The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-13
A sequence Of Deaths.

A singular circumstance, not pub
lished. Is related in connection with
the suicide at his home, in Baltimore,
OF young John McVickar Wyatt on
New Years night. Mae" as he was
known, was one OF the handsomest
young fellows in the city, club man
aud athlete. He was of a fiery, impet-
uous temperament, and in some of his
practices so eccentric that there is
good reason for doubling his sanity.
Some years ago an aunt residing in
another city was invited to visit the
family, and did so, and during her
stay one Of the members died. Later
she paid another visit, and again there
was death. The circumstance was
noted ss rather singular, but year
later she came for tho third time, and
either while she was staying or imme-
diately after her departure there was a
third death. So strange coincidence
was naturally distressing to all con-
cerned, as she is lady of great anna
bility of character and held in the
highest esteem and regard by her rela-
tives. Upon fourth visit death again
attended her, and when she returned
to her home she announced that she
had determined never to come back TO
Baltimore again.
She kept her resolution for some
time, but her brother, the father of
young Wyatt, in the early part of De-
cember wrote to her urging her TO
spend the Christmas holidays with the
family. He spoke lightly OF the super
stitious associations attending her
former visits, and remarked humor-
ously that it was now impossible for
any one to die as they were all In the
NJ
defy the CHASTITY intruder on former
occasions OF her appearance. As she
had SO often shared their grief in lie.
rosyement, it was now proper that she
should enjoy with them tho pleasures
they had planned for the Christmas
holidays.
With some misgivings, and yet in
clined now to consider the singular
chain of circumstances In tho past as
merely coincidence, the aunt broke
her resolution and came to Baltimore
Christmas went merrily by, and al
was well until New Years night.
little before midnight the aunt retired
from the company in the parlor, in
tending to go to her room, which ad
Joined that of her nephew, young Nc
Viekar, who had been out all the even
ing. Seeing his door partly open and
the light burning dimly, she conclud
ed that he had come in unobserved
and had probably fallen asleep with
out undressing. She entered his apart
ment, and in an instant was frozen
with horror. for there on the bed he
lay, dead, a pistol in his hand and
blood all about him. He had slipped
into tho house and upstairs, and shot
himself, the report of the revolver un,
heard below. Thus for the fifth time
was death in the family, associated
Immediately with this aunt's vista
circumstance for the members of the
Society of Psychical Research to re.
fleet upon.
Why young Wyatt took his life is q
mystery. There Is a report that he
was secretly married and stood in fear
of some trouble in connection with
the alliance. Some of his strange
freaks, as already stated, seem to in,
dictate insanity. Among other queer
practices he was in the habit OF cruel
flying stray cats against the wall of
his garden, impallng the animals
against the fence by driving small
nails through their feet. He would
also extract the fangs of snakes and
force tobacco down tho throats of the
reptiles. He had hot, ungovernable
temper, and was domineering and
fearless. His family is among the
most fashionable in the city.