The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-10
DEATH OF MIR. JOHN L. MAFrrTT
Accidentally Shot Himself Sunday Az
ernoon Was for Many Years q
Prominent Business Man Funeral
Held Yesterday.

0&A1 -
citizen Of Wilmington. accidentally
shot n killed himself Sunday after
room at his home, at the corner Of
Fourth and Nun streets. The sad
news was a shock to the entire COM
munity and the fearful accident is deep
" deplored by every one. Mr.. Maffitt
was prominently connected with the
interests Of the city for many years and
at the time of his death held a position
IS travelling salesman for MI. j. Allen
Taylor, wholesale grocer.
The only witness to the unfortunate
affair was his wife. and her statement
made to the ~coroner's jury best tells
the story of the terrible tragedy which
occurred in her room She said that
after dinner her husband came into
her room, bringing a waiter On which
was her dinner he was in good spirits
but seemed tired n excited, as he
had been often before. He had had
fever lately, but had been better for
the last day or so. He seemed worried
about going away or a UP for his gro
Gerry house. He walked over to a cabi-
net and picked up an old pistol. which
he intended carrying with him. Sud
Qenly the pistol went off and he fell
to the floor. When he picked the
weapon III and began flourishing it
around, she screamed that it was load
ed n cooked. He had told her that
he was going to take her pistol OF his
next trip. The pistol had been cooked
for some time.
AS soon as the pistol was discharged,
doctors were summoned and the fol-
loving came at once to the dying man:
j. c. Shepard, T. s. Burbank, r. j.
Price and A. H. Harriss. But from
the first it was seen that nothing could
be done. The ball-32 calibre-entered
bis head. just above his right ear and
went in horizontally, but ranged down
ward before its force was spent.
DR.. r. ]. Price, the coroner, empanel-
led the following jury: Messrs. w. a.
Wilson, Thomas A. Wright, j. w
Murchison, E. P. Bailey, John M.
Wright and Clayton Giles, Jr. Their
verdict was, That the deceased came
to his death by the accidental discharge
CT u pistol in his own hands"
Mr.. Maffitt was As years old. He was
the son of the late Captain John n.
Maffitt and his mother was the widow
of Lieutenant Reid, United States Ma
Wy, Captain Mafftt's second wife. Ms.
Herbert Borden, and Miss Mary Reid,
o fthis city, are half sisters of the de-
ceased, and DR.. r. l.. Mafftt, of New
York, and Mr.. Clarence D. Maffitt, OF
this city, are half brothers. His wif~
who was Miss Sallie b. Ounce, an
three daughters, Mrs. w. c. Arm
strong and Misses Maria and Sarah
Maffitt, aged II and 6 years, respective
~, survive the deceased
The deceased was for twenty-one
years travelling salesman for Adrian
& Vollers. He then went into the
wholesale grocery business with Mr.,
JOhn Corbett, noW a resident Of VIII.
son. The name of the firm was Maj
fit & Corbett. The firm was after
wards dissolved and Mr.. Maffitt re-
turned to the road as a salesman again
He was at one time with the Mallory
Cheroot Company, of Durham.
The deceased was a member of st
James Episcopal church, also a merI-
Honor. He was for years a member
of Wilmington Steam Fire Engine
Company No. 1 (Volunteers), and was
the first contributor to the Second
Regiment Band when organized nine
years ago.
The funeral services took place yes
terday afternoon at ST. James Episco-
pal church, Rev. Robert Strange, D. D.
officiating. The services were attend
ed by a large cOncourSe of relatives
and friends. The hymns were by g
special choir. The following were pail
bearers: Honorary, DR.. w. ]. Love
and Mr.. j. A. Taylor; active, DR.. j. II
Durham and Messrs. E. P. Bailey, j
e. Crow, J. w. Murchison, r. G. Cant.
we'll and w. A. Martin. The intermenr
took place at Oakdale cemetery. Beau
tiful floral ibute were placed upor
the grave by loving hands.