The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-13

pearance, also received the Information
shortly after Coroner Goette left for
the scene about 1l:30 O'Clock, and was
soon followed by Drs. Drummer and Won
Ezdort They. We're accompanied by dI-eu-
tenant G. 3. Maher. OF the revenue cutter
service and Treasury Agent Macatee, VINO
had been instructed by the department to
investigate the missing lnan s disappear
ance.
The body was found in the deep woods,
A short distance south of the cemetery,
ard notfar from the shore of the river.
1t will be remembered that the 1lrst au-
tnentic news received of DR.. Tabb after
his disapp earance was from a negro VINO
knew him, and who met him at The Boil
ton-Street Junction shortly before noon
of the day he disappeared. He exchanged
some words with DR.. Tabb and inquired
where he was going. The Doctors reply
was that he was going out into the
woods. 1t is supposed that he took the
car there and got off at Bonaventure. The
keeper of the cemetery recalled yesterday
that he had seen a man who Answered DR..
Tabb's description walking through the
cemetery about noon Of that day, and
that when last seen he was going to-
wards the gate OF the south side OF the
cemetery. A road leads from this gate
down through the woods. He probably
followed this road for a short distance
and then turned off to large oak tree,
beneath which the body was found
He had evidently left the city prepared,
and with The full intention of putting an
end to his life. A large bottle, labelled
'.chlorofor1n,'' was found lying near the
body. Whether this or some other drug
was used is not certain. a bottle of a
poisonous tincture, which had been among
the medical stock at the Marine Hospital
Office, is missing. and it was the absence
of this bottle which first led DR.. Tabb' s
friends to think that he might have com
mitted suicide. The physicians who saw
the body were doubtful if chloroform had
been used, thought this might easily have
been done. The dead mans coat was un-
der his head and the sleeve was lying
] across his face. Coroner Goette's theory
is that after preparing himself for death
he pulled the sleeve across his face. emp
| tied the bottle of chloroform upon him
| self, and then sank into Inconsistencies.
1t is ma tural to suppose that the sui
| eide was committed on the afternoon OF
| the day on which he disappeared The
| condition of the body justified this belief.
| The body was easily identified by the SER
| vice uniform trousers. the light gray coat
| and vest which he usually wore when not
| in uniform, the hat which lay by his side
containing his eyeglasses, and other evil
| dences. There was also a letter Ia his
pocket addressed to him, but unopened.
1t proved to be of no importance, however,
| except as an additional means OF ident-fi-
| cation A small pocketkn:fe and ten cents
| in cash were found in@one OF the pockets
| It was noticed that two small birds eggs,
J probably those of wfippoorwill, were
/ lying in the hat beside the spectacles 1t is
supposed that they were gathered by the
| dead man as he pursued his fatal Journey
= through the woods
| The spot was an ideal one and not in
appropriate for the deed. and was evil
IDENTIFY selected with view to seclusion
! and determination to keep the manner
| of his death a secret as far as possible.
1t is secluded spot, surrounded by thick
woods. removed from the ways of travel
and seldom visited by any one. The char
/ acter Of the foliage is much the same as
that Of Bonaventure and the moss covered
branches OF the oaks gave 1t the same
funeral aspect. It's proximity to the
| cemetery may haye suggested its peculiar
| ftnVss for the deed.
After satisfactorily identifying the body
the party left Coroner Goette in charge and
returned to the city. AS 1t was plainly a
case OF suicide the coroner decided that
! 1t was unnecessary to hold an inquest.
Last night ha removed the body 70 his M