Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-13
HAD FRIENDS HERE.
youug Preston Identified as a Member
Of a Well Known Family.
MS REMAINS TAKEN TO ABINGDON.
r,,. Deccascd n Member of "a Well
known virginia Family, and Gave
IFS Wind became Unbalanced.

The remains Of Mr.. Robert X. Preston,
vh5. as told in yesterdays Dispatch, took
10Th choral and opium IN boarding
touse on Ross street Thursday evening
and died while being taken to the aims
house. were sent last night to his home.
g, Abingdon, for intorment.
The body was identified yesterday by
s,veral friends OF the deceased. The first
nerson to visit the morgue at the aims
house where the body lay was Rev. Mr.
Cbumbley. pastor Of Westminster Pres
bvteran church. OF this city, who was a
cass-mate OF Mr.. Preston at HamDden-
sydney College. Mr.. Chumbley immedi-
ately recognized the remains Of his for
msr follow-student. and OF his own ac-
cord sent a telegram 20 Mr.. II. A. Preston.
Che father Of the deceased. who lives at
Abingdon. In the mean time the body had
leeu Identified by Dr. George Ben. John
s.on and DR.. Nash. OF the williamsburg
Hospital Coroner Taylor also viewed the
remains, but deeming an inquest unneces-
ay. turned the body over 10 the friends
for burial Acting under the instructions
q Ur Johnston, Undertaken Joseph Laube
removed the body at II o'clock TO his es-
adjustment, and last night the remains
len boy way OF the Norfolk and Western
road for Abingdon, where the funeral will
take place to-day.
Mr. Preston was member OF one of the
best families in the State. His father
Mr r. 4. Preston, IS Superintendent II
ihe public schools or Washington county.
Dc was n scholarly man. bis mind first
booming unbalanced while he was study
Ing law AT Hampden-Sydney. This caused
him 20 leave his studies. and he was
placed In the asylum at Marion. Of which
a.s cousin. Or. Preston. is superintendent.
Remaining at the hospital in Marion for
tome time. he was discharged as cured
and returning to his home gave promise
f retaining his mental faculties. Mr..
Preston rendered valuable service in res
rl.ng property from a fire In Abingdon
ast winter which completely Frustrated
hin. the nervous strain being too mucn
For his strength. Since that time he hal
never been sane, and he had been I'm the
Williamsburg Hospital for several
months. when ne slipped away early
Thursday morning and came 10 this city
De had received some money early in the
week. and il Is supposed that he chose
bis first opportunity TO secure his liberty
This he had little trouble In doing. as ne
vas gwen the privilege of the yard. not
being considered violent. Arriving in this
Pity nothing is known of his actions with
.he exception Of "A conversation in the
street with friend and what was seen
n him at Mrs. Peek's boarding house.
While on the street he met Mr.. Pelham
BacNord. agent OF the Maryland Life
Insurance Company who is a lifelong
friend Of the Preston family. Mr.. Black
Ford talked with Mr.. Preston. but noticed
n9thing further than that the latter look
d very III. He told Mr. Blackford that
ae had been I'm Williamsburg. but did not
mention the fact that he was an inmate
az the asylum.
4 telegram was received late Thursday
afternoon by the Chief Of Police from DR..
a. ID. Moncure. superintendent Of the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum. asking him TO
look out for the man. whom he described
as Preston, and who. he said. had es-
lped that morning. II was learned yes
'arday that Detectives Gibson and Hall
were within two doors of the house I'm
which Preston took the poison when they
were informed Of the fact that he had
,1st died.
Deceased was a close relatives Of Hon
ballard Preston, and was one Of six chill
cren. He was . years old. and weighed
over 200 pounds. He was quite a hand
some man. and had rather an aristocratic