The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-21
A Bogus Suicide

THE MAN WHO ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO
BLOW HIS BRAINS OUT IN CENTRAL PARK
GRIEvoUsLY DISAPP0lNTs THE PUBLIC.
New York Herald, yesterday
The scenes which were enacted around
the large lake in Central Park yesterday az
ternoon will long be remembered by the
rray.coated police of that resort. A man
had written TO the Herald that he would
shoot himself promptly at O'Clock on the
rock sloping into the lake opposite the ter
race boat-bouse, and after the shooting he
would lump into the water. The announce
ment drew large number OF people 10 the
shores OF the lake, and long before the
hour announced for the tragedy had
arrived the two lighthouses, the OBJ
serystory, the summer-hOuse, and the
beach were occupied by crowds OF
both sexes, all apparently anxious 20 see
fellow.moital put an end to himself. The
police were on baud at an early hour-ln
fact, they kept a sharp lookout Tor suspi.
cious characters from early mornlng-and
at 9 O'Clock they took possession OF the TWO
miles OF underbrush that surrounds the
lake. Everybody was sure the event would
he hoax. vet all strained their eyes TO
catch the fist glimpse OF the intended self
murderer. The number OF persons who
informed the bOatmen aud police that they
expected a relative, friend, sister, wife, or
lover TO .sshuffie Off" their respective coils
was surprising, and was a sad commentary
on the ycracity of the man who wrote
e How sweet TO dwell beneath the Skies"
sORRow-sTRICKEN PEOPLE.
lady informed an officer that her son
had been very melancholy ana she was
snre he was going TO carry out his oft.re-
heated threats OF self-destruction. A hand
some Young girl. with refined and pathetic
face. approached the boat-hOuse, picture
OF distress. She bad quarrelled with Der
lover, and refused 10 see him again but his
letter to her, threatening TO blow out his
| brains, gave her great pain, and she esorgbt
| one OF the bOatmen 20 keep good lookout
| for n black-hared man wearing an English
walking.suit aud eye-glasses. A downtown
| tea merchant had rebuked bis son for some
Youthful offence, and the lad had left home
IN a passion, threatening never to return
| alive. And there were many dark and sor-
rowful faces seen around the lighthouses
and in the shrubbery by the margin OF the
lake. their owners evidently much per-
pIexed as TO the result OF the approaching
hour. Three ladies visited the Herald edi-
tori,l rooms in search of some clew as TO
who the unfortunate man might be, and
they begged TO see the letter written by the
unknown, in hopes OF determining whether
friend, son, husband, OF lover had penned
the gloomy document. Happily. in each
instance they failed to recognize the wiring,
and accordingly heavy load seemed iitted
from their hearts as they smiled and de-
parted with lightened footsteps.
ROMANCE OF THE OCCASION.
A lively business was done N the PARK
BY the boat.keepers, as whole cargoes OF TO,
mantle young girls were rowed up ana
down the lake where the tragedy had Deen
announced tn take place. But the real iea-
lures OF the day were the exertions OF the
Park police, under the superintendent OF
q valiant captain. The uDderbrush on The
nor.h side OF the lake, where previous SUI
eides have been eomuitted. Is so thick that
a rabbit could hardly find room to move
there. The faithful, servitors OF the law
were alfred In their holiday uniforms, and
the way they plugged through The thickets
and occurred the brier patches was enough
10 break the heart Of an alligator. AS
O'Clock approached tue aumber OF police
men iuereased, TO the great amusement OF
the siytm-seers on the terraces.
At last the hands OF neighboring church
clock swung near TO the hour OF 3. thou-
sand watches few open and thousahd
peopie liked their best eye on the MURDER
er's rock and the other one on their wa'cn-
dial. simultaneously hundred policemen
stuck their heads out OF the bushes ana
smIled erimIy, while the faces OF t6e sor-
rowful watchers looked deatbIy pale. Ihe
cyenffui hour came and passed, but Tue
designated spot was swarDing with police
mer. and there was no "show I" foi q man
10 kill himself without being dubbed from
the PARK TO tho station-house. There was
much indignant disappointment. and many
persons fingered for oyer 20 boar, hoping
70 catch the assassin. 1t was oFiunate that
be did not appear. He would doubtless
has,> 5.sos, t4rotaed nm tho eDof