Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-13
HE KILLED HIMSELF.
WILLIAM WHARTON COMMITS SUICIDE
BY BLOWING HIS BRAINS OUT.
A CHASTITY Bed-Room scene-The Deceased
a Broad-strect Car-Driver-Detaiis
of the Affair.

Mr.. William Wharton. aged 30 years,
committed suicide at 6;15 O'clock yester-
day afternoon at his home, on the Mocha
nicsville turnpike about 100 yards from the
city limits, by blowing out his brains with
n shotgun.
The scene of the tragedy was the bed
room of the young man on the second floor
of his residence. and this apartment pre-
sented a most ghastly experimentation the
deed had been committed.
Wharton was street-car driver on the
Broad Street line. and returned home from
his labors Yesterday about O'Clock after
only working halt day. He had some
little unimpOrtant conversation with his
wife and removing his outer garments he
threw himself across the bed and slept
short while.
HAD BEEN TREATED BADLY.
When he awoke he called his wife and
again began talking upon trivial matters,
but subsequently remarked: You don't
know how have been treated to-day I've
been treated awful badly" Mrs. Whar-
ton attempted TO cheer her husband, but
he asked her TO go and get his gun, saying
he wanted 20 get rid Of it, and that he
would clean the fowling piece OF rust be-
fore presenting it for sale. Mrs. Wharton
told him that the gun was still bright
lv polished from the cleaning given
1t by him when he last used IT. Mr. Whal-
ton insisted that he should have the
weapon, though. and his wife went for IT:
The deceased sat upon the edge OF tho bed
and pretended to be rubbing the mount
ings of the instrument OF death, but he
was in the meanwhile talking in melan-
| choly manner TO his wife. The latter in;
| sisted that she should call some one and
| have some supper brought up for him. but
| be refused to allow her TO do so and asked
her TO 90 for it herself.
The FATAL SHOT FIRED.
As soon as Mrs. Wharton left tho room
| she heard the gun discharged and shrieked.
she said. because she felt that her hus-
band had killed himself.
The alarm attracted the attention OF an
uncle of the deceased. who, at the request
of Mrs Wharton. entered the apartment
and was first 20 view the horrible scene.
Mr.. Wharton IN semi-dressed condi.
| tion lay stretched across chair, his head
resting between the wall and bureau.
| The pun containing the empty she'll was
| held tightly IN the grasp of the dead man,
while the whole front forehead was shot
awa,. The face was turned away from
the gun.
news or THE AFFAIR.
Mr.. Whartons uncle made known the
news of the formers untimely end, and
| DR.. Leitwich. the county coroner. was
| summoned but was unable to respond.
DR.. ". II. Taylor, of this city. was then
| called. but ne. too. had another pressing
engagement Just at the time.
A corOner's Jury was summoned and di-
rected 10 make the usual investigation.
dr. +. j. England was made foreman OF
| this body and, with DR.. O. +. Blankenship,
one of Richmond's physicians 10 the poor,
the body was viewed and all repaired t.
the parlor below where few witnesses
were examined.
MRS. WHARTON TEsrIFIEs.
Mrs. Wharton. wife of the deceased, was
the first person 10 testify, and her state
ment was in accordance with what ls
given above. She said her husband re-
marked while cleaning the gun that ne had
been shamefully treated, and that while
he would not harm any one else,
he would not care straw Tor
himself. and had just as soon shoot
himself where he sat as mouse
running across the floor. She toid
of how she tried 90 persuade him 20 give
up the gun, but said she did not believe
he intended to kill himself. Mrs Whar-
toms evidence was very eagerly listened to
bv the large crowd which had assembled
She was followed by other witnesses, but
none OF them saw the man when he COM
united the fearful deed.
WHO THE DECEASED Is.
William Wharton, the deceased. was for
several years employed IN Allen d Ginters
factory, and 1t was only about
two months ago that he. on account Of his
health. it is said gave up his place there
and took a position on the street-car
line. He was said to have been a steady,
temperate man, of good moral habits. and
seems to have been happily situated as
far as his domestic relations were con-
cerned What the trouble was TO which
he referred before killing himself was not
known by anv at his house last night,
as he communicated it 10 no one. His fu-
neral will be announced later
FINDING OF THE JURY.
DIR. Blankenship was requested to make
an examination of the body. He did SO
and reported 10 the corOners jury that
the death Of Mr.. Wharton was the result
Of a gunshot- wound IN the brain. The
Jury then rendered q verdict in accordance
with the Doctors statement, adding that
the weapon was fred while IN the hands
of the deceased,