Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1894-11-23
Suicide of Rev. vsnDevsnter.

hc UuCic community III duu
around Salisbury was terribly shock.
ed on Friday afternoon, last. when
word reached that place that Rev. p.
ID. VanDeventer. well-known citi-
zen, of near Salisbury, had commit
ted suicide by cutting his throat
with a razor. As soon as possible
our Salisbury correspondent went
out and learned the following partic-
,ilars:
The deceased was in Salisbury in
the forenoon and left for home about
II O'Clock, arriving there hall an
hour later. he ate q light dinner
and asking his wife for q writing tab
let left the table and went up stairs.
coming down q few moments later,
when he left the house and weut to-
ward the orchard. A short time af-
ter he left, his wife noticed that he
had failed to take his overcoat, and
called her brother-in-law, DR.. A. NJ.
VanDeventer, to take 1: to him.
Taking the overcoat the latter went
across the orchard to q tenant house
(now temporarily used as an apple
house), where he found bis brother
lying on the floor, dead, and q
stream OF blood running across the
floor, coming from his throat. DR..
VanDeventer gave the alarm and q
crowd soon collected. Squire Henry
Hayes, in the absence OF the coroner,
held an inquest over the body, the
following gentlemen constituting
THE JURY:
W. r. Sweeney, Joseph Breiten-
book. o. F. Winn. Thomas McDon-
aid. C. j. Via and j. w. Johnston.
who. after hearing the evidence, re-
turned q verdict of suicide.
In the vest pocket of the deceased
was found the following note, with
out date.
"MY DEAR WIFE: Farewell. Be
true to God. The troubles of this
world are more than / can bear. !
ask the forgiveness of all that Ihave
wronged. May we meet in heaven
Give my love to the dear, sweet chill
dren, and rememember that / have
been and will be lied on, but for.
give. Yours in love.
p. d. VANDEyENTER.
p. ST. leave my pocket-book up
over the door,"
The pocket-book spoken of was
found on the floor beside the body
and contained $27 in currency and
S14 80 in silver. His throat was
deeply cut on the right side and the
bloody razor with which the deed
was done was found lying on q bar
rel near him. His neck shawl lay on
another barrel and his hat still on
another. showing that he went
about the work OF self.destruction in
a very deliberate manner. After
short funeral services at the house,
the body was taken to Florida, Mon.
roe county, for burial.
The cause of suicide was mental
alteration. For many years his
friends have known that his mind
was not exactly balanced, but be
was q man OF fine sense, scholarly
attainments, and an eloquent
preacher. For number OF years he
belonged to the conference OF the M.
E. Church, South, and filled many
important charges for that denomi-
naticn. Later he identified himself
with the "Holiness people" and
preached for them occasionally till
his death. He leaves a wife, three
sons and two married daughters in
easy circumstances. He owned q
splendid farm in eight OF Salisbury
and one of the best orchards in that
community. He was a good citizen,
universally esteemed, and his domes.
tic relations were Of the most pleas
ant character. He was 56 years oi
age and about % years ago was
united in marriage. to Miss Lizzie
Chowning, daughter of DR.. Chown-
ing g,one cf the most noted physicians
in Monroe county, who survives him
as his widow. We cannot close this
hasty sketch without saying that fol
open-hearted generosity, even-hand
ed justice. kindly sympathy, stric'
integrity, purity of moral character
and uprightness OF purpose, in oul
humble Judgment. no man excelled
that of p. ID. Van Deventer. Lik