Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-12
DIED FROM HIS WOUND
MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE OF j. {.
MELWAIs. AN ONO FARMER.
HIS REMAINS CARRIED BACK HOME.


self through the head on the West-pOuhu
vestibued train of the Chesapeake and
/ Ohio railway at Clifton Forge on Thurs
/ day night died from the effects Of the
wound at O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
His name was James g. or ,. {. NC
Elwain, and he was a farmer, residing
near sewelsville. Belmont county, o.
At the time of his rash and violent at
tack upon his own life. McElwain's IL
year-old daughter was in the. seat just
! back Of him. McElwain was about %
years of age. and bore evidences Of being
a plain. hard-workng man. The gir Is
an ignorant lass. and those who saw
her say she bears a striking likeness to
| her father
More or less mystery surrounds the case.
| The couple arrived here on the train from
the West over the Chesapeake and ONO
| Tuesday evening. and meeting police
man. asked him where they could get
| room. The officer directed them 10 the
! Chesapeake and Ohio restaurant, No. l0J5
/ east Broad street. of which Mr. }. Lee
| Davis Is the proprietor, and there they
engaged room. and the man registered,
IS. c. McEiwain and daughter without
saying where they were lOHl' AHN
strangers attracted a great deal Of at
tention. and the man appeared TO be
greatly troubled about something.
CALLED AT ONE or THE HOSPITALS.
Early Wednesday morning the strangers
Geft their clearinghouse and went up
town They called during the forenoon
at one OF the leading hospitals of the CITY,
aud McElwain explained that the con-
l ff. ..fs
wanted 10 make arrangements to nave
her cared for there for five months. lie
asked for the rates and when the phy-
| sician i'm charge furnished them the
Obioan made a calculation. He was anX-
ions 10 remain in the institution with the
Girl but was informed that he could not
do this. as it was a hospital, not hotel.
After some further figuring the stranger
said ne would see what he could do. Inc
couple left. but returned again
i'm the afternoon, and then there
no. ~ further conference between Nc
L,Iwain and the doctors. The hospltal
authorities began to suspect that the
STRANGER was a little unbalanced in his
mind The reasons for placing the girl
in This sort Of an institution for this
neriod were made manifest, ana Nc
I,iyvafn was advised by the surgeons at
the hospital that he could get board III
the vicinity very reasonably and wouid
be thereby enabled to see much ot MS
daughter.
Taking leave for the second time, Nc
Elwain said he would call again il ne
porfected his arrangements. The eX-
nonse of the hospital care of his daughter
was a little more than he cared TO pay.
lie and the girl went from the hospital
ia a boarding-hOuse on Clay street, where
they remained overnight, and on Ihurs-
dav afternoon left the city on the 10
train over the Chesapeake and Ohlo'
having purchased tickets TO CharIesloh'
w. Va. 1t is presumed here that lney
had started back home, ana intended
cbareinq TO the Norfolk and Western
road at Charleston.
rrot-GI4T 4 MOB WAS AFTER HIM.
All the way up TO Clifton Forge so
ether passengers on the train say, Nc
EIvvain showed signs OF being intensely
aoitated. lie would eye the others IN
the car with the most inquisitve and
/ anpreheusive sort of expression upon his
cOuntenancc. He told the conductor OF
tbe train. Captain Wright. that persons
were after him TO lynch him, and several
times remarked to his daughter that
two men I'm that car were watching MN
with "a view of destroying MIN. his
conduct was exceedingly strange ana
/ "A hen MeEI AlIkDH J. Ol ~ NfA9 A'tAN'''t
he appeared 10 be exceedingly nervous.
The girl was asleep behind him. The
train had only been standing few
minutes and the crews and engines were
beirg changed when McElwaln suddenly
drew a revolver from his pocket. and
placing the muZzle TO his right temple,
! fred a bullet into his brain. He never
spoke afterwards
The shot aroused the slumbering girl,
| and when she realized what her father
had done she was horror stricken. The
weapon used was a 32-calibre British bull
| dog. McElwain was removed 10 the walt
ing-room OF the depot and physicians
we're summoned. Drs. Miller and
Hughes responded and did everything
rossible for the wounded man. but he was
bevond the hope of being benefited
b,, human skill. The injured stranger
and the girl were taken in charge by
the kindly disposed citizens of Clifton
FORGE. and at o'clock yesterday after
noon. the man died.
Immediately after the shooting the girl
sent a telegram TO an uncle in Ohio,
advising him of the unfortunate affair.
HAD BEEN TO WASHINGTON.
The Dispatchs correspondent at elf
ton Forge interviewed Miss McEwain
Yesterday Just after the death of her
father She said she was the only enid
in the family. and that owing 10 a
family disagreement the father and
mother were divorced. the latter having
custody of the child The mother resided
ON a farm near Middlebourne. Guernsey
county. o.. about eighteen miles from
where the father lived. The latter paid
occasional visits TO his family but the
breach between them could never be
healed. About three weeks ago Mr.. Nc
Elwain wrote to his daughter, and in
response to his request. she came after
him with a buggy. They then repaired
to the home of the mother. and after
remaining there a few days the father
and daughter started on trip 10 see
tho country. They went over the Bal
timore and Ohio road 10 Washington,
and from there came TO Richmond. The
voung lady said her father had been
nervous and i'm bad health for several
months but that il had never occurred
TO her that ne medtated self-destructiOn.
The girl says the unfortunate man was
weU-to-do in the world, and had ample
funds with him; that he was strictly
temperate in his habits. and a member
of the Presbyterian Church.
The remains accompanied by the
daughter and Undertaken Staley. were
sent home yesterday evening.
The Hibernians' Social session.