The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-12
SECOND ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
Charles S. Madison, Of This City, Com
mtS Suicide on q Train.
TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF BEFORE.
lie Wa. Of a Melancholy Nature-Wrote n
Despondent Letter to The Times and
Attempted suicide the Next Day.
succeeded on a q. aud q. Train.

In a ft Of chronic, mcianchoia, Sharics
| & Madison OF this city, committed sui
eide bv shooting himself through tho
| head while on a chesapeake and ONO
train going South, near WILLIAMSBURG.
An unsigned letter 10 lady was found
on his person, telling that the deed was
contemplated.
Charles 5. Madison was well-known IN
Ricbmond. where he lived with his Wild
owed motbet Mrs. Lucy Madisot No.
500 north g'Nenty-scventh street. lie was
a timer bv trade, having az one time been
am efficient employee Of the john Bowers
establishment For recent weeks, how
ever he had been without work and was
much given to meiancholia.
WROTE TO THE TIMES.
II v,ns duriug one Of his melancholy per-
lods mar ON the 18th Of June last he in
dited the following letter to The Times:
Richmond, Va, June IS 81.
TO Whom 10 May Concern;
God being my judge / have done all
In my power 10 DO what was right but IL
looks as II the very God in Heaven had
forsaken me try as hard as / might every
thing went wrong L nave been out or
work the most OF the time and that has
most robed me Of my mind although my
so called friends gave me no credit for
ANYTHING hut laziness but be that as 10
may / could have bourne all Of this but
there are some things that 40 one CAN
stand.
And now 1 would Ike 20 say to those
that knew me I'm this life 10 think as good
of me as they can and if they know no
good 10 hold their peace and say no
harm. but let the dead rest I'm peace.
The Bible says we must hope on. but
il also says that hope deferred makcth the
heart sick, and l have lived on hope for
seven long years only 90 have hope after
hope 10 vanish until az last am forced
20 give up the fight and say though 1
fail have done my best
FOrsaken by those that once professed
to be my friends. bafiied in everything l
try % do looked down upon 10y loved
ones. frlendless and alone. with no one
10 confide in. with no hope here or here
after. Ny life looks dark. and IL has
been so dark and lonely for six years
now. that ! will try and get a little rest
across the river.
And now Good Bye 20 AN Of my friends
that care 10 wish me Farewell and may
none that ever saw my smile ever know
what il hid. May God I'M his mercy spare
every human heart the pain that mine
has had 10 bear.
II may do some heart good 10 know that
1 have known happiness in the past six
months if only for "a little while and may
God bless the one that gave it to me
even though 4 cannot
Good Bye
q. $. MADISON.
Richmond Va, S2} y. q ST.
When tho next day after writing this
letter he was narrowly prevented from
killing himself with revolver. by officer
j. g. krouse. his .eed was attributed
TO mental alteration. induced by drink.
FINED FOR THE ACT.
lie was aned by Justice Cwtchheld both
for drunkenness and the carrying Of con-
cealed weapon. and in default OF payment
spent thirty days in JAIL
Madison. who was tWenty-scyen years or
age his last birthday. had before his SUE
cidal attempt experienced no trouble of
any sort and his mother. who attended
the trial. seemed 10 think that hc had
been out of his head.
After his release Madison had conduct
ed himself uprightlv in every respect all
though De persisted in his moody habits.
90 the distress OF his family.
He had procured odd Jobs from time
10 time and "a kindly neighbor once had
about secured position at the Locomo-
tive Works for the young man. but for
some reason he failed 90 appear when
| the position was open % him.
For the past several days, unknown 20
his mother. who is visiting relatives in
King William county he was occupying
the position Of nurse 10 "a sick man ON
Marshall street. and used % spend his
"on' time az the house of his sister. Mrs
Mems. 40 2405 east Marshall street
The position of nurse Us except lnallv
trying TO melancholy temperaments and
his sister thought Of writing to his moth
or concerning young Madison's work.
| but be pleaded SO hard that the sister
thought better Of her Intention inasmuch
as the work SO Tar had not seemed TO
LAST HEARD or HIM
Only Tuesday evening NE had spoken 20
Mrs. Mems in contemplation of enjoy
| ing the morrow, as Doe was To- receive zen
dollars for his work az nursing. That
was the last heard Of him by his rela-
! tives until a reporter for The Times con-
viewed the sad intelIi-cuce 10 the pleasant
Mems household ~ tho brothers sui
cile.
Two sisters OF the suicide were present
| and the news affected them greatly; ne
was spoken Of as I'D loving SON and kind
| ~ brother against whom there was nausht
| but his moody tendency.
Ii seems that yesterday afternoon he
| had purchased "a ticket for Norfolk al the
| Chesapeake and Ohio cnice. tie seemed
| to Doe under the influence OF liquor Wheh
| be took the 3.35 o'clock trliu south.
Just after the train bad passed Toano,
| while in the first-cll-s coach. ne was seen
| 90 pull rcy0lvcr from hl+ ppchet aild
| to fire "a bullet into his head behind his
LEFT AT WILLIAMSBURG.
| He was taken f0 Williamsburg. Wncf'
| he expired az O'Clock la-i evening. TT.
| a. W, T. Brock who was ON the train
gave attendance until death cusucd. after
| which the remains wore turned over lp
am undertake. az NllHa mshure from
where they win he conveyed home this
Nf'Jig,, ,,.buc on tho train. pavo out