Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-15
BOWLING GREEN, KY.
Suicide Of R. R. Whitehead, a Wen-to.
do Louisiana Sugar-Planter.
pecial Dispatch to Courier-Journai. ]

Special Dispatch to Courier-J ournal.l
BowLING GREEN, March 12.-The
community were somewhat startled
this morning at the report that Mr.. r.
4. Whitehead had committed suicide
last night. He was found dead this
morning in his room at the Girard
House, where he with his family, con-
sisting of wife and several small chill
dren, were boarding. Mr.. Whitehead
had been depressed in mind for some
time, caused from drinking to excess,
and last night mixed a powder in the
presence of his wife and told her it
was arsenic, whereupon she became
frightened and threatened to send for
a physician. He then told her that it
was not arsenic, but just some -four he
was mixing up. Mr.. Whitehead was
originally from Suffolk county, Va, and
came to this place in 1871 or 1872 and
located, since which time he had been
a citizen, until two years ago the death
of his father entailed him a large
sugar plantation in st. Charles parish,
La, and he went thither to manage it.
He returned here with his family last
summer, and has been here off and on
ever since. Recently, whilst in New
Orleans, he sent his wife check for
$4,000, with instructions to invest it
safely for herself and children. This,
with several other maneuvers, would
indicate that he had contemplated
self-destruction for some time. His
sugar plantation is said to have netted
him profit of $4,000 or $4,000, and
was a valuable estate properly man
aged.
Coroner's verdict: Death caused
from the use of whisky and morphine
in excess.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS,
About three years ago a gentleman
named r. Il. Whitehead came to
this city with his family and opened a
small grocery store. he was an ex-
tremely reticent man, but stated tc
one or two parties that his father was
wealthy merchant Of New Orleans
He did not seem desirous of extending
his business, but was content to sit in
his store and attend to the few ousto,
mers who were attracted By his new
stock Of goods. Our grocery mer.
chants were stirred up one day by the
news that Whitehead was selling gro
ceries at retail prices a third lower
than they could be bought at whole
sale. This plan of bearing" the mar.
ket lasted only few days, when he
put the prices of his goods back to his
old rates. When asked the cause oi
this freak he said that his father was
to keep him in goods, and as he needed
money he concluded to raise it by sell.
| ing at reduced prices, knowing that
his father would replenish his stock
when it was exhausted Thus matter;
continued for a year or two. Last year
he received notice that his father was
dead, aud he Immediately wentto New
| Orleans and remained there several
months. He returned here about two
weeks ago with draft for thirty thou.
sand dollars on New York, that beinl
portion of his share of his fathers
estate.
Since his return he has been be
siged with friends, offering advice al
to the best mode of investing hi
money, some few of them offering t,
take care of it for him. This suddel
rise in his fortune was too much fo
him, and his mind gave way, and for
week past it has been evident that h,
was growing insane, and last night b,
committed suicide by taking morphine
He leaves devoted wife and thre,
children. 1t is proper to say that dur
ing his sojourn in Bowling Green h,
has always conducted himself in
gentlemanly manner.