Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-12-18
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A Sad Suicide.
HE HAD JUST REACHED HIS TWENTY
FIRST YEAR.

HE HAD JUST REACHED HIS TWENTY
FIRST YEAR.
Boiling l.. Sieg of Highland. a son of
the late Judge Sieg. former member OF
the House of Delegates for Highland
county, attained his twenty first year but
a short time ago. His father died of small
pox, contracted while attending the ses-
sion of the legislature in Richmond few
years ago, an6 left considerable property.
On attaining legal age lately. young Sieg
received his share of the property. The
young man, in boyhood, had been educated
at a school in Waynesboro. where his
good character and pleasant manner made
him many friends, and eyer since, at odd
periods, he has been in the habit of COM
ing from bis home in Highland and making
stays of from one to two weeks duration
in that town. Sometimes these visits took
the character of frolics. He came there
three weeks ago, registered at the Bruce
House, and had been there ever since.
On Sunday last he said he had drunk
some sweet cider, which disagreed with
him, and procured prescription from =
physician to correct its effects The pre-
cription contained laudanum and the
doses prescribed were small. He took
very large doses, saying to friend that
he knew more about his constitution than
the doctor did, and that if small dose
would do him good, large one would be
still better. During the day of Sunday be
was in the hotel office and out on the
street as usual, and showed no symptoms
of illness. That night, about half-past
o'clock, he retired to his room apparently
well, and with nothing whatever about
him to attract unusual attention. His
failure to come down to breakfast next
morning excited no comment, as he was
an old patron of the house and his habit
Of late sleeping was we'll known. But
when dinner came and he still failed to
make his appearance, boy was sent to his
room to call him. The boy could get no an
swer and SO reported to Mr.. Dabney Trlce.
the manager of the hotel. Mr.. Trice i'm
mediately sent the boy around to win
dow that looked into the room, to see what
was the matter.
An awful sight met his gazs. Young
Sieg when he went up to his room the
night before had taken seat on the
side of the bed, and taking a razor had
dellbeI ately cut his throat from ear to
ear. The jugular vein had been severed
and the razor was still sticking in the
wound, the edge Of the blade having been
capped by striking the. vertebra. The
sweeping cut must have been delivered
with great force, for a widely gaping
wound severed the upper part of the front
of the throat from the lower. Death must
have been almost instantaneous, for he
had fallen back in recliulng position en-
the bed, and there lay with his Legs hang
ing over the side. He was undresSed.
Mayor Patterson had an inquest held,
he jury returning a verdict Of d-ash b.
his own hand. Those. who were with
young Sieg were positive that he had not
taken a drink for several days. and are Of
the opinion that his undue use of the
laudanum upset his mental balance. He
was young man universally liked and his
tragic death startled and shocked the
community at Waynesboro. He leaves a
widowed mother, and two brothers, one of
whom resides at Fort Defiance in this
county. His remains were buried at
Waynesboro, Tuesday.