The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-02
Miss Wilkinson Ends Her Life With a
Revolver in Dr. HOge's Church.
DISAPPOINTMENT IN LOVE THE CAUSE.
Being Told by Mr. +. u. Marques Ibat h'
Could Not Marry Her, She Cared Naught
for Life. and Entering the Churcn
During Service SHOT Hsrself-Dr.
Hole Deeply Impressed by
the Sad Affair and Pays
the Unfortunate Girl
"A Tribute.


suicide Sunday evening in the infant
class room Of the Second Presbyterian
church by shooting herself in the breast
with a pistol. No affair in the annals
OF Richmond has been more distressing
than this unfortunate tragedy. and the
sad end of this esteemed young lady, as
well as the causes which are supposed
TO have led up TO IL. were generally as
cussed yesterday by all who were IN any
way acquainted with the circumstances.
The shooting occurred at ten minutes
Of 7. Just before the close OF the regular
evening services.
While the choir was singing the third
verse Of tie closing hymn. Arise My
Soul, Stretch Every Nerve number OF
the members Of the congregation dis
tlnctly heard an explosion i'm the rear OF
the church. but, thinking il was the
slamming OF a blind. or some outside
ncise they We're not disturbed by IT,
This was, hoYever, The report OF the
the classroom, within twenty feet OF
where Rev. Dr. Hoso the pastor. stood,
unconscious of the tragic death SO near
by.
At the close OF the hymn. Dr. Hoge i'm
press ivcly pronounced the benediction
and. while talking 10 some OF the MEM
bcrs )f his congregation, slowly made his
way towards the infant-class room. where
ne is accustomed ID leave his hat before
entering the pulpit
THE BODY DISCOVERED.
Mr. s II. Halves. who was by his side.
opened the classroom door. ard, being
attracted by the smell OF fire. be looked
ts. f...f.. ID.
Wilkinson lying n the floor with the
'ront part of the body of her dress on
Re from Tie powder OF the pistol. which
So placed against her breast when she
fir the fatal shot Mr.. Hawes eXtin-
Suiacl the smOuiderlng fire. and called
| 90 ttncrs near by.
\ lrso ragged hole, i'm the centre of
| her D. asst showed where the ball hal
entered IL ranged 10 the left however.
and pierced the heart. and when assist
aucc gee bed ner she was beyond human
| aid
Tho wolnon used was an old-fashioned
! Colts arinr revolver. 32-calbro. and WAS
| later Identified as the property OF Miss
| Wikinsou's hr0thcr-iu-law. Mr. Edgar =.
anderson. ari, when found lying I'm the
noor several feet from her fallen body. u
had TWO chambers empty, though only
one ball took tn-ct. II more than one
was fired.
Although most Of the congregation had
dispersed before The young woman WAS
discovered. the news spread rapidly ana
the scene was very distressing.
pE. HoGE DEEPLY AFFECTED.
Dr. Hose was deealy affected. ana
greatly touched When Doe found what
had happened. lie took Miss Wilkinson $
hand in his lap. and Oilcd her name
several times. and weptovcr her as he
sadly viewed her wounde, body. He zee
marked 90 those around hin that she was
enc of the best girls he even knew.
Coroner Taylor WAS summ,ued, and bee
ing i'm is office only a sho.- distance
away. ho was quickly on tne spot. Af'ec
casual examination and htaring the
testimony of those acquainted with the
facts. ne expressed the conviciitu that IL
was case OF suicide. and lcemtd an in-
quest unnecessary.
DR. HOge, in company with Scvcral
momters Of his congregation. wen. I'D
the home of the young lady S parents
10 break the sad news 20 them. Nine
blow was softeu,d as much as posi- le
by the statement that she died suddenly.
and. i'm order To save the deep distress
TO her mother. who was very ill. Dr. Ho@
had the body taken - his own residence
and every trace OF the tragic character of
her death efaccd before II was removed
10 her parents home. and it is stated that
her mother is yet in ignorance OF the
cause OF her sad end.
The young lady who So rashly took her
own life. was "a peculiarly sweet and low
able character. She was a teacher In tine
Sunday school. and for years was one OF
the most ready and earnest workers IN
every cause that tanned 10 the church.
l4.r ~ fri
ana they have nothing but good words
FOR her She was accomplished and in
tellgent. and Of the most sp0tless Chris
tian character. ana her sad death caused
deep anguish among her family and
friends. and much sorrow in the church.
ana the community.
WHY sHE WAS Wary OF LIFE.
The only cause assigned for the taking
OF her own life was morbid state Of
mind growing out q the unhappy cOndi-
tons existing between herself and Mr.
Ernest Il. Marques, who had been uni
tormly attentive 10 her for many years
The relations between them were
recognized boy the friends Of both parties
and members OF the congregation. ana
II had long been understood that they
were 10 De married.
1t is said that when Mr.. Marques con
nected himself with the firm of Andrews
4 Baptist. printers. IN January. lsJ2. hi.
partners understood although he did nor
mention the matter 10 them. that he
was 70 be married in the fall Of thar
year.
Some time ago. however. 1t is alleged
that he broke of the engagement auo
told Hiss Wilkinson that he never OK
pected 10 marry. He had frequently ex
pressed desire 10 devote his life 3,
evangellst.c work. He has been conucc,
cd with band Of Christians in thi.
city who believe .n a second blessing
that brings them greater power from The
Holy spirit ana this belief he is said 10
nave constantly urged her TO accept. ami
that when she failed 10 embrace these
religious views he told her that whit
ter spiritual condition was so differert
they could not be happy together. All