Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-01
A SUICIDE MYSTERY.
me. JOHN @. MASON, OF FReDERIcks-
BURG, TAKES HIS OWN LIFE.
s..na,,v nefore n Mirror Hc shoots Him.
self Through the Templs-Had "ade
His Will-His Lite Insured.
,s,..,., ,s,ssrsm 10 the Dispa,ch.I

FRrpynrcKsBuBG. Va, February 2s.-ine
community here was greatly shocked this
afternoon by the announcement that Johh
G.. Mason, a prominent citizen ana an aoie
LAWYER. had committed suicide AZ MS re-
sidence. and on investigation the report
was confirmed He was first discovered
by Mr.. II. II. Carmichael anu MI r.. y.
Smith the former having gone to MS resi-
dence about IL o'clock to see him on busi-
ness, and finding the house locked went
for Mr. Smith. who, before going to the
house. visited several places where ne gen.
orally freauented. Not hearing awning
of him. they obtained key, ana on az
irving at the house unlocked the 'front.'
door and went 10 his room. where tney
found the gas burning brightly ana Mr.
Mason lying on the floor dead.
ApIsToL SHOT.
DrA. C.. Doggett, the coroner was I'M
mediately notified and a coroners Jury
consisting Of Messrs. A. M. Garner, W. t.
Halsey, W II. Merchant. George Wroten'
/. r. Reese. ana G.. A. Walker were sum-
moned who. upon visiting the house.
found the deceased lying IN front OF ms
bureau. face downward, with lis rlgnt
hand under him. while IN the right temple
was a wound On raising the body there
was clenched tightly IN his right ha,a an
old fashioned Colts revolver OF 5Z-caiiore
with which he had committed the deed.
II was In evidence from the position In
which the deceased was found that he was
standing before the glass when he took
his life. and from the appearance OF the
body he had been dead for at least eight
hours. lie was attired in his night CLONES,
and IL il supposed he killed himself early
this morning.
NO CAUSE FOR TIE DEED ASSIGNED.
The last person with Mr.. Mason was Mr.
John Scott Berry. who visited MN yester-
day evening about o'clock. Dir. Berry IN
his testimony before the cOroner's jury SAID
there was nothing in Mr.. Mason's action or
conversation that Indicated he was tue
least respondent or intended 20 take his
life.
MADE MS WILL.
Mr.. Mason was also seen about o'clock
by the waiter ut Dannehls Hotel who car
ried his supper to him. and was on the
streets Saturday afternoon and yesterday
morning apparently in good health and
with no signs of dependency. He left no
paper OF writing of any kind why he com
mitted the act HIS will made some time
ago leaves the bulk of his estate TO his SIS
ter, Mrs. Lucy A. Webb, OF washington.
He also has sister living in Augusta, Ga,
Mrs. Alexander.
TWICE MARRIED.
The deceased was 81 years of age, son
Of the late DR.. Mason, of falmouth, and
was twice married. neither wife surviving
him. His first wife was Miss Boteler. of
Shepherdstown. w. Va. and his second
Miss Roberta Murraugh, daughter Of the
late Rev. F.. G. Murraugh, Of this city,
aud by neither were there any children.
lie graduated in the law class at the Uni
versty of Virginia IN 1859, and first pracc-
ticed law in Caroline county. afterwards
in King George county, locating IN this
city IN 1872. In 1880 he was elected Com
monwealth's Attorney, and reelected in
80, 'sl, and 'S6.
GALLANT SOLDIER.
During the late war he was gallant
Confederate soldier, and first enlisted in
cavalry company under Captain Swarm and
was afterwards captain and alde-de-camp
on the stan of General ). II. Maury. Tie
was also member of Maury Camp, of
this city, and his remains will be inferred
with the honors of that Camp.
Mr.. Mason was a generous, whole-souled
gentleman, and his sad and untlmely end
is source of sorrow to the entire COM
munlty. His life was insured for 5000.