The Brookhaven leader., 1884-03-13

a Horrible suicide In the Coan.
~ -laIh


On Last Monday morning q stranger ap.
peared in town with head and clothes
bloody. Several persons stated that he
tried to kill himself by butting his head
against tire corner of tbs fire engiue house,
and was only prevented by the timely in
terposition of persons passing. His APP
pearance indicated that he was wild and
had been on y big spree. He kept talk.
ing about his wife and child, .tsting
that he had had trouble with his wife,
and. saying that he intended to
Kill himself b. fore sunset that day. When
first asked what train he came here oil he
stated 1t correctly, and when asked where
he got on that train, said Grenada. This
excited suspicion as to one J. n. Rawlston,
| wife-beater and child murderer described
In THE LEADER of FEB. 2lst, who was
wanted at Grenada and for whom reward
was offered. Presently an arrest was made
and search instituted, and So well did lie
snit the description of Rawlston that a
telegram was sent to the Sheriff of Grens
da county, who answered to hold the pris.
oner and he would send man OH first
train to identify him, and the prisoner
was confined in the county Jail.
Late that evening Major w. c. Cham
berlin came in town and hearing Of this
wanted to see the prisoner thinking he
might recognize him, if from Grenada
Upon entering the Jail it was found that
the prisoner was dying, having cut his
throat with blade of tin which he made
from tin cup found in the Jail. He had
cut his throat from ear to ear. making
such ghastly wound that he only lived a
few minutes.
On Tuesday morning. Mr. Williams,
deputy sheriff of Grenada county, came
down to identify Rawlston. 90 we'll did
thh man suit RawlstOh that Mr.. Williams
could not say whether it was Rawlston or
not. Although he knew Rawlston well,
yet he would not swear that he was not
RawlBton. He answered to every particu-
laT. The exact height by measurement.
The age, weight, size, complexion suited.
Every mark, scar and particular given in
the description of Rawlston this man had
He kept talking about his wife end child,
saying that bis wife was not dead, that he
saw her last night. When told what he
was suspected for, he wanted telegram
sent home enquiring if his vile was not
alive but utterly refused any inquiry as to
how his child was, saying he had had
trouble with his wife and about his child.
On the 3. Is train Tuesday evening Mr.
Williams left for Grenada somewhat puza
zled, carrying with him a photograph of
the dead man, stating that after all, he
was too well dress for Rawlston; that
Rawlston was very poor, and went poorly
dressed; that g:s relations were very poor.
That Rawlston would not have had az
much money as this man had, nor would
he have had any baggage, asa check IN
the position of this man showed that his
trunk had gone through to New Orleans
AS soon as he committed suicide, the
trunk answering to said check was tele-
graphed for and came up on the 3. Is train
Tuesday. The news agent on that train
said that the crazy man got on at Grena-
da on Sunday night and was continually
looking out for some one after him. Other
passengers sta e that he got off at Grenada
on SUNDAY night. This looked Suspicion,
as Rawlston was born and raised near
Grenada, and had relations there.
Upon opening his trunk, it was found
by papers contained therein that the de-
ceased was an Odd Fellow, Mason, aud
Knight of Honor. That his name was
Henry Rittmsn. That he lived at Venice,
Madison county, Illinois, and was a shoe
maker by profession. That he had had
trouble with his wife and about his child.
That his wife, Caroline Rittman, was sue
ing him for a divorce and custody of the
child. That he had recently been cited 10
answer at the next term of the Chancrry
Court of that county. What other troub
les he may have had, 40 one knows.
These things had run him crazy AMI
caused him to continually repeat that some
one was after him, which excited Suspicion
and caused his arrest