The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-13
A PRoDIGAL soH.
1Eis Farewell to His RnmiEy and At
tempted Suicide. -

y A PRODI6sAL S0H. 81
His Farewell to IIis Family and At.
1t, e9a, tempted Suicide. III
AsTRANGER, TfRED, OF LIFE, MAKES TWo
/ ATTEMPTS 70 DESTROY HIMsELf-UN
SUCCESSFUL USE OF GAs-A LEAP INTO
X. THE E.DocK-REscUE. BIZ SAIL LoRs-AE LET
TER FOR HIS PEOPLE. AND THE PRESS. i
A rather good-iookipg man, Of abort
thirty years Of age, came 20 this city on
Saturday from Petersburg, and registered
himself at the Capitol Hotel as J. It. De
Van. It was quite evident. that he had been
drinking heavily, but beTond that it seems
there was nothing to attract attention, to
him until yesterday evening, when he went
to the south side OF the dock, near Eigh-
fence OF Lathrop's coal-yard, got running
start, and sprang into the water. He was
sinking for the last time, it Is believed,
when he was rescued by some sailors. He
was taken to the First station, after resto-
ratives had been used, and was thence sent
to the almshouse in the city ambulance.
Before making the plunge De Van had
placed upon the wharf an envelope, I'M
sealed, containing long and rambling let
ter, written with lead-pencil, and ad-
dressed to Mrs. John De Van, Dunbar, On
tario, Canada. The following is copy OF
it as far as it was legible, and with the omis-
sion of expressions that were severalti
repeated:
"RIcHMoND, Sunday night,
February II, two Is.
"My Dear Mother, Sisters-aoeA, must
say Father (don't Shoao him this): This
settles 1t. I don't want to live much longer.
NV reasons are--welL in fact I can't put
them up in any style-only want change.
got tired OF staying away from home I
suppose. That's so. Well don't grieve
I am going to better world.
Now do not take it hard, for we
shall meet in that other place or
land. Well I know I might have been
counselled differentlY-less conspicuously,
&c.; but it don't make any sdif.' Now,
so here it goes. My intention is to allow
the gas to escape, and turn In and awake in
the room in the arms OF Burke.
II suppose you don't know Burke.
Well, he is an original Tom Collins OF mine.
1t is wrong for me to address nay ma in this
style, but know that my senses are gone,
and through thinking about home. Well,
am getting sleepy now. want to take
my last slumbcr.
"Ishould live to see my sisters, for know
that I have neglected them; but il had
been allowed to have little OF my own way
it would have turned out different, for
then l would be more contented, too much.
That's what the matter. Well, am the
funniest man that has travelled, sure-in
fact, too funny.
"Do, do, do not grieve for me.
az have been drinking for the last week
very hard. Why, ma, used to be good look
ing. Remarkably SO, but now l am finer
than ever, but can't stay IL I do get over it.
twill be we'll; but am afraid this is crazy
boys letter, although cannot help it.
"My body desire to send home. will
tell them so. Put the sign PRODIGAL Son.
Marbe-like when I rest here. The reason
is to satisfy all. Pray for ME, dear mother"
This was on another slip:
"Good-bye. Give Chris. my best regards.
I must turn on the gas the wrong way. I
suppose. won't know what happened to
me. This is the last am going to write. I
spent 800 last week, so | couldn't afford
TO stay. Give all this to the press. Let
them work it up their own way, and let
them say papers never forget me. I have
been as good as George Washington, but /
didn't last long enough for the people to
find me out. I am Canadian citizen; for
I didn't take the oath to the eagele. l
didn't take time to think what to write. So
work it up to suit yourselves. Send copy
of this home, or the original. Give all to
the press. Goodbye, everybody. The
pencil falls. T. j. DE VAN"
Subsequently, it seems, he wrote an ad-
dition to the letter, stating that he had tried
the gas, and it had failed, and that he was
going to drown himself, though he would
prefer to use pistol il he had one handy.
Said he: "I dreamt dream last night that
two policemen arrested me for going to
commit IA crimel, and that Hayes would be
the next President. This sounds funny,
but am funny to-day"
Written on an envelope: I" Send the let
ter to my mother Immediately, and likewise
telegraph how I am laid out. They will
pay all damages, for they are rich. Want
my body to 60 home tomorrow, sure;
will last that long. The inquest will be
short after all this clear business. Tele-
graph to my mother to Dundas, Ontario,
Canada"
Sergeant Dan Wren found in the room or
among the property Of the Would-be suicide
at the Capitol Hotel large number OF CO.
pies OF q price-list of counterfeit money,
from which it is thought the man must have
been engaged in something in that line.
His letter seems to have been written
partly for the information Of the reporters,
and contains all that Is here known about
him. In that respect he was very thought
fal.