The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-08
MR. JAMES L. WALLER,
PRIV ATE SECRETARY TO COY ERN0R
FlT2HtGn LEE,
COMMITS SUICIDE IN HIS OFFICE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
NO CAUSE YET ASSIGNED TOR THE
RASH ACT.
His Rsmains. Accompanied bN the Gov
ernor. to- be sent to His Home In
STAFFORD Toby Universal
Regret Expressed. rte.


morning. when the sad news of the
death hy suicide Of the well known.
universally beloved and high minded
Young Virginia gentleman, Mt james
Ellen n allcr private secretary 10 ""E
ernor Fiuhugh Lee, was announcer
The news was published carly IN the
morning on the TINES Duheuh' an"
spread like wild fire over the whole CITY
MIR. Waller was about thifty'iwo year,
of aye. and was a dignihed gentleman
uniformly courteous and accommodating
10 all with whom be came In contact
whether in business or in society. NO
man in the Commonwealth was more
fitted or better qualified 70 tll the posi-
lion which he held than be, as he proved
Inv the prompt aud efficient manner IN
which be discharged the duties OF his
office.
Al a few minutes pas; 2 o'clock yes
terday morning MI. Thomas A. Jones
the Governors messenger reached the
Capi,ol. and found that the door 10 ihe
Governors Office was unlocked MS
was an unusual occurrence. but when he
entered the private secretarys Office ana
saw Mr.. Waller lying in a
natural position on the lounge.
he thinking Mr.. Waller was asleep
nassed on into the Governors Office,
where he remained FOR several minutes,
looking over and arranging some papers.
After dong this Mr.. Jones again went
into the secreiarys Office, and Tor the
first time noticed q pistol lying upon the
floor and saw
ALAReE POOL OF BLOOD
on the carpet Then il was that the
narrowing truth that Mr. Weller had
lilled himself flashed into his mind like
. shock. He rushed out Of the room,
and Fastening down stairs, told Special
Policeman Durrett, who was then IN
the Land Office, that Mr.. W al
Ter had shot and killed himself,
and requested MI Durrett TO 60 up 10
the office and take charge Of the remains
until he could notify the Governor. Mr..
Jones then went over to the Executive
Mansion, and, arousing the Governor,
who was yet abed, broke the news TO
him
When Mr. Jones told Governor Lee
what had happened, the General sprang
up and was much affected at hearing the
fatal news
THE GOVERNOR VISITS THE BODY.
Hastily dressing himself the Governor
went directly 10 bis office at the Capitol,
where he found Mr. Waller lying dead
on the lounge in the northeast corner OF
the Office. He was lying on his back
with his face upward and iLclining lit
lie TO the right his feet
were crossed, his left hand,
which clasped Il bunch Of keys, was
across his BODY while the right hand
was extended a little from his body ia
the direction OF pistol which laid upon
the floor a few feet distant No frOwn
nor wrinkle could be traced on his fac
and his cOunienance bore that calm and
placid expressiJ IN which characterized
him while living lie looked NJ if he was
asleep. 50 natural was his appearance.
COLD AND STIFF.
When found the body was cold and
stiff. aud the right hand which was
hanging down, was Of dark purple,
owing 10 the large quantity Of blood
which had settled ia that part of his body.
Or. Brock arrived about ; o'clock, and,
after examining the body, said that death
must have occurred in The early part OF
the night before
The Governor at once dispatched a
messenger for Coroner Taylor. who soon
appeared and We've the remains. A
wound caused by Il pistol shot was
found in the right side Of his head, the
ball having entered just under the ear
and apparently had severed main art
sry. and then lodging In his brain pro
jueed instantaneous death.
TIE WEAPON
used was a 92-calibfe five shooter Smith
/ Xesson revolver One OF the cham
uers OF the cylinder had been discharged
while the other four were each loaded
The weapon had been owned by The
deceased about seven years, and was
kept locked In a private drawer IN hl'
desk. The bunch Of keys which be
clasped In his hand contained the one
which unlocked this drawer, showing
that he had Just unlocked IT and taken
The pistol out SO sudden was bis dea
that the KEYS were still held in his hand
Undertaken Christian was sent fol
and took charge Of the body, and, after
preparing it for burial, arranged II on
stretcher In the office, where 1t will 10
main until this morning 81 Z o'clock
Wher" the remains viii be taken tC
BLOOMINGTON. stafford county, 70 be in
TERED IN the family burying-g ground.
NO CAVE FOR THE ACT DISCOVERED.
AT the request Of Governor Lee Mr.
Willie Daniel examined the desk 1seC
by the deceased and all the paper
IL Confined, in the hopes OF finding some
writing, which might throw some Ugh
on the mysterious occurrence.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Mr. Waller was the only son OF thu
lato James I. Waller, Of Stafford county
and his mother was Miss Nickliiie
She died few years previous L
the war, and al the dealt
OF his father, who was killed while Il
the Confederate service In 1862, h'
was left an orphan, and was taken il
charge and cared for by his uncle, Nh
Nathaniel ". Ford, Of Stafford coun
~. At the aye Of sixteen year
he held position f. drug
store at Fredericksburg, where he re
NAMED until he became proficient II
business. and on the 9th Of November
T.. the year 1880, he received an offer t
engage in the drug business In this cit,
with Messrs. Meade q Baker, which
offer he accepted. He remained wit
this firm until the 81 OF April, 1884, whel
he received better offer 10 90 TO VII
mington, " c., 10 engage in the SAM
business al that place. This offer he &C
cepted, and remained there until Gov
ernor Lee was elected, when he wa
Offered and accepted the position OF pr
vate secretary, which he held until hi
demise.
ast Wednesday week he went 10 stat
ford county 10 attend the marriage o
his cousin, Mr. Thomas Waller, 10 ais
Nelson. he returned 10 the city las
Saturday afternoon, and during Mopda,
and tuesday spent very little time in BIZ
Office on account of outside business, bu
ON Wednesday be posted up his business
which had gotten litlle behind.
Wednesday, about II o'clock, after
having been closely engaged all during
the dav Nh Waller went out OF the oihc,
and remained about half an hour. A