The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-08
WAS 1T SUICIDE.
Mr.. Levi samuels Loses His Life by
Drowning In the Dock.

Another Mystery arises in the drowning
Of Mr. Levi Samuels, an old man si1ty-twO
years Of age in the dock, near seventeenth
street Yesterday afternoon al O'Clock.
samuols was q Junk dealer 81 No. 304
north Adams street. and made frequent
visits 10 the junk shop Of James c. smith,
near the dock. This he did yesterday,
leaving home a. usual.
About o'clock Mr.. John o. Sullivan
who was passing along Dock street, saw
samuels standing on the brink OF the dock
with his face turned 30 the water, appa-
rently i'm deep study. He saw. nothing UNI
usual i'm the mans action further than that
be should stand at such a place in such
weather.
Mr. Sullivan turned his head, and when
ne looked again Samuels was in the water,
making no attempt whatever to get out or
even keep himself above the surface. He
did not sink. however, for "A large. heavy
oyerc0at that he wore bu0yed him up IN the
water for the time.
Several other citizens soon arrived. and
objects were thrown the drowning man by
which. if ne desired he could have saved
himself. lie paid no attention, however, 20
Efforts 10 rescue him and seemed 10 be IN
am unconscious condition. boat was pro-
CURED. and by this means the man was
brought 10 shore. lie was still unc0nsclsus
and apparently dead.
The ambulance was called, and DR.. Davis,
the physician i'm charge, did all in his power
% resuscitate the man. 4 galyanic battery
was used, and the body was placed on bar
rel and exercised for a considerable while,
10 no avail, however.
All efforts 10 restore life having proved
fruitless. the body was taken 10 the Wholesale
grocery stOrohouse Of Marshall & MOncure, a
short distance of. Coroner Taylor was
then summoned, who viewed the remains
lie was Of the opinion that the deceased was
unconscious the whole Of the time he was
in the water.
DR.. Taylor could not decide positively
whether the drowning was suicide or The
result Of an accident, but was rather in
clned 10 the latter view.
The body was then turned over 10 underta-
ker Lauhe 20 prepare for burial,
Several theories are advanced as 10 how
! the deceased came to his death-whether il
was suicide. or an accident. The accidental
theory is INDUCED in by some, especially the
children Of the deceased. Mr.. Meyer
Samuels, the janitor Of the House
of Delegates. and Mr.. II. G. samuels
| both Of whom, especially the former
are positive i'm their belief that il was an
accident Mr. sullivan and those in the
+ vicinity who saw the man while in the wa
ter, are emphatic in their belief that suicide
was the cause. They state that be made
no attempt 10 save himself from drowning
and ignored the efforts by others 10 rescu,
him. 10 is probable that he was labOrinl
under temporary insanity, and sprang int
the water. His family state. however. thai
he was not subject % mental afilictiOn.
IL is reported that while in the junk shoI
Of Mr.. Smith, Mr. Samuels inquired wher,
was the river. and il was thought a strange
| inquiry for a man sirty-two years Of age
10 make, who had lived in Richmond all O
| his life.
one Of the sons stated that il was the Gus
tom of his father to carry always about $40
upon his person and yesterday three cents
| only was found in bis pockets.