Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-01
A NEW TORN LETTER.
WRITING THAT MAY LEAD TO THE
IDENTITY OF THE OAkWOOO
SUICIDE.
What n Drummer Says He Pitched Up In
the Cemetery tho Day tho Body
Was Found.

The identity Of the Oakwood suicide is
still undiscovered.
Sunday evening. September 18th, the
man killed himself; next morning the
body was found. and ever since diligent
effort has been made to learn the name and
home Of the deceased. but all in vain.
Clue after clue has been worked ont only
to leave the mystery deeper than ever.
Such of the personal effects of the deceased
rs were saved from the grave have been
viewed by hundreds of people, but not
even probable suggestion has been offered
as 10 who was the man who was 80 lonely
and destitute as his note indicated, who
gave in his person, In his writing, and IN
his earnest request for Christian burial
such evidences OF gentility. yet whose des-
peration was such that ht believed he could
find relief only in the grave, and hence
placed pistol over his right ear, pulled
the trigger, and closed his earthly career.
A NOTE FROM LYNcHBUEG.
In our Yesterdays mail from Lynchburg
came the following letter:
LYNCuuURG, Va, September 90, 1899.
To he Editor of6e Dispatch:
/ happened to be in your city when that
young man was found out IN Oakwood,
and among other curious people went To
see hs remains, and this letter | picked
up near his body. and ! think most likely
he dropped it. see by certain parts being
torn ont that he did so for fear that any,
thing would lead TO his discovery. | put
the letter in my cOat-pocket ana had for
gotten the circumstances until | read the
DjSpdich last week and it came 70 my mind
ABOUT the letter and found 1t in the same
coat that | wore the day | went out TO view
his body.
am q travc lling-man and was in your
city that day So if this will give any light
on the mystery, why take it for what 1t IS
worth. Respectfully,
BoEN KNGTON.
Ny home is in Seattal W. T.
This is the shape the letter was IN when
picked it up. Is. n.
THE WRITING.
The letter enclosed is written on six
pages of cheap note-paper. The penman-
ship Is beautiful small. round, and little
inclined 10 hOurishes."
Wherever the name of the addressed
person or any other person was written
there is tear III the paper. indicating that
the names had been des:gnedly removed.
TheenvelOpe was addressed to torn
OUT on some street tname of 1t also torn
out). "cItv," andis postmarked New YORK,
June l, 1889.
THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER.
The following is the letter enclosed by
the Lynchburg writer:
MAY 81, 1899.
Dear TITS with asympathetic heart
/ write this answer TO your letter, and
though fear YOU will be disappointed at
its contents (and what 1t does not contaln)
| do honestly believe / am doing what IS
right
Plainly and canddly say will not help
YOU fnancially-that IS, rs far as ENDING
you money Is concerned.
What claim have you on me? None
whatever. Do YOU presume on my friend
ship? Most assuredly not, Tor am con-
yinced that You esteem my friendship for
its intrinsic valuo only and not for the
benefits that may be derived from It;
Dear --, [ regard Our friendship too
highly 10 lend you money. for would wish
that II exist forever. You have found out,
much 10 your sorrow, the truth of the
maxim that lending and borrowing money
only make enemies. Is not this true Let
Us. for example. look at the case of john
-. Him you had always regarded At one
time rs one of the sincerest and truest
friends YOU bad. You loaned him and
many others with noble intentions con-
siderablc sums Of money. And what is the
result? Instead of q former friend you are
their bittarest enemy. is this not so
Take the reverse side Of the case. Owing
to the failure of your numerous debtors 70
come 10 time you put yourself IN trouble.
and where mt one time you were the lender
you are compelled 10 be Borrower and
not only that. you make enemies Tor your
self.
Nv advice TO Won is this: Having tried
uusuccessfully TO collect your Outstand-
ings YOU should turn 10 the dearest. truest,
and best friend You have IN this world,
your mother. and tell HRE oyerythlng-all
the circumstances in detail which have
caused or led TO your present distressing
circumstances Depend ont, you will be
helped and advised as no one can better
do il. You should tell your mother the
truth. the wholetruth. Your pride Is a false
pride, and you ought to subdue It. When
your mother knows the extent of your
troubles she will not permit You 10 be dis
graced, and when once You contde IN her
twill be well with yOu. This Is all | have
TO say.
Po,siblvthis refusal to assist you in your
dilemma will cause your enmlty towards
me. aud likely enough you will not commu-
nicate with me mora. Bear well IN mind,
however. that some day You will find that
have beena tTuer friend 10 you than many
who have assisted YOU financially.
With klId regards to You and family and
with the hope that you will entertain my
advice fayorably and thus tnd way ont
of your difficulties, l am rs ever your SIN
cere friend.
p. S. have not yet had an opportunity
to look for the short hand book. Will let
You know as soon as ind it.
Who knows but what this torn letter
may become rs important rs the torn
note" IN the Cluverlus case.
An Investigation.
Mayor Ellyson has set Sergeant Hulce to
work investigating the Oakwood suicide
with the view of ascertaining the identity
of the deceased and other circumstances OF
the affair which the public would like 10
know, and which the city authorities are
justified in inquiring into in view of the
fact that the death occurred on city pro-
perty.
Sergeant IIulce yesterday took the key
found in deceased's pocket and the pistol
which was grasped IL his fingers, and spent
hours and hours IN endeayOrlng 10 work
out clues from them.
The pistol is "YoUNG AMEBGcA-DoUBLE
ACTION"
The key seems 10 belong to q wardrobe,
bureau, or desk. and is of an uncommon
fashion.
The Sergeant will also make all possible
use Of the d0ublc-case silver Elgin watch
found upon deceased and which has been
over and over described in these columns.
The Sergeant Is a diligent, painstaking, and
capable officer, and it Is pity that the
matter was not put into his hands long
ago. However. the county OF benrlco Will
never again in important cases like this be
left TO the mercy OF negro justices and con-