The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-22
LAY DOWN IN NAT
Mysterious Suicide Of an Unknown Man at
RsWpprl RsEs.
LIKELY AN EASTERN SHORE FARMER
Collector Elliott Receives Ellis Conn"
mIssion-Suii for Heavy HninngrH-
Two business Failures Probable
Case OF Murdcrous ASsnuIt-Appnr-
entity mn Attempt nj Arson.
Especial Dispatch to The virglnian.>
Nswport News, Va, October q, 1897.

Newport News, Va, october q, 1897.
4 white man about 30 years Of age.
whose name. from papers found upon his
person, is believed to be Martin Harmon,
committed suicide this morning be-
tween and 10 o'clock by drowning in
shallow water ut the foot Of Thirticth
street.
a boy, whose full name could not be
learned but whose christian name is
Douglass. observed the man as he went
down the decivity from Warwick Park
to the strand and walked deliberately
into the water about twenty feet. reach
hlg a depth of three feet, and lay down
IN The water and soon disappeared be-
meath Its surface. The alarm WAS given
to a lad named Hazel Stencil. who
went to the spot and sawSthc ntin float
Ing In the water about fifteen feet from
the shore. Wnding Irl he took hold OF
an arm and hauled the ifclcss body
ashore. whore 1t lay for several hours.
until Coroner's jury could be sum
Toned.
The body was clothed like u pros
porous farmer in a black suit. with Il
pair of grey pants over the black ones
In his pockets were found 4 gold watch
$li In cash and the above mentioned
papers, which proved to bs receipts from
an officer Of NH l. O. O. +. Lodge on the
Eastern Shore. Excepting I mustachc
thc luce Oh inc ucCehScu was Sl1lCGtn
Shavcn. He had blue eyes and dark
hair, mixed with grey. The deceased
was Of robust stature about five feet
eight inches in height. and his hands
and face had the sallow appearance
common to farmers and fishermen
No Information reiativc to either the
r''n's business in this city Or his men
tai condition could be gained.
RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION.
The receipt by Mr.. ]. w. Elliott, Col
1cctor Of Customs, of his commission to-
day has put a quietus on the wIanglers
who opposed him In this city. II may
safely be said that the business is DONE
sd far as this plum is concerned. and
the kicking throat Is put of tune.
BIG DAMAGE SUIT IN PROGRESS.
The suit filed some time ago by e
w Mllstcad. administrator of the es-
tate of Walter Eastman, deceased
against T.. T.. Finch and wife, to-day
came UP for trial. Walter Eastman, n
contra ctor. while working on the Finch
block. which he had contracted to build
about n year ago, received injuries from
falling scaffold which resulted In his
death. In the suit brought by the ad-
ministrator $4,000 damages are asked.
~ jury was empanneled for the trial
OF the case. to-day, the plaintiffs being
represented, by, Boykr, & Lett and Bick-
ford and Stuart and the defendants by
Meredith aEd Garrett, the former OF the
defendants counsel being the same who
achieved nOtorctyin the famous Culver
ius murder case.
TWO ASSIGNMENTS.
There were two business failures In
this city yesterday-Georgc Calling,
proprietor of the Gatling Pharmacy,
whose assets are about $4,000, and the
grocery firm OF Bowry & Norman, whose
pace of business was at Twcnty-nint n
street and Washington avenue.
Several cases of drunkenness and dis
orderly conduct were tried in the Police
Court to-day
AN UGLY FRACTURE.
a man by the mIame of Muller, who
haiied from Toledo, O., and has been
mere several months on business having
purchased some valuable real cstnte on
washington avenues. wus found stretch
Ell at run length on Warwick avenue.
unconscious and bleeding from Il dan
gerous looking cash in his head. Null
Ter was taken to the Statiou- house
where his wound was dressed l., is be-
lefeu that he was assaulted bv thugs.
VINO attempted to commit robbery hut
We're frightened away by pedestrians
from the Chesapeake and ohio dnnot
AS soon as the unfortunate mlan rcrains
CONSCIOUSNESS the case will be invcsii-
gated.
ARSON ATTEMPTED.
The CLOSETS OF the residence of Mrs