The daily gazette., 1879-06-11
with Has Own Hand.

THOMAS BUcKMAsTER OPENS THE PoR-
TAILS OF ETERNITY BY SHOOTING HIM
SELF WITH PISTOL, WHILE TEMPO
RARILY INSANE.
When Mrs. Thomas 8. Buckmaster,
residing at No. 814 West Seventh street,
hurried to her husbands bedroom last
night to ascertain the cause of pistol
shot which had alarmed her, she found
him lying on the floor, lifeless, with a
torrent OF blood running from a Rhastly
wound, 10 hts left breast, stai ming his
shirt front and creating sickening pool
on the floor. She at once realized that
her husband had committei 4 suicide, for
still RrasPed In his left hand was large
horse pistol, whose barrel was still
warm from the recent discharge. He
lay upon his back and gave not the least
evidence of life.
THB DEADLY DEED.
The suici 10 Is an unusually sad one In
all It's details. The deceased has been
afflicted for years past with disease o,
the bladder which has often caused par
oxysms of pain from which he would be
temporarily insane. While in this con-
dition, he shot himself. For about 3
weeks past he has been unusually II and
DIR. 8. l.. West has been attending him.
He had been confined to his room but
yesterday was much improved and was
able to move about some and could go
down stairs. About go o'clock he told
his wife that he was getting well aud
could do without her service for the
night. "Go to bed" said he kindly, II
know you need rest and Sleep" He final
ly prevailed upon her to do so. Half an
hour aft. this, he was heard to cautio US.
ly pass down stairs. Mrs. Buckmaster
was at once not fed of this and hurried
down after HIM to see what he was doing.
She met him on the stairs, coming up
with lamp in his. hand ,and clos-ly ques
toned him with regard to what he had
concealed on his person. IL appears that
the family had been fearful that he would
take his life while laboriDg under fit of
temporary insanity. With all the
cunning OF an insane man, he denied
that he had anything about his person
to do himself harm. Only half satisf ed g,
Mrs. Buckmaster took the lamp from him
and followed him upstairs with 1t TO his
bed room. Here she sat down beside
him and had long and earnest talk
about business matters. He talked ra-
tionally and during the conversation
Mr.. Buckmaster was unable to observe
anything to arouse cher suspicion. She
left him at length, and fearful, still that
all was not well, she went do wn sta r. t.
see If she could find anything missing
with which her husband could do him
self hurt. While engaged in this search
she heard the report OF the pistol ant
ran up stairs in horror. She found he
husband dead. as already described.
THE INQUEST.
The shooting occurred about 10 o 'clocl
and at 1890 coroner Buzz was notified
and held an Inquest. The only witnesst,
examined were Mrs. Buckmaster, Frehe
rick Buckln1ster, the unfortunate man
son, and Dr. s. l.. West.
The evidence substantiated the stor.
of the shooting, gwen abDve and Yer
dict was at once arrived at that the dc
ceased "came to his death from a pis
tol shot wound at his own hands, Will
laboring under fit of temporary lnsan
ity."
. AT the inquest Dr. West testi ed tha
he had made an examination of tn
r wound and found it about 2inches be
low the nipple of the left breast. 1t wa
, very deep. passing right through til
heart, and must have caused instan
death. The weapon with which tn
f deed was done, Is large-sized old-fasl
4 ioned horse pistol. This, ~ well rs a
a other fire arms about the place, has bee
2 concealed for fear he would Kill hiinsel
. 1t appears that the fears were we
, grounded.
THE VICTIM
Mr.. Thomas S. Blckmaster the victii
is about 68 years OF age and has vii
y and ch llren. He was much respecte
: in Wilmington, having lived here
> years. He came from Kent county, fol
merly, where he was the keeper of I'll
+ lighthouse at the mouth of Mahon
, River He has been employed at Ha
y Ian & Hollingsworth, but has not worke
!, for or 4 years. He was member I
: Olivet Chapel. The funeral will Ia X
place on Thursday at 2 O'Clock; inte
v ment at Riverview.