The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-10-09
DEATH By HIS OWN HAND.
ID. Il. AVERA, OF SNITHFIELD.
SUICIDED AT THE MARLBORO
yesterday.
The Deceased a Wealthy Farmcr-Nt
one Time Member of Raleigh
Commercial Circles.

The announcement early yesterday |
morning that MIR. D. B. Avera, of Smith /
field, at one time member of the Raj |
eigh Chamber of Commerce, and an in |
tlUential cotton buyer in this market,
had committed suicide in this city, crea-
ted great excitement, and the news
spread rapidly over town and county
until the occurrence was known and re
gretted by all persons, young and old.
MIR. Avera was an esteemed citizen.
jovlal in social circles, straightforward
and honest in business, consistent as a
man Of many good qualities. He ar
rived in Raleigh on Wednesday last, and
on Friday disposed of forty-one bales of
cotton, though rad made no collections
on the same. Further than this his stay
here was in completing business en-
gagement in which there were large inter
| ests involved the sale Of cotton mostly and
contracts for the season. All day Friday
he was going to and from his headquart
ers at the Yarboro attending to his mat
tiers, apparently In the best of spirits.
He had large number of friends here
and he was seen frequently at intervals
conversing pleasantly aud socially in his
accustomed manner. In the early even
ing, Friday, he was in the Capital Club
with friends at 8 o'clock, p. m, having
eaten oysters in the restaurant Of Gierch
and StoneDank, on Fayetteville
street, short time before At
IL o'clock he was seen on Fayette-
vile street conversing with friends AS
nationally as he ever did. Here, how
ever, he was lost sight of and was not
seen again until 3 O'Clock yesterday
morning. Policeman Beaseley was
making his usual 3 o'clock
beat on Fayetteville street, when
to his CONSERVATION, Mr.. Avera, near
capital square, approached him in wild
manner, apparently weeping, and claim
ing that foes were after him, asking the
officer for protection. He showed signs
of needless wandering and had burrs on
his cloths, as if he had been going
through an old field. Mr.. Beasley took
him to the station house, where he
showed signs of being demented the re-
mainder of the night. When Capt
Heartt, the chief of police, arrived at 1
a. M, DR.. Mckee was Immediately sum
moned. Mr.. Avera was taken to his
room in the Yarboro House. The doctor
was at the door of the room talking tc
the bell boy; Mr.. Avera was in bed
Suddenly a noise attracted attention. Mr.
, Avera had pulled the cover over his
head. A rush to the bed developed tn,
fact that he had suicided-severed hi
jugular vein with his own pocket knife
The wound was stab, and made
I quickly and with nerve. Death resulted
in two minutes. He was taken to Brown
undertaking establishment, where tn
body was prepared for interInent. Ii
e the afternoon the remains were taken T.
e Christ church, where they will remai
e until taken away for burial. The oC
Y currence was as unexpected as 1t wa
sudden.
e Mr.. S. F. Telfair and David Avera, "a
. uncle OF the deceased, went I
$ Smithfeld yesterday morning to motif
S Mrs. Avera, who is a daughtt
= of the late Governor Fowle. ST
will arrive to day through the cOuI
try. The parents of the deceased al
rived yesterday. He was forty five yea
old; for ten years was member Of ii
firm of Parker & Avera, this city.