The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-24
MR.. DOBIES SUICIDE.
NEWS NOT MENTALIT REsFo"Si'
BILE FOR THE ACT.
rn,.,. the View which His Pastor or'
Battle, Ably Presented in His sermon
suuday-sure Deceased Is Saved

PETERSBURG, VA
c,oi -Despite TIE very inciement "ea'''''
q ,arre congregation filed the lecture room
., the First Baptist church yesterday
,roroing. TO hear the sermon OF the pas
TOR Rev. II. w. Battle j. D.. In which
he gave his theory OF the death OF MI
r. n. Doble who committed suicide mere
a few days ago. Or. Battle began by
saying he did not propose delivering
funeral discourse. as tho funeral sermon
had been preached. and he would not be
guilty Of such discourtesy to his brother
pastor as 20 attempt another. Nor ala ne
desire this 20 be regarded as a memorial
service All he proposed 10 do was 10
refer incidentally TO the terrible occur
renee and give his convictions as pastor
and intimate friend upon the catastrophe
This much ne felt he owed TO the hVlhB
and the dead. lie selected as his text the
first clause " the 18th verse OF ls2lah'
Come now and let US reason together'
saith the Lord"
Then followed one Of the speakers
ablest and most effective sermons upon
the dignity Of the human reason. lie dls-
cussed. In connection with his theme the
effect Of the fall upon the God-glVen
faculties OF the mind and the influence
the Influences Of the present-day life
upon the nervous energy and came nat
urally to the subject Of supreme interest
20 his cougregatiOn-the death OF Alr.
j.. NJ. Dobie.
Dr. Battles Remarks.
In speaking Of the tragic affair DR..
Battle said. among other things;
Il submit 10 a thoughtful and justice
loving people that X. NJ. Dobie was not
himself when he fired the fatal shot on
the morning Of the 18th instant. and this
righteous verdict from the tribunal OF
public sentiment l both invoke and an
ticipate. No man ever had a more de-
voted wife or swecter children, and ne
cherished them with all the pride and
affection OF his noble heart. No man
ever had more appreciative friends, and
he reoiprocated their esteem in unstnted
measure.
mol MOI 1t must be that the sudden
phantasy so oVerpowered the mind as
10 set at naught the conclusions OF its
better judgment. the principles, the
faith and the hopes which had been the
souls support and guide. DO I believe
he Was saved? DO believe Hugh Miller,
who taught men TO bcw and worship God
as they read His handwriting on the
rocks, and whose pistol shot sent n thrill
OF hCiror through the civilized world. was
SAY ed2 l am morally sure of it. 10 is
reason that makes meE responsible. and
when that Godgiven monitor vacafes her
throne. the Recording Angel lays down
his pen. He weeps in pity. not I'm censure.
when Brother DObies lfe-clock struck
the midnight hour. his Eternity's sun
rose clear and beautiful, and the Savior
stood revealed in the morning light on
the shore"
Or. Battle closed by saying. these are
strange times. This is an electric age.
We are rushing on. Oh. friends. 1 beg
you realize that he who lives without
Christ lives in vain"
Adminlstrators Qualify.
In the Hastings Court this morning
Messrs. II. Il. Davis and i. A. Hartley
qualified as administrators on the estate
OF Mr.. Dobie. and gave bond I'm the
penalty Of $4,000. Their bondsmen are
Messrs. Augustus Wright, Simon Seward,
Alexander Hamilton, y. y. Vaughan, w.
i. Williams and r. B. Hartley.
The following gentlemen were appointed
appraisers TO appraise all the personal
property of the deceased: Messrs.
Bartlett Roper. S. s. Bridgers, Bernard
Mann, Il. S. Seabury and --- McCalib.
Mr.. Hartley said to-day that no one knows
what Mir. Dobie's indebtedness amounted
10 or what Ia due him. as no examination
whatever had been made Of his books
or would not be until tonight.
Other Petersburg Matters.
Deputy Sheriff John T. Parham slipped
and fell yesterday morning, while in the
act Of getting on an electric car. and
eprained his ankle in such manner that
he is now compelled to walk with
crutch
Rev. II. NJ. Hope. pastor Of the Market
Street NJ. u church, and his Worlds
Fair party will leave here tomorrow
morning The party consists of Charles
Lunsford and wife Miss Laura Jones,
Miss Lou Digger, Miss NJ. +. Manson,
Misses Hinton, Miss Jones, Of Brunswick,
Or. O. S. Williams, Mr.. L. NJ. Hobbs,
Miss Maggie Turner Mrs. j. T. KirlSham,
Mr.. George Thompson, Miss Nettie Smith,
Mr.. A. +. Lee, Mrs A. L. Whitehurst,
Mrs. Robert McCandlish, Miss Ellen
sedgewick, Miss Florence Balm and
Miss Page Nichols.
Mention has already been made in this
correspondence of the trouble existing
I'm the Third Baptist church, colored in
this city, and the appointment by Judge
j. Nj. Bernard of new trustees for the
church. These trustees met yesterday
and organized. but took the precaution
10 have several police officers present
10 prevent trouble. The order of the
court appointing the new trustees was
read and accepted by the old trustees
The latter however refused to surrender
the books and papers OF the church until
ordered 10 do so by the court.
Intelligence was received here to-day
OF a very sad occurrence in Amelia
county yesterday. 1t appears that Mr..
Wiggan, a former resident Of the North,
and mis- wife and two children were in
the act Of crossing n swollen creek on
a plank when the plank suddenly broke
and precipitated all of them into the
stream. Mr. Wiggan succeeded In saving
himself and reseuing his wife and one
child. but the other child was carried
down by the swift current and drowned.
The north-bound Allerton special. due
here at II A. NJ, was several hours be-
hind schedule time to-day. The delay
was caused by washout at some point
south Of Weldon.
Mr.. ID. A. Taylor. OF Richmond. is in
the city.
A DAHJGE SUIT