The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-29
Crl,aa. nnd Cn.ualfles.
SUICIDE OF THE CHIEF or POLICE OF NOR.
foLK-PAMrLY MIsroRTUSEs THE CAUSE
GALLANT SOLDIER.

SUICIDE OF THE CHIEF or POLICE or NOR
f0LK-PAMuY MrsFoRTUyEs THE CAUSE
GALLANT SOLDIER.
Especial telegram 10 the Dlspsich.l
NORFOLK, January 2s.-C. Z. Benson,
who for the last seven or eight years has
been chief OF police OF Norfolk, committed
suicide this morning about balf-past 3
O'Clock by shooting himself through the
head with pistol while occupying his usual
slecpiDg-room at the sta.ion.house.
The shocking affair created considerable
excitement, and large crowd surrounded
the building while the COroner's inquest
was being held.
The Chief was on duty up TO Q O'Clock
this morning. and retired to his room at
that hour, having first sent out on various
pretcxls the officers on duty around the
station. No report OF the pistol was heard,
and when the turnkey went to Arouse the
Chief this morning he found the body lying
across the bed with the face downwards
and bullet-hole through the right side OF
the head.
The deceased is believed to have been de-
pressed in mind on account Of family mis-
fortunes. He was thirty-sevcn years Of age,
and reliable and efficient officer. During
the war he enlisted in Company ID, Sixth
Virginia regiment, in which he served
with conspicuous gallantry, rising to Il leu
tenantcy for personal bravery.
BURNING o. THE STEAMER cHARMEE-sEyEY
PERSONS LOST.
NEW YORK. January 2S.-A New Orleans
| special gives the following particulars Of
the burning Of the : eamor Charmcr. be
| longing TO the New Orleans and Red-River
| Transportation Company, on Sunday last,
five niles above the mouth OF Atchafalaya {:
The steamer had on board 2,105 bales Of
cotton, go barrels OF molasses, and a lot OF
sundrieS, all OF which were destroyed. The
fire was first seen bursting out from beneath
the second tier OF cotton, and in Il moment
the whole boat was one sheet OF flames.
The pilot stood at his posi- and headed the
boat for the shore. But for bis GOODNESS the
loss OF life would have been very great. I04
passengers being on board. When the boat
reached the shore planks were Immediately
showed out, vet such was the heat OF the fire
! and haste OF those aboard 10 save them
selves that many jumped overheard. All
the passenger were saved. The lost were
| William Miller, cabin-bOy; David Morgan,
nantryman; Charles johnson and John
johnson, cooks: Mary FIumers and Mary
| Hamilton, chambermaldS William Cum
mngS, fireman; and one rOuStabOut, name
unknown. The cargo was valued at $780,
600.
THE STEAMSHIP LOUISIANA STRANDED.
NEW ORLEANS, January ga dispatch
from Captain eager, Of the stranded steam
ship Louisiana, says he has thrown over
board 80 tons OF her cargo TO Tighten the
ship. Lighters can be used only in calm
water. The steamers propeller is broken.
The passengers have been sent TO Port
Eads. The ship will be saved.
SCHOONER ASHORE IN JAMES RIVER.
FoRr MONROE. January 2s.-A schooner,
reported as the George Airey, is ashore
! forty miles up james river.
BEHEADED BY A RAILROAD TRAIN.
PROVIDENCE. Il. l., January 2S.-A man
named Ha@geItY was beheaded on the WOr-
cestcr railroad last night, probably by a
freight train. He had been IN the WOOn-
socket policc-stati0n for drunkenness, and
had been discharged when thought TO be
sober enough TO 90 home. He reached
Blackstone and PROBABLY became again in
tOXicated.
4 POST-OFFICE ROBBED.
MORRISTOwN, y. j., January 2S.-The
post-ofiice at this place was broken into and
robbed last night. The safe was broken
open and rfcd OF its contents, 10 what eX-
tent has not yet been learned. The thieves
were not discovered.
SHOT DEAD BY 4 HIGHWAYMAN.
ELIZABETH, n. j., January 2S.-Joseph
Welt, AGED nineteen. was shot down and
robbed last night in going along the street
at Evona. The murderer is unknown, but
he is described as a large man with nous
tache. Plumber was the object OF the crime.
Several arrests have been made on suSpi-
cion.