Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-05
A cool SUICIDE.
AmAH SHOOTS Hrxssrr THROUGH THE
TEMPLE.
Death from Eufning-A Mysterious Case
Charged vita Pocket-Pieking-
Other News.
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Di.patch.l

correspondence OF tho Richmond Dispstch.I
PETERsBuRo. Va, February 4, 1889.
About IL O'clock this morning a colored
man living In that vicinity heard the report
OF q plstol.shet In the rear OF the city reser-
voIrs on the Heights. He went 10 ascertain
the cause and found that q man had shot aud
Killed himself. Without stopping to make
any further Investigation the colored man
ran into town and reported the fact. High
Constable Parkinson A. once went out to the
spot and found the facts 10 be rs reported.
The body was found 10 q hslf-kneeling. BALI
reclining position and still warm. A search
OF the clothing resulted In the finding OF
an open face silver watch, four gold
dollars, and some small change. but
no papers or marks by which the
deceased could be identified. From the
position OF the body 1t was apparent
that the man bad knelt upon the ground, aud
then placed the muzzle OF the pistol to his
right temple and fred. The ball passed
through the bead, the pistol dropped from
the hand upon the ground, and the body fell
over upon the elbows, still resting upon the
knees. IL was some time before the intell;-
gence OF The suicide became known, but as
soon as the reports were spread abroad many
people went over 10 view tae body. The
Coroner being notified Of the case. ordered
that q jury be summoned TO hold an inquest
late In the afternoon.
No one could identify The body, which was
that OF a respec'able-loOking, well-dressed
man OF about sixty years Of age, with gray
hair and long, reddish-gray whiskers.
Az the Coroner's inquest held this eve
ming the fact was developed that the name OF
the deceased was Albert Hicks, a former
citizen OF New York. but for the last year
or more a resident and farmer Of Prince
George county. About the first OF the year
Hicks came to Petersburg. II IL understood,
n go into business, his plans for which,
however, had never been carried into
execution. He boarded here and is
reported to have been depressed IN mind,
and several times TO have intImated that he
was tired OF life. lie lcayes q small farm IN
Prince George. Nothing is known OF bis
family connections except what he bad him
self stated-that he has a brother and sister in
New York, a brother IN New Orleans, and a
brother In Mississippi. Efforts are being
made 10 communicate with bis relatives.
AHYsTERIoUs CASE.
Jick PRYOR. a sionemason by trade, who
has for some time past been working In
Richmond, returned TO this city a few days
ago and took a room aud board at the house
Of Mrs. Saunders, on Hinton street. Between
4 hNu Z " tfOCk ObnuAl IuoI ulut Abt siai tt
Of fire was sounded from this house. The
fire department turned out promptly and
saved the building from serious damage; out
Pryor was found In the yard terribly and
fatally burned. He was unable at the time
| TO give any coherent account OF how he re-
ceived his injuries. He was taken to Jail to
be cared for, but bis condition was such that
medical aid was OF no avail, and be died
about IL O'Clock Yesterday. The inmates
OF the house report that the fire
was caused by the explosion OF a Kerosene
lamp, the oil from which was scattered
over Pryor's clothing. IL Is furthermore
said that Pryor was drunk at The time. Not
withstandlng the severe burns about his
face, bead, and upper portion OF the BODY.
it was testified before the coroner's jury
yesterday afternoon that an ugly cut or
wound was visible on the neck OF the de-
ceased. but by what caused is not known.
II may bave been caused by the fall OF the
mar down stars. The coroner's jury, after
n partial investigation Of the case, was adj
iourned over until tomorrow, when further
evidence will be taken. The matter has
been talked about a great deal to-day, but
apparently death was the result OF accident.
THE COUPON CASES.
The City Sergeant has received from the
AItIh ~ tut AIfuli Jul WIN
tiops against citizens OF Petersburg, who
paid their taxes In coupons, and against
whom judgments were rendered ct the late
term OF the court. He will
making levies tomorrow morning. Tue
Sergeant is in receipt OF a letter from Mr..
William l.. Royall, counsel for the coupon
payers, asking that he withhold making levy
IN these cases until be can make proper offer
in tue Circuit Court tomorrow.
CHARGED WITH ROBBERY.
Two men. giving their names as George
johnson and Joseph Allen, were arresed at
EmporIa, Greenesvllle county. on Saturday
evening, charged with picking the pocket OF
Mr.. Walter II. Wyche. Of that place, and
stealing his purse, containing $50 Ia money.
1t - said the TWO meu are travelling in COM
pany with a person styling himself as DR..
Hill, "the king dentist" who is going about
selling quack medicines. A large crowd OF
people was gathered together at the time,
and Mr.. Wyche lost his purse Just after
having made some change for a friend. He
subsequently found the missing poeket-bOok
in one OF his pockets. but under clrcum-
stances which led TO toe arrest OF the two
men, their examination before a magistrate,
aud their committal to Jail to be tried for
felony.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A tribe Of Red Men will be instituted this
week al Crewe.
The Baptist Sunday school IN Ettrick,
which some time ago started with sixty pu-
pills, now reports 100 scholars.
ROBIN ADAIR.