The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-02
NEWSOF THE STATE At LARGE
Richmond as the Centre Of Virginia
Gossip and Events.
The Distressing Suicide of Miss
Minnie 3. Wilkinson Who Chose
the Infant Class Room Of Or.
hoge's Church as Her
Death Chamber.

RlcHMoSp, VA, July 1.-The most
distressing suicide TINT has ever oc-
CURED in Richmond, was that yester-
day afternoon, at about GAS O'Clock, OF
Miss Minnie B, Wilkinson. 1t occurred
In the infant clnss room, at DIR. Hoges
church. This young lady had attended
the service, md during tho singing of
the final hymn, left the auditorium
through one of tho rear doors. Tho
infant class room Rdjoins. Before tho
singing was over persons in the all.
dience heard sound like that of pis
tol, but they mistook it for somo sound
IN the street. After the bonediction
MIR. s. FL. Hawes went iuto the ad
joining apartment, aud there dls.
covered Miss Wilkinson lying upon
tho floor gnsping for breath. The
clothing about her bosom was bur ming
slightly. Doctors were called. bnt she
was dend before they arrived. DIR,
Hoge was Que OF the first persons to
view the dead body, and lie wept over
1t as n child. The pastor went away to
break tho news to the family, nnd
Coroner Taylor came md viewed the
remains. lie doomed un inquest I'm
necessary. Miss Wilkinson shot her
self little to the right Of her heart.
Sho used IN old fashioned army pistol
which belongs to her brother in. law,
which she concealed in her clothing
wien she loft home. The cause of the
suicide was morbid grief over the man.
ner in which MIR. T.. B. Marguess had
treated her. Msrguess is proprietor
OF Job printing house. n nephew
of DIR. Hoge aud lives with his uncle.
He is about 3S years old md she is "a.
They have been engaged for ton years.
As the story COOS, MIR. Marques has
lately become almost O fanatic on tho
| subject of religion and told her ho had
determined never TO marry. but to
give his life to evangelical work. lie
has always been rcligiously inclined.
For few weeks past he has been on
gSgcd ct the ynrions mlsaions and has
| taken part in tho street services. Miss
Wilkinson has been very sud for como
ten days sld her family woro uneasy
| about her. She went to church in the
| morning and was quite cheerful. MIR.
Marqness was singing in the choir al
| the time the Indy killed herself. He
had left before the act was discovered,
The young lady was of spotless chnr.
actor, highly accomplished and popular
with all who knew her. She wasa
daughter of MIR. Bon jamin T.. Wilkin-
son, long identified with the auction
houses of this city, and was sstor of
the late 4. ID. Wilkinson, who was sec
rotary OF the Y. NJ. Q. A. of Richmond
when he died. Her mother ls com
plotely prostrated. The funeral takes
place to morrow afternoon.
1he Board of Public Works began
| lis session TO day to hear argument in
the matter OF assessing railroad aud
steamboat property for taxation.
Nearly every company was represeu
ted either by officers or counsel and
some by both. One of the first oases
taken up was that Of the Atlnutic aud
Danville. Hon. w. a. Fentress, of
Portsmouth aud President B. Newgass,
argued in favor of q reduction from
the lsst assessment. Others wore pres
cnt to oppose this. The Baltimore and
ONO line came next and claimed
that the Virginia lines were not paying
ut present, aud that the taxes shonld
be made lighter. u aOther companies
were heard, but most all of them would
get III their pleas to-day. 1t will be
some time before the board can com.
piete the work. us many papers will be
submitted, and will have 10 be exam.
med. 1t il not likely that there will
be any matcrial changes In tho schod-
ulo