Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-08

/ rooms In the house OF the aiter. Dir. Waller
/ bad had his room there since Nav, 1887. Tie
/ had known both Mrs. Armat and Mrs. selden
| when De was small boy living with hi. un-
I ele. Colonel Thomas Waller. in Frederlcks-
burg. Colonel Waller now spends his win
/ tiers IN Frederick sburg and bis summers on
Governor Lees place near there.
/ When seen bv Dispatch reporter yester-
/ day afternoon Mrs. selden said that they bad
/ found Nc. Waller = very pleasant guest. and
/ both her family and Mrs. Armars as well ~
all ot the boardcrs were very much grieyed.
since his return 10 the city on saturday last
I from Stafford, where he went 10 attend the
marriage Of a cousin, Mr. Waller had seemed
/ very depressed. though perhaps not az much
I 20 rs he had appeared 10 be On former occ =
sious, aud had complained OF not feeling
well and had therefore remained away from
/ the office. TUESDAY afternoon be snent
some time In the parlOr at Mrs. Selden's
/ laughng and taking with the family and
friends. and about l:30 O'Clock he excused
3 bimself, saying that he was going over 20
supper, but would return after swhie and
have o game Of Whist. In 4 few minutes
l Mrs Seden met him IN the hall and re-.
marked that he bad returned in 4 hurry, 10
which be replied that he bad returned for his
I bottle ~ nervine, which he had forgotten 70
/ take With him and which he needed, NJ he
/ was nervous. lie soon left the house. but
/ did not 90 TO Mrs. Armars t0 supper, nor
/ did be return o. Join his friends ia the social
/ game While they were playing. however
l after 10 O'Clock, nc came 10, but went direct
/ ly 10 his room.
/ Wednesday he neither went 70 dinner nor
| sumner. 80 Mrs. Armat had bis supper sent
I 10 his room. and there il remained un-
( touched hen The room was opened ye'ter'
/ day morning. His bed was also undisturb-
I 90. lie bad FIRE in his room every evening,
/ but none IN the morning. The fire was
1 hchfcd Wednesday night ~ usual, and
! when the room was entered yesterday morn
/ ing IN was inst as the servant bad left Il THE
morning before, except that the fire hsd
| burned down. Late Wednesday uight Mr.
| celden. finding that Mr.. Waller had not
I come In and feeling uneasy about him, tried
/ 10 get an intimate friend Of the deceased 10 90
/ With him 10 look for Mr.. Waller, but the friend
/ was not in and the matter was dropped.
| MIR. Scldon was further surprised yesterday
morning when the servant irfOrmed him
! that Mr.. Waller had not come in, but he did
not then have the most remote idea that be
| bad taken biz own life.
Nothing whatever was found in Mr. wall
/ le-'- room TO give the slightest clue 70 the
mystery as To the cause that led so pro-
; lifetIEs ~ ibilNlfls 80 liVAAt hIh AH'i ny
ren'lemgny a Young man 10 commit the rash
deed. No letters either TO or from him
were found in his room. Those living IN
the house believe that the occurrence Wa
the result OF q momentary passion or mad
ness. As an evidence that the deed was not
tong prcmed!tated II NAV he stated that since
bi. return from his stafford trip the de-
ceased bad purchased n lot oi undertaking,
not single piece oi which he ever wore.
He purchased a whole box Of socks on Mon
day aud did not put on pair OF them.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
James Ellen Waller was born In Stafford
county thlrty>two years ago. and was son
of Ja,nc. +. Waller. His mothers maiden
name V4. Ellen Wickhllc. lie was named
after both his parents. His mother died
when james was only a few wears old. and his
raiher was Killed IN one Of the battles around
Richmond f. 1862 aud his BODY was never
found. Deceased was icit an orphan at the
aye Of six wears, and wss taken into the
family OF his aunt, Mrs. Nathaniel W. Ford,
In stafford aud by her reared. At the AGE
Of sixteen deceased went into GoOirich's
drugstore, in Frederick Sburg. and there re-
mained until November 9, 1850, when be
came here 10 enter the drugstore oi Mr. T.
Roberts Baker. He remained with Mr..
Blkcr until April, 1884, when he leit for
Wilmington. y. G. to accept a position IN
a wholesale drugstore.
Mr.. Waller remaincd In Wilmington until
January |. 1856, when he came here TO ac-
cent the position OF secretary 10 Governor
Lee.
Yesterday morning when Mr. Baker heard
Of Mr.. Walters death he FASTENED 10 the
Capitol. and when he saw tpe body cold IN
death ne was overwhelmed with sriei. He
was much attached 10 Mr.. Waller. and the
latter would often vl.it the store OF his old
cmp,Ovcr 10 chat about old times.
Mr. Baker ana his clerk, Mr.. POythrcss,
Doth testify that IN business tney never knew
any one more dliigent than Mr.. Waller. De-
ceased came ir Tuesday evening and asked
Mr. Poy'hrgss for some medicine 10 make
him sleep. lie designated the Stnd he wish.
ed, and it "a harmless nsrcotic) was given
him.
COURSE OF THE BAIL-CArsE OF THR ACT.
Coroner Tavlor was sent for about hall.
past \ O'Clock a. NJ, and after satisfying
himself that deceased had committed suicide.
concluded that no good could be sccOm.
pli.hed by holding an inquest. \ wound
was found on The right side Of the head,
winch showed that the bullet passed through
the lower part OF the right ear and bOny
structure behind the ear, lodging in the
brain, producing instantaneous death, as the
position Of the body showed that there was
not the least struggle.
In The overc0at NJ Mr.. Waller a bottle Of
whi,key was found, but not A drop had been
taken out Of it. 1t had never been uD-
corkcd.
In ore Of the drawers OF a desk there was
a wal OF medicine-an anodyue probably.
- a I.t.t kaa
Coroner Taylor learned last night that
deceased had within few davs past con-
planned very much OF an unpleasant feeling
about the head and had expressed a fear
that II would unsette his mind.
Among some Of those VINO were Mr..
Waler's intimales there is a belief that
disappointment in love was st the bottom Of
this unhappy occurrence. Others think not.
Some others remember that ever since the
election he had been low in spirits.
Hrs salary ~ Governors secretary was
Sl 200 wear. and rs be was not man 10
affect style beyond his means II was ample
for his needs.
Unless some writing is hereafter fOuud
disclosing the motive Tor the suicide It Will
forever remain a mystery. for OF the various
surmises and cOnjectures not one can be re-
lied upon With any degree OF certainty.
THE FUNERAL.
Mr.. Waller's body Will this morning be
taken from the Capitol to the Byrd-Street
station, and there puto the 1:20 train, which
by special permission OF Major Myers will
stop al Richllud station. Thence the body
viii be- carried 10 the resldence Of deceased
aunt. Mrs. Ford.
The funeral arrangements VIII be made 10
advance Of the arrival OF the corpse, and the
intermcnt will be IN the family burying-
ground.
Deceased's visit 10 Fredericksburg
Especial telegram TO the Dispatch.l
FGEDEmCKsBURG. February The tele-
grams received here this morning an
nouncing the suicide Of Mr. James l.. Wal
lei cast gloom over the community, as he
was well and iavOrably known here aud had
a nost Of friends w1O deeply regret the sal
ending OF their popular and genial associate.
Mr. Waller was IN this city on last rdurs-
day, Friday. and SATURDAY. having stopped
here on tls return from Richiand. stafford
where be bad acted as best man al
the weddIos OF Mr.. Thomas Waller, Jr., and
Miss Alice Page Nelson, which took place in
that county on wednesday the 3O,n ulumo.
On bis arrival here Thursday be register