Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-24
Death by Suicide.
THE LAST WORDS OF THE LATE JOHN
w. BINCKLEY.


w. BINCKLEY.
The suicide by drowning in Lake Mich
igan of John W. Binkley, at one time edi-
tor of the Milwaukee "News" and Assist
ant Attorney General under President
johnson, has been mentioned. He left
the following letter, addressed to a
friend:
eff their father had been exceptionally
indomitable under trial, the recognized
fact would be a great encouragement to
my little boys: therefore if my end shall
seem to obscure it, but not in any event
otherwise, then disclose this statement,
viz:
Longevity I inherit, and through ira
ditions exceptionally remote on both sides,
no disease, mental or bodily. 1 am but
just matured, without bankruptcy, with
out gray hair, an unstrung nerve, a dis
ease, bad habit, a corrupt scent, or stain
on my poor name. [ am not broken down,
as might be guessed at a distance. My
business condition, of late years so often
desperate, is now tolerable and my Interior
prospects good. My plans are working
well. 1 never in my life saw an hour of
tottering reason, falterinag will, or until
now, eclipsed hope. Ny lot denied me
cheerfulness, but could not caAker me.
Y et with competency and persistency dis
tinctly reinforced by trial and experience,
am about to lay down my ashes. Why :?
1 cannot tell. Not because I do not
know; but language does not grow for
| that kind of truth which is stranger than
| fiction, and let no person inquire further
who would not rifle frank mans grave.
| There is sterner tragedy than ever bled.
There is deeper verify than ever spoke.
| looked up at noon and the sun fell from
the sky. I have since not been rash, [ am
| slain by the invincibility Of deceit. My
motives are quite extinct. For months
past have been but trying to prevent the
| collapse of a suddenly ruptured balloon. I
| do not kill, but bury myself. [ am mill
| whose stream has been diverted-a clock
whose weights have been taken out. At
best am sentenced for life to the base
ment of my constitution, or else to the in
accessible attic. Neither BELTS my little
boys, whose mansion l am. For their
exclusively, solely for their good
1 60. If belonged to myself, would
have powerful motives to live.
If my passions were not in control no doubt
my love of life would hold it's own with
the rest. am not suffering much. l am
simply rational. judge that I ought to
disappear, though only God knows that
am as latent as an egg. My intellectual
life has always appeared to others incohe-
rent. To me it always seemed to have an
integrity of stages, tending towards a use :
full, symmetrical outcome through suffer-
ing, toll and friction, should my strength
hold out. Observing that varied extreme
and prolonged trials had rather strength
ened me, and that had growing faclli-
ty for organizing my deeper thoughts, 1
came latterly to think was approaching
a time when l could digest the memoranda
of many years into durable work, but
thunderbolt rifted me. 1t is now con-
ISOLATION to reflect that after all, this may
have been mere conceit, though it grew
with time.
From resources of my own 1 provide for
all debts, legal and honorary, to- the last
cent. LIDO most heartily forgive all who
injured me. But injuries to my children
is not mine to forgive; yet give my love
to all men, for so [ feel.
JOHN M. BINCKLEY.
The Fredericksburg (Va.,) "News" refer
ring to the suicide of MI. Buckley, ssays:
"Some twenty years ago he came, young
man, to Fredericksburg as an artist, and
made the acquaintance of the late Mr.. A.
A. Little, and was befriended by him. He
left and became a Washington correspon-
| dent of a Baltimore paper, and studied
law. The first year of the war he again
came to Fredericksburg and was again be-
friended by Mr.. Little. No more was heard
of him till his appointment as Assistant
Attorney General, during Johnson's Ad-
ministraJion, and nothing directly till last
Monday morning, "when, (says the
''News'') the early mail brought letter
from Milwaukee, directed to "A. Alexan-
der Little, Esq, Fredericksburg, Virgin
ia and in one corner of the envelope the
address, printed, of John M. Buckley
The postmark is not clear, but looks like
May 8, Z P. M and the contents, an ex-
cellent photograph Of the sender. 1873 is
written below it, and on the back, TO
my dear and long valued friend, A. A.
Little
j. M. BINCKLEY.'
"Vale!"
| The face is that of man about fifty,
full, dark hair, and side Whiskers, a sGrong
genial, kindly face, Indicative both of in
tellect and humor.
Some pleasant memory of the past, some
| grateful recollection of old times, some
wish of friendly thought and remembrance,
| must have suggested the sending of this
photograph on the very eve Of suicide. A
| strange coincidence, is it not
Jefferson David, colored man aged
sixty-nine, was standing on the scaffold at
Abbeville, S. c., Friday, with the cap over
his face and the sheriff about to pull the
drop, when a courier from the telegraph
office brought respite from Gov. Hamp-
ton. The condemned man said he knew
''the good Lord wouldn't let an innocent
man die in this way The crowd present
cheered.
Mr.. Mills of Texas, is one of the goddess
mills which grind both slow and SMALL
Mr. Mills should either stampede to the
Republican party or announce himself as
Independent candidate for President
Baltic. Gazette.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Major W.
F. G. Gregory addressed the people of
Caroline county on the last court-day on
the political situation. These two gentle
men are both aspirants for Congress in
the Metropolitan district.
; The funeral Of the late John R. McDan-
iel, an eminent Virginia Mason, took
place in LynchEurg, Va, Thursday. The
stores generally were closed, and a large
concourse of people joined in the funeral
procession, including the Masonic lodges.
On Friday last the grave of Gen. Stone
wall Jackson, at Lexington, Va, was
handsomely decorated. The sod and ever
green's were neatly trimmed, and bouquets |
and wreaths of beautiful flowers and i'm
mortelles were placed upon the mound.
The picture that is creating the most |
sensation in London now is the 'sRoad to |
RUM" by Firth. 1t comprehends five |
scenes, and the London Times" says the |
style is equal to Hogarth's.
Martin Head, aged sixteen, while play
ino haSa. hall Mnndau moor Proxidanao