Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-26
KILLED HIMSELF.
SUICIDE IN PHILADELPHIA OF A FOR.
MER RESIDENT OF RIcHMosD.
Thomas Potentini Shoots Himself in the
Head-considerable Fortune Left
BY Him, &c.

Mr.. Thoufs fotSntini. pstiye OF Cor
sica, formerly resident Of this city. but for
many years past wealthy citizen Of Phila-
delphis, committed suicide in that city
Saturday morning by blowing out his
brains. The Pbilsdelphia Times OF Sun
day, IN its account OF the tragedy, says:
"The mufled report Of q revolver, fo'-
lowed by the shock Of mans fall, greeted
the ears OF the stragelers in the vicinity OF
Thirteenth and Market streets about !
O'Clock yesterday morning. The sounds
came t-cEi toe clearinghouse No. 81 north
Thirteenth street. After locking himself
in his room on the third floor TomasO Po-
tentini placed q 32-calibre pin-fire Dutch
man revolver TO his temple and blew out
his braius. SeverGl occupants of the house
were aroused by the explosion. and they
made partial Investigation, but neglected
10 look on the third floor. Ii was about 3
O'Clock yesterday morning when the body
WIS discovered.
"Poientini was always an early riser, and
when he neglected TO appear at the break
fr, table, fearing that something was
wrong the landlaGy knocked at bis bed.
loom door. She received no response, and.
summonirs several other boardeTs 10 her
assistance. they broke down the door. Po-
tentlni was lying PROSTATE upon the floor.
with the unmisiakable pallor OF death upon
bis swarthy features. His bead was par
TALLY submerged IN pool OF b'ood, and
hIs right band grasped the weapon with
which be had ended his life.
" Dark ciots were besmattered over the
Garnet and walls. and the blood had con.
gealed around gbasty wound in hi, right
temple. Col oneT's- physician Formad was
summoned. md after a pOSt-moTtern exarni-
nation had been made the body was token
in charge by Underisker Good. A few
ytars ago deceased realized that be was
mentally unable to attend 10 his business
affairs. and be placed them ia the hands Of
Oliver & Sons, OF No. 20 south Front street.
He then took a trip back TO his native land,
ppd again came 10 this city three months
ego.
"Just before bis return, however, his
elder brother committed suicide at his home
in Corsica, while la3oring under temporary
insanity, by setting fire to his bed and
burning himself up. Insanity is SAID 10 be
hereditary IN the family"
MIR. Potentlni was about fiitx-six years
Of age, and bad never been married. He
was q native OF the town Of Fl 1, on the
Island oi Corsica lie came % this country
when quite young man, and settled first
in Richmond, and was for a long time in
the employ Of one Of our leading cOnicc
toners. He then moved 10 Charlottesville,
where he accumulat~d money and bought
some property, 9nd at the breaking out Of
the war went to Washington and engaged
in the restaurant business, which yielded
bin large revenue. After the war he re-
moved TO Phlladelphil, where be invested
bis money in real estate. and became owner
OF property e.timaied at over 100000,
which yielded him an income OF $4,000 a
ycar. The only known heirs OF the dead
man are several nepbews and nleces, cbil
dren Of his suicide brother, who live in
Cnrsica