The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-08

Salem, August 7.-(Special.) -Hon.
G. M. Webber committed suicide here
this afternoon at about O'Clock. Mr..
Weber had been left alone at his
house for short time, when the neighs
bors heard the report Of a pistol. A
little boy OF Daniel Preston ran down
to the corner of the Allen block, near
by, and cslled Policeman Johnson.
Mr.. johnson entered the house and
found Mr.. Weber dead in his bed. He
was still holding his pistol in one hand,
the barrel resting between the thumb
and forehnger of the other hand. The
pistol had been placed far back In his
mouth and discharged, so thst the ball
passed upward through the brain, caus-
ing instant death.
Relatives living in Salem were notified
and telephone message sent to his son,
Frank Weber, en- employee OF The Roa-
noke Times. Coroner j. Ii. Camper
was summoned, but decided that 1t was
q clear case OF suicide and no inquest
was nee eesary.
The deceased had been under the in.
fuence Of opistes great deal recently
and it is supposed was under their in
fluence at the time Of his suicide.
The funeral will take place at
o'clock to morrow afternoon, and the In
serment will be in East Hill Cemetery
with services at the grave.
MIR. Webbar was born in Augusta
county in 1910 and WAS therefore in the
57th year Of his age. When he was six
years old his family moved to Green
brier county, in what is now West Vir-
ginia, and Ii was here that ss q boy he
learned the printers trade. He became
known as one of the fastest typos in
Virginia, after running races with other
fast typos and never being beaten. The
civil war breaking out Mr.. Weber en-
listed in the Confederate army and left
his native town with the frat company
organized there.
The company was commanded by
Capt Robert Doris and formed o part Of
the famous stonewall brigade at the
frat battle OF Manassas, Mr.. Weber
WAS severely wounded In the side. 1t
was just before Jackson's famous bay.
onet charge when his brigade were ly-
ing fiat on the ground in order to allow
the near approach OF the Federals be-
fore the charge.
During the third year OF the war Mr..
Webber was in Salem for short time
and was married to Miss Mollie White
sell, OF this place. He had not LETT the
army, however, but served during the
entire war, at Appomattox.
The war being over Mr.. Weber set
tied down in Salem and established the
hrst newspaper ever published in Roa-
noke county. the paper Icing called the
Roanoke Times. He remained in the
newspaper business until 1888. during
that time being connected with several
different journals. In the latter year he
sold outso his brother, Frank G Web
Der. and Charles DENT, and the two pa
pers then published in Salem were con-
solidsted into the present Times. Reg
lister, edited by DENT g. Weber.
Mr.. Weber served for q number of
years as justice OF the peace in the
county and In 1878 WAS cleo ted to the
house of delegates to fill out the unex-
pired term Of Judge Blair. In 1878 Mr..
Weber was elected sergeant at.arms
of the Virginia senate and served in
that capacity for two years. For eight
years after that he served as sheriff of
the county, and in all his public offices
discharged his duties feArlessly and
we'll. For several years before his
death he had owned and conducted q
drug store ON West Main street. For
about year he had been an invalid and
had seldom been able 10 leave his
house This morning he was seen on
the street about six O'clock, being
wheeled about in chair. Mr.. Weber,
in the early part of his life, was o
Democrat, but afterwards became O
Readjuster and then Republican. He
had expressed his desire. however,
recently 10 vote for Bryan and Sewall
this fall.