The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-06-03
A Sad Ending of a Young Mans Life.

Last night, a few minutes before 8
o'clock, the sound of two pistol shots
were heard on the campus in her rear OF
the Patrick Military Institute, and imme.
diately following loud groans were heard
bv the people living near the south side
of the campus and By one or two cadets
occupving rooms on the south side OF the
barracks. l.. E. Norryce, W. s. Haynle
and others rushed out of their homes In
the direction where the pistol shots and
qroans were heard. In the meantime,
Several of the cadets had rushed out OF
the barracks with q lantern, and IN n
hundred yards of the barracks and just
in the rear Of the Institute building,
found Cadet r. Clarence Reeves, of Will
liamsburg County. 8. c., lying on his
back on the ground gasping for breath,
with his pistol, with two cham bers emp
ty, living near his right side. Capt. j.
NJ. Patrick was soon on the ground, and,
as it had began raining, the remains were
placed on a cot and carried into the bar
racks, AT thesame time physicians were
sent for, but the unfortunate boy had
brea,hed his last before his comrade s had
reached the barracks with his body. DR.
J, C. Harris was the first physician to
reach the barracks and was soon follow
ed by DIR. Nsrdin. They examined the
BODY and only one wound was found,
which was on the left side about three in
ches below the nipple, or more directly
under the arm pit. On the right side,
but e little above the entrance OF the ball
on the opposite side, the ball was found
lodged under the skin, having passed
clear through the body.
Magistrate Featherstone was sent for
and Immediately summoned a Jury q
proceeded with the inquest. All the wit
nesses examined ~corroborated each other
in their testimony, and the jury found a
verdict to the effect that the deceased
came to his death by his own hand,
either accidentally or Intentionally.
The young man was about II years Oh
age and was one of the most popular ca
diets OF the Institute, all of his comrades
speaking of hino as a generous, noDle-
hearted boy. He had told several OF his
comrades that he would be in his grave
in less than six months, but they consld-
cred the assertion as q joke.
While it is against the rules of the In
stitute for the cadets to own or have a
nisto) in their possession, the deceased
had managed to keep his concealed from
the officers. The pistol that was found
by his side was identified by his room
mate as belonging to the deceased. 1t
was a 32.calibre, self-acting, and two
chambers were empty. The ball extra
ted from his body fitted the pistol. DR..
Harris testified that the ball bac evident
" gone through both heart and lungs.
The deceased was l%eft-handed, and 1t 10
supposed that the second shot was tired
in the air by the contraction OF the mus
cles of his left hand, caused by the wound,
as he was falling to the ground.
The young man ate a hearty supper at
100 pm. and seemed to be in his usual
good humor up to the time when ne was
last seen alive. He left his room in his
shirt sleeves and wearing nothing on his
head, telling his roommate that he
would be back in q few minutes.
Several motives for his self-destructlon
have been mentioned, but there is moth
ing definite about them.
His remains were shipped to his home
this morning, under the escort of Capt.
Hardin, of the Institute.