The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-11
Death Of DR.. Briscoe B. Donaghe.

OF deep pain, yesterday morning, abou
104 o'clock, when the announcement was
made, with suppressed emotion, that DR.
Briscoe B. Donaghe was dead. Although
we learn, he had been complaining OF al
unpleasant feeling in his stomach for severa
days, and had taken some slight medicine
for relief, he had been in his usual Cheerful
spirits and genial disposition, attending to hi
professional duties and mingling with friend
ard acquaintance. On Tuesday night abou
II O'Clock, he was called to consult with DR.
Fultz in a case the latter was treating HI
had been just previously in company will
some friends, in his usual health apparently
but after he had retired for the night he com
planned of increased uneasiness in his stom
ech. His wife was anxious to send for s
physician, but he thought i. was not neces.
sary. as he mad taken some morphine to re-
lieve the pain. Shortly after 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning, as DR.. J. M. Hanger was
passing by the residence OF the deceased, he
was hurriedly called into the house, only
however, to discover that death had entered
before him, as the few convnlsive move
ments or jerks Of the arms gave evidence
that '.life's fitful fever was o'er," and the
vital spark had fled. DR.. Fauntleroy came
few moments afterwards, only to learn
that the pulse was silent and the warm ,gen
orous heart Of his friend and professional
oo,,,or;o, boj ooacod SIC fuoot;onc lie thn
sad rumor was circulated through the COM
munity, friends flocked to the residence to
learn the truth, and sadly gazing on the
placid features, calm in death, turned away
from the contemplation Of so painful and
impressive scene. Apoplexy was the i'm
mediate cause OF his death.
DIR. Donaghe was born and raised in this
place, and it may be truly said that he had
the entire citizenship for friends. All the
elements OF a man had fully matured Id his
physical, intellectual and moral structure
Robust in health, to all appearances emil.
merit and sk!lliul in his profession; generous
in his friendship and charities, and devoted
in his church relations, he filled wide
space in the varied relations of life, and
filed it as became one of his endowments
and attainments The writer OF this.hasty
and imperfect notice knew him intimately
as friend, companion and family physician.
He was acquainted with his broad chart.
ty as it threw the mantle OF indulgence
over the faults of others and stirred the
emotions of the heart and opened the palm
of the hand to relieve the wants Of the I'M
fortunate and suffering. His manly man
hood was shown in every relation he bore to
community, and whatever part he was
called upon to act, the duties were met with
unselfish and courageous devotion. Few
men have lived and died in Staunton, so
much beloved and respected in life and re-
GREETED in death, and the impressive lesson OF
the sad dispensation we are contemplating
will not be without lasting effect upon his
friends and associates.
DR.. Donaghe was the son Of the late w.
W. Donashe, ST., and Mary Baldwin Dona-
CHE, a sister OF Judge Briscoe Baldwin,
decd, and cousin OF Col. John B. Baldwin
and Mrs. A. H. H. Stuart. His age was
about Sc or 57-the greater part Of his
manhood having been spent in this COM
munity in the practice Of his professiOn.-
He enjoyed an envlable reputation as a
physician, and in all the relations Of life
was esteemed and beloved. His wife was
Miss Virginia B. Brooke, daughter Of Col.
Robert Brooke, decd, andigranddaughter OF
the late Joseph Smith, Esq. Mrs. Dona-
CHE and three or four daughters are left to
mourn the loss Of an indulgent husba nd
and father, and share. in the sincere sympas
thy of this entire community.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
morning at 10 O'Clock.
SUSPECTED OF FOUL PLAY.-Last Tues
day morning, negro man named Jno. Will
liams died suddenly at the house Of Cato
Boyd, near Wits mill, just outside OF the
corporate line. The death, under the cir
cumstances, created great deal of excite
ment among the colored people and charges
of foul play we're freely made. Coroner
Gushing summoned jury, and from the
evidence elected on the trial it appeared
that Williams had come to Boyd's house
about o'clock Tuesday morning, and COM
planned Of having terrible pain in his head.
He could assign no cause I his sickness,
other than the fact that he had been eating
some peaches. His suffering continued until
about eight O'Clock Tuesday morning, when
DR.. Reese was sent for and found him in
dying condition. In his testimony DR.. Reese
stated that there was nothing in the circum-
stances of the death inconsistent with the
theory that it had been produced by natural
causes. A pest msortem examination was
held, but nothing tending to establish foul
play was discovered.
After hearing the testimony the jury, con-
sisting OF Messrs. ]. A. Cochran, Thomas
Woodward. p. S. Young, J. W. Stout, Geo.
Bunch and W. a. Burnett rendereda verdict
that the deceased came to his death from
causes unknown to the jury,
AS mentioned before, tine darkies seemed
to be greatly exercised about the matter and
among them it was stated that one or two
other men had died at Cato Boyd's house in
pretty much the same way. It was also
stated that Boyd's vile was vindictive-
and had poisoned and attempted to
poison severa! other persons. some said she
was corr Juror, others that she was witch,
and the feeling against her was very bitter.
During the trial, which was adjourned from
Boyd's house to the county clerks office, the
court yard was crowded with darkies, prin-
cipally women, and all, kinds OF tales were
being told of the dark deeds and doings Of
Boyd's wife. One man said that he himself
had been the intended victim OF one OF her
poisonous potions, and that certain woman
had been struck speeshless By drinking cup
of water from her hand. There was nothing
adduced in the trial Of the case to give color
ing to these suspicious. as there was an en-
tire absence of anything like i'll feeling be-
tween the parties and 20 rational motive
shown that would have induced the crime.
NEwsPAPERs.-The Richmond Standard
has completed its first volume. We believe
it is the best literary and social Paper in the
South, and we know that it well deserves