Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-18
A SUICIDE MYSTERY.
Mr.. r. M. oosIE, or PETERSBURG,
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE IN ASTABLe.
Dspressiop, Insomnis. and Losses on
Peanuts the supposed Cause.-The
Community shoched-His Life.
Correspondence of the Dispatch)

Correspondence Of the Dispatch)
PETERSBURG, VA, october T.-This
community has received no greater shock
in many years than It did this afternoon
when the announcement was made that
Mr.. r. ~. Dobe. one Of our most promi-
nent and respected citizens and merchants,
had committed suicide. Mr.. Dobie was
beloved OF all men, was an earnest Chris
tia1. and deacon In the First Baptist
church and a successful merchant and
, the general surprise was the greater be-
| cause OF these facts. He lived In one OF
the finest residences on Sycamore street.
and his domestic relations were always OF
the happiest character. He was a COM
mission merchant, conducting business on
| Sycamore street, and his trade was very
large and generally believed to be salts
| factory one. His success was always
! such that IL seemed whatever venture he
made netted him good returns He came
down to business this morning and re-
malned at the store for several hours
overlooking matters as usual. and no one
who saw him judged that he was any
thing but his natural self. He talked with
his clerks and received visitors. with
| whom he chatted pleasantly. as was his
wont.
About II 80 o'clock ne left HIS store with
out telling his employees where he was
going. He was seen on the street by a
number OF his friends to whom
he spoke, and for some distance
| walked In company with Mr.. $. Y.
Gillian, of Dinwidde county, with whom
he talked in his usual good spirits.
FOUND DEAD IN A STABLE.
Being absent from the store for an un-
usual length of time, the colored porter.
James Rivers. was sent out to look for
him to attend to some business. Rivers
went 10 Mr.. Dobie's residence and then
| went in the rear to the stables, thinking
ne might be looking after some OF his
horses. OF which he had fine stock, and
OF which he was very fond. This was be-
tween 1:3O and O'Clock. There the ser
want found the dead body OF Mr.. Dobie
lying face downwards over one Of the
troughs. Examination showed a bullet
hole through the right temple, and large,
old fashioned army revolver was lying
beneath the trough. Rivers ran at once
back to the store and gave the startling
intelligence to the clerks. Physicians were
at once summoned. but they declared that
death had occurred fully two hours be-
fore the body was found. The muZzle OF
the pistol had been placed so close to the
temple that the ball crashed through the
head and scattered the brains on the other
side.
DUE TO BAD HEALTH.
The cause Of the suicide is mystery,
but 1t Is generally believed TO have been
due to bad health, depression of spirits
and insomnia coupled with losses on pea
nuts, OF which he had a large stock, and
upon which ne had made heavy advances
TO his country customers. And yet this
is only supposition. as his friends were
not aware of any serious financial trou-
BILE.
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
Mr. Dobie lwas born in Sussex county
on the 10th of February. 1874 He came
to this city IN 1915. and established "A COM
mission business. and has always ranked
high in commercial circles because OF
his fine business capacity and his great
integrity. He was married twice-iirst
to Miss Howell, Of Sussex, by whom he
leaves two children; and second to Miss
Saaie I.undy, of Greensville. by whom he
leaves four children. His second wife
survives him. and at the time OF the dis
covery OF her husbands body to-day was
down town.
Mr. Dobie had an Insurance of $4,000 on
his life, and always provided literally fol
his family He was a very active Demo
crat. was earnest in Christian and sun
day-school work; was liberal and charita'
BILE and a great friend of young men
He will be a great loss to the community