Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-27
A MouRNFrI. AFFAIR.
The sudden Death of Mr.. X. B. Hayne
at Charleston.

Charleston Nea0s and Courier, august s6th.
The entire community was shocked yes
terday at the announcement of the death
of Mr.. Robert B. Hayne, who has for
about ten years served the South Carolina
Railway Company in the capacity of pay
master. An inquest, which was held by
Coroner DeVeauX, threw very little light
on the circumstances surrounding the
sad affair, and forced the jury to the con-
clusiOn that the unfortunate gentleman
had, during a temporary ALTERATION OF
intellect, taken his own life.
The evidence showed that Mr.. Hayne
had left the Office of the company on Tues
day, the 21st, about 1 O'Clock, having been
entrusted with about 500 with which 10
take up some notes in bank. He had tax
en- up the notes. and had not been seen at
the Office again until about O'Clock yes
terdav morning. At that hour he rang
the bell of the door at the corner OF Ann
and King streets, and upon being admit
ted by the night Waterman, stated that he
had just arrived in the city, and that, as
it was so late. he did not care to go home,
but would rest on a lounge in Col. Peck's
room. He went upstairs, but-came down
again about 3 O'Clock, and complained
that the mosquitoes were troublesome.
After a short conversation with the
Waterman he returned to Col. Peck's
room, requesting the Waterman to awake
him at daylight. About O'Clock he came
down stairs again. This was the last
seon of him by the night Waterman.
About O'Clock Quash Greer, the col
ored porter of the office, saw MIR. Hayne
on the first floor Of the building and had a
short and cheerful talk with him. After
this Mr.. Hayne obtained the key to DIR.
COuterier's room. which is on the second
floor of the building in the rear of the
main office, and went upstairs to lie down.
shortly before o'clock the porter went to
the room TO take cup of coffee, by way
of preparation for the days work, to Mr..
Hayne, and, to his horror, found him lying
on the floor on his back with a bullet in
his head. Quash reported the fact at
once TO several gentlemen in the office,
and messengers were sent out for physi-
clans. DR.. I. Grange SimOns, who ar
rived first, examined Mr.. Hayne, and
found a gunshot wound in the right tenn
pie. A new improved Smith d Wesson
revolver, 3S-calibre, with one chamber
discharged, was lying near the right side
of the wounded man. He survived about
three-quarters Of an hour after the arrival
of the physician, but was totally uncOn-
sciOus,
After the death of Mr.. Hayne, Deputy
Coroner }. c. DeveauX organized jury
of inquest who viewed the body, and adj
journed until p. m, when the inquest
was held, and the facts given above were
elected. The verdict of the jury was as
follows: That Il. b. Hayne came to his
death on the morning of the 2jth of
August, at the South Carolina Railway
Company's office, corner of King and Ann
streets, by gunshOt wound, inflicted by
his own hand during temporary aberra-
ton of mind.
Mr.. Hayne was only 50 years old, re-
fined and courteous in all his ways, and
blithe and sanguine in disposition. 1t
was his happy faculty to tie TO him all
who had the pleasure to know him. The
memory of the grace of his manner and
the brightness of his smile will rest long
with those who were mere acquaintance,
and whose hearts will ache, in common
with the hearts of his friends, when they
hear the sad story of his untimely death.