Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-20
THE FATAL DRAUGHT.
Mr.. PERCY /. BARNES COMMITS SUI
eide BY DRINKING LAUDANUM'
Disappointment I'm Love Said to Have
Been the Cause, hut This His
Family Deny.

Mr.. Percy T.. Barnes Young man OF
twenty-six, who was employed as FOUNDRY
man at the Richmond Locomotive ana
Machine-Works. swallowed the contents OF
a two-ounce vial of laudanum yesterday
afternoon and died from the effects thereof
few hours afterward.
Barnes had been in Schemes bar-room on
Seventeenth street the greater part OF tne
day and had been drinking heavily. lie
had laudanum in his possession and
threatened 10 take il with suicidal intent;
but n he had been drinking for seyerai
days his remarks were not supposed 10
have been made IN earnest.
TUE FATAL DRINK.
About o'clock Mr.. Scheme observed
that he had been drinking something. and
found the bottle on the floor lie inquired
of his clerk whether Il was likely that the
young man bad taken the laudanum, ana
the clerk replied that he thought De Dau;
It was ten or fifteen minutes after he had
taken the fatal draught when these IN
Quries were made, and upon hndlng that
he had swallowed the deadly contents OF
the vial Mr.. Scheme notified the First po-
lice-station. and also endeavored to get a
doctor, but could find none. The amou-
lance was then summoned.
THE AMBULANCE.
DR.. Tawrence arrived in charge of the
ambulance, and Immediately took active
steps 60 save the life of the young man.
who by this time had sunk into cOmatose
state. but all his efforts TO arouse him
were in vain. Barnes's friends walked him
about, trying to shake off the stupor, but
could not. stomach-pump was tried,
and also an injection of atrOphlne, but
without avail.
After using all possible remedies Dr.
Lawrence decided 10 carry him to the aims
house. none of his family OF friends being
present to direct otherwise. whore he died
about "A quarter to 3. never having Oeen
aroused from the state OF unconsclousness
into which he was thrown shortly after
drinking the laudanum.
The CAUSE.
No cause can be assigned by Earnes :
friends for his committing suicide, a be
was of an exceedingly happy and loyal
disposition and in the best OF health. Since
last Saturday he had been drinking. and
IL is supposed by the physicians who at
tended him that he took the laudanum TO
relieve pains produced by excessive drink.
Some of his fellow workmen assert that
he was to have been married the first OF
last month, but was rejected by the lady
10 whom he was betrothed and ended his
life for this reason. This statement J.,
however. denied by his family, who claim
that ne was never in love, and 70 their
knowledge had no intention Of getting
married
PERSONAL.
Deceased was q very popular young man,
| and upou hearing of his misfortune nearly
| three hundred friends visited the aims
/ house Yesterday evening to proiier assist
ance tO the grlef-stricken family.
He possessed q most genial nature and
was thought 90 he one of the most cheerful
men at his place of business. He Is said to
have had splendid physiqueand was very
muscular.
He leaves mother. two brothers, and
| two sisters, who reside at No 26O6 \ street.
After his death his remains were taken
| in charge by friends. and he will be buried
/ to-day at 2 O'Clock at Oakwood cemetery
! Coroner Taylor viewed the remains, but
| deemed Ill inquest unnecessary.