The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-19
VAS IT MURDERs
Investigating the Supposed Suicide OF John
G.. Wharton.

The inquiry into the cause of death Of j.
G.. Wharton. supposed to have been sui
eide. lately. was begun before Squire
Frischxorn. ut Henrieo county court
house yesterday. Dir. ii. Il. Pollard, the
acting Commonwealth attorney, con-
Quoted the Investigation.
The witnesses summoned we're the I'M
cles OF the deceased, Nessrs. J. &. Wharton
and A. Is. Wharton, and Messrs. Fred. Ger
meinAn, Charles a. Feiby and John ).
ONeal. Deputy Sheriff RUSSELL was pres
ent also. and few friends and neighoors Oh
the deceased.
A. b. Wharton, an uncle of the de-
ceased. testified as to going to the house
when notified OF his nephew's death, and the
position IN which be found the body AID
the way in which the pieces OF the head
were scattered around the room. lie did
not speak TO the wife OF the deceased then
She WAS taking 10 a conflicting way about
the death OF her husband. Asked how she
talked oy Nr. Pollard he said he could not
tell exactly but she told different stories.
lie told Squire Frlschkorn he had not been
b tho house tor some time previous. lie
said be heard that the wife remarked before
crowd OF ladies' in tho house Il did all /
could for him. he asked NE for cartridge
and gave il to him and | am glad OF IT,.
He couldn't remember who SAID this. though
lie noticed cut down the nose.
j. &. Wharton. another uncle Of deceased,
sad he went 20 tue house that night when
lie heard OF the death. His description OF
the state OF things agreed with that OF his
brother. He said, IN his opinion, the gun
was pointing at hisnwhen fired from dis
lance. tor II he had held It and FREQ the dis
charge of the gun would have Knocked him
ont of the char. lie mad not teen 70 bis
nephew's for a long time and knew nothing
about his domestic affairs. His vito seemed
cheerful and bright that night. and not IN a
state Of mind that one would think the oc-
easion demanded. lie. like his brother.
noticed clean cut down the nose OF de-
ceased. No powder stains were visible that
he could see.
John J. O'Eeal. aged'eighteep. said that be
lived next door % the late j. u. Wharton.
About O'Clock that evening ne heard cries
next door and sOmeO dy SAID, John mas
shot himself" lie went IA there The
body was naked. except q shirt, sitting IN a
chair. holding the gun Jetween DIS Knees
his head leaning against the bureau. lhe
smoke was coming from the qua. ne TOP
Of his head WAS blown away. lie was dead
when / reached him. heard the report OF
the gun. | never touched him. 1he vile
was down stare. with Der baby. crying aud
moaning / was there about half an
hour. Nobody touched him till they went
10 STROUD MIN. saw some shot sticking
IN the ceiling and reached up and felt the
holes HIS wife did not 70 up into the room
when ! was there. never heard or MS
planning OF any pains III his stomach
this TO Mr. Pollard replying TO a question:.
never knew OF any quarrels between W mar
ton and his wife. Lily sister told me that
John had shot himself. don't know that
be ever threatened suicide. / saw IN the
newspapers where his cousin had tried 70
Kill himself At Chains farm the other day.
Il. d. Barlow: 1 saw deceased the DAY
after the shooting in his coffin. Then
looked ia tho room. | remarked. "He.cer-
family killed himself" | thought so be-
cause the old man. Mr.. Owen ONeal. tod
me he WAS the first TO enter the room and
found him IN the char aud he leaned the
head Of tho deceased against the bureau
and lett him there. heard talk about the
neighborhood as TO the supposed murder.
| don't know anything else. Yes. | recoi-
lect hearing something about his feeling q
| burning in his stomach. | never heard Of
! any quarrels between Wharton and his vile.
Wharton drank sometimes. Tie was my first
| cousin.
| Charles A. Felby: heard Of the death Of
/ Wharton. When | went 70 tho house Mrs
Wharton told me, John has killed him
self" went up 10 tho room. The body
was sitting in the chair. as the other people
told you. This was about o'clock. Hi
mouth was black with powder. The nose
was split straight down aud there was Gu
on the side OF the face-!bs right side. q