Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-07-28

A YOUNG MAN COMMITS SUICIDE.-J. w.
Shannon, formerly of Lynchburg. aged q years.
committed suicide on the 2lst. at Raphine,
hockbridge county. where he was temporarily
sojourning. At the age OILS, he entered the SER
vice of Myers Bros. & Co., Richmond, as Book
keeper. He was aa expert clerk and highly
esteemed by his employers and acquaintance.
He received fine salary, continuing with this
firm who had given him a summer respite to
recruit his failing health. He came to Raphine
with Mr.. E. e. Johnson. who Is also with that
firm, and the two were spending the tlme at
the residence of Mr.. s. t. Johnson, brother of
the latter. The deceased was suffering from
nervous prostraton and inclined to melan-
choly. This was noticed and his companion
and acquaintance made at Raphine, did all
they could to change dependency to cheerful
ness. He spoke of taking a squirrel hunt, and
procuring a gun and cartridges did not wait for
company. but proceeded towards the forest
near by. In a small grove, about two hundred
yards from the village two discharges Of a gun
were heard. This occurred just before dinner.
at which hour he said he would return. AS he
did not return. search was made, and he was
found dead at the place from which the dis
charges were heard, one load in his breast and
the other in his head. A Coroner's jury was
held with the result here narrated.
The following letter was found on his person
and is supposed to have been written imme-
diately preceding his DEATH
To aohom it may concern
give this as warning 10 any who may pos
sibly follow in my footsteps. Never allow your
thoughts to dwell entirely upon yourself Or
your own affairs Rather die than lead such a
selfish life. My thoughts have been so center
ed on myself and my own interests, that have
not given even God scarcely thought, until
became reduced to such a state that l could
think of myself alone.
BY doing this deed / am relieving my family
OF a troublesome burthen. / have On deposit
with MY ers Bros. & Co., Richmond, Va, $685. 10,
besides something due me for about months
service-say 500 1 owe the Misses Apperson,
No ga North Goth ST., Rich mond for board ::
also Dill TO Dr. owen, Lynchburg, and DR..
cullen, Richmond. Zone consutation)
the Valfse have belongs to Mr.. Spott Allen,
Richmond. Please send 1t to him with many
thanks l owe thanks to my ki,d friends,
among whom are my employers, the Misses
Apperson, Mr.. and Mrs. Alice. and Messrs. J..
b. and Herbert Fupstan, Mr.. johnson and
many others. BIZ. Johnson will find enough
money on my person to pay him what 1 owe
MIN, and II not enough to defray funeral ex-
penses Messrs Myers Bros. Il Co. will remit
enough to pay balance. My last thoughts are
of the dear ones at home.
Farewell to ALL
(SigneD J. w. SHANNON,
Mr. E. e. Johnson conveyed the body to
Lynchburg where the family OF the deceased
resides. The Advance of that city dated the
23rd. thus refers to the funeral:-
1.-THE funeral services of the late Willie Shan
non took place this morning from the Church
OF the Holy Cross, in the presence of large
congregation. The remains were followed to
Spring Hill cemetery by unusually long
procession of the friends of the deceased, where
the interment took place."