Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-06-26

ness. At about 10 O'Clock Dt. Bullock
called, and the family told him
that the patient was sleeping soundly.
The doctor thought bsst not to distnrb
him, and did not go to the room, especially
as Mr., Rodney felt considerably nettled
toward MIN for having him watched.
About noon come of the family went to
the door Of the decsased's chamber and
listened closely, but could not hear the
slightest sound. The silence, coupled
with the facts that sleeps OF such length
were unusual to the patient, they grew
alarmed and directly summoned some
friends. They arrived simultaneously
with the brother who returned for lunch.
Proceeding mp stairs to the third story
they tried to snter Mr. Rodney's
bed chamber, but IL was looked. The
brother got down upon the floor and
looked in through the crack beneath the
door. A horrible sight met his view.
Lying upon his back OH mattress, wac
the deceased still clad In his night gown,
and beside him small pool of blood.
The door was ins' 'sntly for, ed open, and
physician summoned was soon in at
tendance, but the bullet had fulfilled the
mission Of the hand that held the
weapon, death having resulted come
time previous, as the body was cold
AS II lay upon the floor IL
was CHASTITY sight. Both the mattress
on which 1t lay and the garment he wore
were saturated with blood. Just a. il
fell from the hand, on the floor, lay the
grim weapon OF death, which an ab ent
brother haplessly lett behind without
thought of the share it would take In
the terrible sequences. One CHAMBER OF
the revolver WAS empty, which told the
manner in which .he unfortunate had
met his death Everything else about the
room was in order and there was nothing
10 tell how soon after parting from his
brother the fatal sho. mad been fired.
There was no sound of the pistols
discharge heard by the occupants
of the house, the apartment of death being
remote from the rooms where the family
assembled and with numerous doors
intervening. From the position of the
body it was presumed that the deceased
stood erect in the middle OF the room
when he fired the shot and fell over
backwards expiring instantly and with
out struggle. The ball entered directly
below the left nipple and taking disgO.
nal course downward passing through
the body and emerging below the email
OF the back on the right side. The
leaden missile OF death was found lying
on the floor near by, somewhat flat
tened. Where the ball entered
there was considerable blood and about
the orifice Of the wound grains of burned
powder were imbedded beneath the skin,
indicating that the weapons muzzle had
bsen placed directly against the left
breast when discharged. 1t was appar-
emily held at sharp angle auoh as would
give tn ball diagonally downward
course. The aim had been trne as IL was
believed that the bullet had plowed It's
way through the heart. The night dress
which the deceased wore had evidently
been raised above the spot on the breast
where the bullet entered, as there WAS no
punoture in the front of the garment, and
but small one at the back, from whence
| IT emerged. The features were iu per
feet state OF repose, and betrayed no evil
dence of physical suffering
The remains were inferred yesterday.
THE RODNEY FAMILY.
| The danealed was unmarried and lived
In the old Cool Spring homestead, near
the reserve r. The family consisted OF
| himself, his brothers John aud Henry aud
their aunts, two aged ladies. Henry has
been absent for some weeks, visiting
friends in Virginia. Mr.. Rodney was
also related to Mrs. Henry G. Banning
and Anthony Higgins, Esq.
| Deceased WAS the great grandson ot
Thomas Rodney, who was brother to the
Ce,ar Rodney whose signature is ap'
pended to ths Declaration OF lndepen-
dence. Thomas Rodney was a
man OF much ability, prominen,
lawyer of eminsnce. After the
revolutionary war he was appointed by
President Jefferson judge OF the Territory
OF Mississippi, where he spent the T,
maiuder CT his life.
Judge Rodney's son, Cesar A Rodney,
grandfather of the deceased, WAS also a
noted man in American history, having
been Attorney General of the United
States and minister to Brazil, and One o
the mJst distin., uished men the State has
produced
Cp3ar's sou, Thomas Rodney, served rs
oonsul to Matanzss and afterwards filled
the Office OF collector of port at this city
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
Caesar A. Rodney was horn in lS4l and
was therefore in his 43d year. lie wat
educated at Clsrkson Tsylor's school anG
at the age OF l6 entered the hardware
business under Henry q. Banning at th'
place which is now the store of James &
Bro, 204 Market street. Here atte
some years he accumulated
I a.
bus.ness. During his comparStiv
leisure he Experimental upon vsriou
patents aud iu 1877 become president o
the VulosniHed Fib'e Company Of thi
city. By an act of Legislature of 1883
creating board of water commissioner
for the city of Wilmington, Mr. Rodne.
was named as one OF the commissioners
Mr. Rodney Inherited the courtesy OF hi
ancestors and was One OF tha few mel
who seen. ed never TO forget he wa1 gen
tleman.
THE WATER COMMISSION VACANCIES
By the decease OF Mr. Rodney, Mi
William T. Porter is the only member {
the board of water commissioners for th
city of Wilmington created by the las
Legislature. According to the terms {
the act the commissioners therein name
MIR. Porter, MIR. Rodney and the lat
Lewis Psynter-were required, afte
organizing, to draw lots for terms OF siS
four and two years, respectively, aud MI
Porter drew the long term, Mr.. Rodne
/ the four years term and Mr. Paynter til
two years term. In relation to succession
D and filling vacancies, the law says
r At the expiration of the term Of the sai
l commissioner who shall draw the shorte'
/ teru, and biennially thereafter, the place o
tho retiring commissioner shall be filled j
, appointment by the mayor OF the city {
Wilmington. for The full term OF six year
The said board shall have power
i fill any vacancies in its own membership Il
+ the unexpired term, but all the members
. said board shall not al any one time, beloll
TO the same political party.
7 Mr.. Psynter, who drew the short tern
Z died last winter, but by reason of III
Il unsettled stains OF the commission, I'll
9 surviving memb bers, Messrs, Porter al
Y Rodney decided not to appoint his au
u oessor until the legal question
. Involved were settled by Il
court OF errors aud appeals. In case Il
" decision OF the court sustains the yalidil
J. Of the water commission act, upon NJ
|, Porter alone will devolve the respone
. bility of filling both vsoauoiss, or,
is least, of filling one, and then joinii
II with his sppoiutee in the oelection OF u
lr other. ....-..
N Another Sad browning.
VI As the skiff Tom aud Joe was retur
10 inc from the Nav Castle regatta betwet