The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-25
TT WAS NOT FOUL PLAY
BUT ANSNSTANcE oFsELF.mURDFp
That Wss the Result OF the Investiga,,on
"a 20 the Cause ofthe Death of John
C. Wharton--The Testimony.

"'"'' va '"N .'0 VNHu ". wharton, who
was popularity believed to have committed
suicide at his home on the Meobanic.vilto
turnpike lately, was resumed before Sopir.
frsehkon on yesterday. at the oopntv
courthouse, with Mr.. II. r. Pollard ren,e-
seniing the Commonwealth and Nh. q W
Thomas looking after the interests If Mrs
Wharton, the widow Of the deceased man
there was quite a large attendance. show
ING the interest manifested in the matter
ana the witnesses were listened 70 with at
1enton 10y the auditors. There were sum-
Iuohed the same witnesses who testified "a
Jew days since. and the additional ones
whose testimony and replies 10 ouestiopines
from Messrs. Pollard and Thomas are given
as below
Dr. Biankenship testified. was s,r,
moned TO see Mr. Wharton by ConstabIe
\ ess and viewed the body. which was sit-
ing M q chair with only shirt on. tina
head leaning against the bureau and "A gun
DetWeen the legs. ] found the upper part
OF nus head and face blown away. the ewes.
brain and skull being scattered over the
walls and ceiling ] noticed no other ininr,es
or marks. did not see any cut on his nose.
J should say that the gun was very close TO
his face. either with the muzzle in his
mouth or very near 10. The facial bones
ana forehead were shattered and the face
was biackened with the powder never
was called 90 see him before Mrs. Wbar-
Ton seemed quiet and composed. but evil
IDENTITY distressed J. L did not make a close
examination OF the room. but J think from
81 the circumstances II was a case of
suicide.
BADLY TREATED.
Mr.. T. J. Parrish testified. When 7 came
IN the house ! asked Mrs Wharton what |
was the matter with John and why should /
De have killed himself. She said that he /
had told her he was badly treated. / felt |
his pulse when i went ia the room He 1
was still warm when / entered there-about |
twenty minutes after the shot was heard /
j have known the couple for SIX years and !
never heard OF any domestic troubles be- |
tween them. but always thought them very /
fond of each other Mrs Wharton seemed |
much distressed, although she did not weep |
or cry out.
Mr. Charles Felby testified. I have known
the deceased some time, ten years OF more.
One night he told me thar he felt so mean
ne had a great mind 20 cut his throat. !
told him nonsense. ] know nothing OF any
insanity IN the family.
THE CORONER.
Dr. A. J.. Leftwich. the county coroner.
testified: l was the family physician of the
deceased and his wife. / have been there
90 al times. cay and night professionally. |
and never heard of the slightest disc0rd
between them. Mrs. Wharton sent for me
inc morning after the shooting. She was
very much Affected 10y the trouble. / had |
not prescribed for him for year. He was
nervous sort of man OF 4 melancholy dispO-
6iton. Since this occurrence ] have heard
that there was insanity in the family, though
! know nothing of 10 personally
Mrs. Wharton, with several female friends.
came into the room at this point but was
not called on % testify for Justice Frisch-
Korn lated that no had carefully looked
into tie case and was so thoroughly salts
ned that 10 was a case of suicide which was
brought on by the temporary state OF IN
sanity be was n, insanity having been prev
alout 80 bis family, that with the consent Of /
the acting COmmonwealth's attorney he |
would close the investigation and 70 exon
crate and clear Mrs. Wharton from any /
suspicion that might be entertained
against her. That lady received the
decision with calmness. She is a pleas
ing person, with evident traces of |
suffering from the late trouble she !
has been through, and was warmly con-
graduated by her friends who were with !
her. She told me that che was much
pleased with this official vlndIcatiOn of her
self. adding that she never had any fear Of
any investigation whatever, Tor she knew
she was innocent of any sort of blame IN
the matter.
She impressed me as a woman of self
control and not likely 70 give way TO her
feelings or make any demonstrations in case
Of trouble.
BELIEVE FOUL PLAY.
The uncles of the deceased were far from
pleased at the result of the investigation
and repeated to me their belief that their
nephew was tie victim of foul play. As one
of them put it He was ust as surely muir {
dered SIS ! am sure that am talking 20 you i
The other one attacked the testimony of | /
some Of the witnesses who bad Just testi-
fed and said he could prove that one mans
testimony was untrue.
As TAR as ] can learn the result was Just
what was expected, for nobody except the =
that I talked 20 seemed u have
Any sort Of q doubt but that the poor fellow =
had killed himself. So the curtain falls on .
another tragedy where the actor was "Ono I
more unfortunate weary of life :
There is much complaint around the
courthouse as 90 the way IN which DR.. Left
which serves the county as coroner. ] was 4,
old yesterday that IN this case of Wharton -
le did not come TO the house till the next ;
morning after the suicide aud in another II
.ase. the colOred man Henry h. Scott, who
ell dead yesterday. he told the people to 90 d.
ahead and prepare the body for burial and d
be would hold an inquest if necessary after =
wards. This before he viewed the body. ~
Riohmond's Share. j
Colonel W. =. Smith who has been ap- D
pointed commissioner to distribute the di-
oct tax money in the city of Richmond
mong the owners OF property as recorded |
% 500 who paid the taxes. is still kept very "
,usy IN Strengthening out the general work )
a connection with the matter. His daily 81
nail IS very large. and he is asked numerous u
uestlous in connection with the distrlbu- ca
ion of the money. To that manner Colonel
mith has been compelled TO devote nearly r
ID his time 70 attending TO the matters OF N
ther commissioners, and he has not vet A.
lad an opportunity TO attend TO his own
fairs a
The law allows him thirty days from the pi
lay OF hls appointment as commissioner
within which TO qualify The money 70 be &c
mounts 10 about "a &. 900, and be will there
ore Je com elled to give bond for $4,000. TO
,0lone. Smith expects 70 dispose of the
euerai business ia about two weeks, when
q WILL begin o. pay out the tax money ln
bis city. W.
q warrant for s82lL7G was yesterday is a.
lcd 80 Ran Iller who has been appointed he
~ Frederick county M
No c0mmi8s oner mas as yet been appoint ba
for james CITY county. but the Governor W.
ss been requested Dy q gentleman from he
.at locality TO withhold the appointment ar
lnl he has heard from tho citizens OF that m,
uuty. VINO will present the name of @
emOcrat for the Office Who viii DO accept
bic % ali.
Annual Report OF the g. and o. K. X. ca ca
The annual report for the year ending wi
ina 40 tR.2 of Al H. ingalls, president of | IA