for twenty years, first having
had charge of the Union Chapel on
Twentieth street. He was first ordain.
ed member of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and was member of the
Baltimore Conference. Afterwards be
became minister of the Presbyterian
Church. Only three nights since he
was installed grand master of the
Royal Arch Chapter OF Masons, to
which position he was but recently
chosen. He was born in Virginis, was
about sixty-five years of age. and was
married near LeesbuIg, Va, about
thirty-three years since. The member
OF his church scout the idea that ht
took book from any bookstore, un'
less done under hallucination. The
news of the tragedy was announced t
his congregation by Chief justice
Drake, Of the Court of Claims, they
having remained waiting, expecting
the arrival Of the pastor. Great sor
row was expressed, and the shock wa
intensely felt by all.