The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-23
A VERY STRANGE SUICIDE
Mr. Finch Swallowed Morphine
and Dies in the Station-house,
He Got Into Il Cab at 1890 p. m. and
two Hours Later he was Dead.
Detailed Story of Most
Mysterious Case Of Self
Murder.

Mysterious Case Of Self
Murder.
Charles Nj. Finch died at police
headquarters last night Doath was
the Result OF nu overdose of morphine
aud Judging from the events aud Incl.
dents Of tho tragedy Fiuch swallowed
the morphine with suicidal intent.
Bnt tbcre IN no disputiug tho fnct
that tue caBe Ia enshrouded in mystery.
Midway between tho houra OF and 4
lnst,night Finch walked into CONNER
cial Place and Rddessing colored
hnckman named Dozier said:
al want you to give mo n ride, and
I'll give you Sl.5O If you trent me
right"
The hackman. after n moments hesi.
tntion, told him to got into tho hack.
Finch was in bran new suit of grey
chevlot, aud Dozier "sizsd him IN"
Tor prosperous yonng business man
who was bent on making night of 1t.
AS Finch climbed into tho hack he
snid:
Take me first to Barnett'a tin store
IN Main street. aud after that | want
to see the girls.
The hackman did as lie was told
Finch only spontn moment or two in
the tin store and then returned to the
hack. Do2ier drove him to Wolf streo,
nni stopped ut one or two houses, but
thcy were not TO Finch's liking, md
he did not got out. At last the huck
stopped in front of the house occupied
by Florence Lamont and Finch got
out.
servant answered his ring and
allowed him to enter. The servant
did'Dt know him, bnt sho ushered him
into the parlor and ut his requeat no &.
titled the inmates.
She saw Finch stagger across the
room and drop into chair. She
madeup her mind thnt the man was
drunk and iutlmuted as much when she
called the women.
For moment or two the man was
alone in the room. Just what Finch
ala during this brief interval 1t is i'm
possible to state. but this much is Ger.
tain. when the women made their CID.
penrnnne The mnn's head was resting
on his breast aud lie waa moaning.
One Of the girls shook him aud he
raised his head nud said:
"l'm sick and | want to go In had -
Tho girl saw tint his face was ns
80 NJ" t"hl MS lips were
purple. HIS eyes were set, aud his
breath came in quick, short pasps.
She gave the alarm aud hurried to
the dining room to secure some ice.
Meantime II servant hurried to police
headquarters and notified the sergeant
on duty. Two officers ran TO the
house. On their arrival they found
Finch in stupOr.
One Of The officers took the derby
hat OF of Finch's head and two ounce
bottle fell to the carpet. Tho officer
looked into his hat and 10 his updis
guised surprise found that the space
between the band aud the hat was
filled with white powder.
This Is morphine" they exclaimed,
They tried to rouse Fitch from his
ssupor, but failed. Then they took
him TO headquarters in the hnck spd
sent for the doctor.
In remarkably short time Drs.
Spaight. Rufiian, Shepherd and Lee
arrived, but fuiied to save the man.
and about 10 o'clock he died.
The police found in one of the
pockets OF Finch'a coat letter in a
woman's handwriting dated Saginaw.
Mich., and signed "Clara."
For reasons best known, the polioe
didn't allow the reporters to inspect
this letter.
Strange to relative the police could
not or would not give the Norfolk ad
dress of tho dead man. They said that
they understood that the man had
been in the employ OF Steve Kelly, the
main street laundrymen, and that he
Ctlnch) lived on Mariner street
Later IN the evening Mr.. Kelly in.
formed the reporter that FinoG had
lived IN Saginaw, Mich, until about
month ago and that he had been in
heliy's employ until about week ago.
The deceased's father, according to
MIR. Kelly, Resides in New York Slate
and is very wealthy.
Finch's body is now at divers nm.
dortaking establishment. Coroner
Charters will hold an inquest this
morning.