Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-06-26
TOOK aIs OWN LIFE.
c,eser A. Rodney Found Dead with
a BuIlef Through His Heart.

"a true, that C4ser A. Rodney
had committed suicide. He had
bssn reported very i'll and delirious
from TYPHOID fever, but he had recovered
aufIiciently to be about again, and hence,
the news came to the public with the
suddenuess Of shook.
II was known Sunday that on satur-
day evening Mr.. Rodney was seat d at
his home oonversng with some friends
With whom he hxd been out riding, when
suddenly he asked them 10 excuse him
for few minutes and withdrew from the
room. When, after lapse of 15 minutes
bs tailed to appear, his friends became
olarmad and started 10 hunt for
him. A close search OF the premises and
the entire neigh borhood failed to reveal
bis wbereabouts aud the conclusion that
be had drowned himself in the Cool
Spring reservoir was beginning to force
itsslt upon the minds OF those engaged
In the search. Shortly after O'Clock,
however, he was found wandering around
his cartridge factory ,on West Front street,
and was taken home.
This circumstance was kept quiet, as 1t
WAS but a natural result of the fever
from the terrible effects OF which he
had not fully recovered, and his
friends hoped that with close and
careful Watching he could be prevented
from taking any more suoh dangerous
Journeys or doing himself any harm
while suffering from delirious attacks.
An intimate friend OF the deceased
saws: "For the past 10 days or two
weeks MIR. Rodney's mind had been more
or less disturbed, without taxing
the form OF absolute derange-
ment, but sufficiently distuI bed
to give his friends great uneasiness. The
principal subject upon which his thoughts
ran was apprehension of financial
troubles-an apprehension for which
there was no real ground whatever.
..He was under the professional care OF
DR.. Bullock, and his friends had been
carefully watching him, but there was no
apprehension that he would attempt his
own life."
Anthony Higgine, Esq, q kinsman and
intimate friend Of Mr.. Rodney, was with
him from 4 O'Clock Sunday after
noon until near IL O'Clock Sunday
night. ON the day before Saturday
MIR. Rodney had been strong enough to
take a carriage ride, and, while his friends
and dressed and, while evidently under
considerable suppressed excitement, he
oonversed ooherently.
POUND DEAD ON THE FLOOR.
During the evening two or three other
friends dropped in to see Mr.. Rodney and,
about bed time his brother John came
home. Towards midnight Mr.. Rodney
retired, as WAS supposed, to his own
room and to sleep.
No alarm was felt regarding him until
about 10 pollock Monday morning, when it
was discovered that he was not in his
room and, upon further search, room
In the attic was found to be- locked.
Looking through an opening in the
door Mr.. Rodney WAS seen lying npon the
floor within. Friends wore sent for and i,
upon the door being broken open,
he WAS found to be dead,
lying on the floor In mis-
night dress, with bullet hole in his
breast and Smith x Wesson revolver by
his side. Life had evidently been extinct
for some tune, but rs to when the snicide
WAS committed il is only known that
it must have been sometime between
,hs hour OF his retiring last night and
the time his body was found. The report
of the pistol was rot heard by any OF the
inmates Of the house.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Smith Monday afternoon held
an inquest On the body. After hear.
ing the testimony OF four witnesses the
Iury returned verdict that the de
ceased came to his death by pistol shot
wound inflicted by his own hand. BY
the testimony It WAS shown that MIR
Rodney has been lsboring under tn.
hallucination that he was surrounded by
financial difficulties and that the sheriff
was about to seize and sell his property
including the family mansion, Cool Spring
in which he took great pride. THIS idei
30 possessed his min that hs was greatly
disturbed and showed TO his attend AM
physician, Dr. Bullock that he was labor
Ing under great mental excitement anc
that his reason was unbalanced. TIL,
mental disturbance WAS attributed in I
great measure to spell Of sickness which
resulted from severe drenohing ht
received directly upon his arrival in New
York from Europe, about Is months ago
After getting thorough wetting from {
ment something in the nature OF pneu
monis, from which, his friends aver, hi
never fully recovered. The affection was
greatly aggravated by frequent attack
OF indigestion and an affection OF thu
liver which produced great deal OF sut
fering. About 10 days ago Mr.. Rodney
had severe recurrence of these attacks
which brought on the fatal conoomitant
melauGholia. His unbalanced II snts
condition was noticed by his friends ant
attendants, who tried in vain to breal
up the gloomy forebodings. They mad
frequent oalls on him during his iilness
when hs talked and conversed freely, bu
to his nearest friends would frequeutl.
divert the conversation, and talk o
his dread OF having the sherii
sell his property. For some days past h
has been carefully watched, not, how
ever, 1t is said, in fear tina. he woul
take his own life. His aotions wer
rather mysterious, and his friends OF
served an excessive nervousness, bu
none thought he had in contemplation
the awful deed which he perpetrate
Monday. The sudden aud unexpected de
parture from his home and guests o
Saturday night has already been ds
sCribed. This was the hr5t tins durin
hss late attack that IL was seriously SUI
posed that he would take his Ow
life had the opportunity been presented
After this closer watch was place
upon his movements. He observed tht
lie WAS the subject of much anxiety an
expressed great annoyance at being
closely guarded. He blamed his doct,
Tor having his movements watched ali
gave vent to his nettled feelings towar
tls physician for having 80 direote
those attending him. On Sunday evenir
in conversation with an intimate frien
he stated that he must go to the oiiioe
the Vulcsnized Fibre Company MOI
day TO attend to the settlement OF son
accounts aud the ordering of come pape
uis friend replied, "that's all right; yoi
brother (namiug him) aud are runniI
thia thing now," with the hope
easing his mind OF any busine
cares. In response he inquired, "ls II
brother crazy 7" and again, "Are u
crazy ~ The answer iu the negati
was lsughingly given, when he 60
tinued, lam crazy 7" "What max
you ask thatr' was the reply his
quiry elioited. The friend continue
mo OF course not you are just unwell
hr, Rodney then buried his face in |
hands, and after rubbing the latter
Ills head, moaned, more as If in despt
than pain. When his guest took his q
parture Mr.. Rodney FOLLOWED h
to the front door, and engag
him in conversation with referen
to his property. After explain