The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-12

A LUNATIC A SUICIDE.
M TOOk ENOUGH POfsON TO DE.
sTROY TUOOR TBREE DiS.
The Deed Was Committed WITH the Most
Preston, Of Abingdon, Va.

Quite a sensation was created at No.
l5Vt Ross street last night between ) and
y CLOCK. when "a man, believed TO be
ROBERT X. Preston. or Abingdon. Va,
u9s more recently Of Williamsburg.
whence he escaped from the Eastern Lu-
h&bc Asylum. took enough morphine and
Afterwards.
Preston was evidently a lunatlc Of the
desperate Kind, aud determined TO end
hic career. RE went about IL IN the most
deliberate way. 80 that two or three doc
tors could not counteract the effects OF
the deadly drug.
1t was about noon yesterday when he
appeared at the number named above and
inquired OF Mrs. Peek. WHO keeps some
furnished rooms for rent for quarters.
lie told her his name was A. -. bradley.
aud that he was from Staunton. Nhil0
hesitatng few moments a. TO whether
or not she should let him have "a rOon
Mrs. Peek noted the mans appearance
and manner.
'''' A HANDSOME FELLOW.
lie was about six feet high, well pro-
pOrtlOncd and weighed about l.O pounds.
lis dark eyes dark complexion ana
moustacbe gave a picturesque look 10
features regularly formed lie WAS
handsome man. such as would attract
attention In a crowd Ills manner ap-
peared 10 Mrs. Peek 10 be a trlhe ncr-
vous, and he hesitated In rather con-
spicuous way to answer any questions
about himself
\ bargain was soon agreed upon. and
the man as given one OF two unoccuyied
rooms ON the third ii0Or. servant SRI
occupied a small room next 10 MN lie
paid in advance for one days lodging,
aud about hair an hour afterwards lett
the house saying be was going out 10
walk around and take a look at the city.
Mrs Peek remarked 10 her boarder.
Mrs. Johnson. that she did not Ike the
unusual glare in the mans eyes, bur
that he was so gentlemanly IN manner
and appearance she could not refuse 10
let him have the room. lie had told her
he would likely want lodging about Two
days. though he was not sure about the
time.
POISONED HIMSELF.
The unfortunate man returned about
o'clock. remarked that he had gotten his
dinner at Bannisters. and later stated
that he wished TO 80 10 his room ana ne
down; that he was quite Ill. He was told
that his room was ready Tor NM anu
he went up and got in bed. shortly al.
terwdrds the servant girl came doVn ana
told Mrs. Peek that the man was breath
ing hard "a gentleman who boards az
the house and occupies room on the
second floor was requested 10 30 up ana
see what was the matter. He did 80,
but found that the stranger was In a
comatose state He told Mrs. Peek and
Mrs. Johnson, who also went UP 10 see
what could be done for the unfortunate
man: that he as about TO die, ana tnat
he must have tried TO kill himself.
Or Benjamin Warriner was summoned
from 81. Luke's Hospital, and after see
ing the sufferer, administered ah anti
dole This failed to bring the man
around and the ambulance was sum-
moned Drs. Branch and Lyme came
with the conveyance. and did everything
TO arouse the man, but without avail.
They found i'm the room on the mantel
a vial containing morphine. ana also
chloral The symptoms OF the sufferer
and the deadly drugs together toid thc
sad story. ...,.,>,,
ATTACKED THE DOCTOR.
After working on their patient Tor quite
a while Urs. Branch and Lyme concluded
to carry him TO the almshouse. W heh
near Tenth and Breri streets the unsot-
tusnato man applied some strong splsnvts
10 the doctor and tried 70 get out OF tho
vehicle. II required all the strength or
the physicians 10 keep the man ffom leap
inc out OF the ambulance lie attacked
Or Branch i'm all his strength. ana De
fore the man could be qulcted De dled
in The ambulance from the effects or the
drug. an,
Or Taylor viewed the remains, ana WIZ
hold an Inquest to-day u the case shoNlu
Justify such action on his part
on the mans person were iound letters
addressed TO Robert X. Preston. care
Or James H. Moncure. Williamsburg;
va" These letters were post-maIkth
Abingdon. Va" One OF these was from
Miss Mamie Gldersleeve. who. Preston
said. was a cousin OF his.
DR. Moncure IS the physician III cnarke
of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum at VII
Iamsburg. ard It is believed the man VINO
killed himself is an escaped iuhstic'