The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-08
FIRED TWO BULLETS
into HIS own BRAIN
suspecting the Captain, left him alone
HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED.
Continued from First Page.>

suspecting the Captain, left him alone
while he went to the hall to getshis meal.
HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED.
It is supposed that Captain Bigger, as
soon as Henry left, entered the barn,
for in only a short time after 81 group
of veterans, not far from the scene OF
the tragedy. heard two reports of a pis-
tol in rapid succession come from the
direction of the barn. They hurried to
the building, and as soon as they en-
tered smelled powder smoke. They be-
gan a search of the stalls and in the fur
thest north, on the left ksand side Of the
barn, they found Captain Bigger seated
upon a stool with his head bowed upon
his breast and an ugly wound In the
left side of his forehead. lie gasped as
they approached and expired. The revolt
yer with which he committed the deed lay
at his side with the cartridges in two
chambers exploded.
The body was stretched upon the straw
covered floor, and Coroner Lorrimer
James was Immediately called to view
| the remains. His autopsy revealed the
fact that Captain Bigger had held the
weapon with his left hand, the use of his
| right hand having been impaired by an
injury to his arm received during the
| war, and had fired two shots, both ira
| versing the same path, entering at the
| left temple, coursing upward through the
! brain and emerging at a point about three
| inches above the right ear.
THE FUNERAL TO-DAY.
| The body was prepared for burial by
| Mr.. Bliley and ths funeral will take
| place from the Soldiers Home Chapel
| this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Tho veterans
of the Home, the officers of the First
Regiment and perhaps the Blues Asso-
citation will attend. The pall-bearers will
be from the Home veterans and the
following detail from Lee Camp will at
tend: f. j. Bosher, David a. Brown. Jr.,
James T. Gray, Joseph W. Thomas,
Greer H. Baughman, John Murphy, "A.
0. Jones and William NJ. Evans.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
CAPTAIN Charles Purcell Bigger was born
in the city Of Richmond on the 10th day
| of May, 1910, in the old homestead of
| Chief Justice Marshall. A rather pecu-
La, coincidence is that Captain Bigger
| was born on the anniversary of the Blues.
and was christened in the famous punch
| bowl which was owned by the company
| and was afterwards destroyed by fire
in the old Spotswood Hotel, which stood
| on the corner of Eighth and Main Streets
| At the firing of the first gun at Fort
| Sumter Captain Bigger was officially con-
Tected in the postoffice here under his
| father, Colonel Bigger, who was post
master for twenty years when the office
|
| Immediately resigned and enlisted in
| the war as first sergeant of the
| Richmond Light Infantry Blues. He
| c.,r tinued in the service Of his
native State and that of the Confed-
! crate States until 1864, when he was Sc
! yerely wounded in front of Petersburg.
| while in command of the Blues, to which
| position he was promoted by order OF
General Henry A. Wise, Confederate
| States army. His command was known
| as Company A. Wise's Brigade, Forty
/ Petersburg that Captain Bigger had his
right arm shattered by 4 shell. The sur
seons wanted to amputate the arm, but
i the veteran refused to allow the opera
tinn, and thus saved the member, which
!. was of some service to him afterWard.
After the war Captain Bigger was con.
I nected with the st. Charles Hotel, and
tho City Almshouse. He conducted the
ST. James Hotel for a short while. and
nine years ago became commandant of
l the Soldiers Home.
Captain Bigger was married in August,
/ 1866. to Miss Sue Crittenden, Of Peters
burg and he survived her by seven years.
william a1a tnrf Thomas aaagR.
and Charles P. Bigger. Jr., and Misses
Rebecca, Bessie and NIaude Bigger. Mr..
! William Bigger is a resident Of New
York city. He will arrive here to-mor-
i row morning. Captain Bigger was a
brother of Colonel John Bell Bigger. VIII
liam J. and Thomas Russell Bigger, all
OF whom preceded him to the grave. He
has four sisters .living-Mrs. B. II. Ladd
John w Jackson, Of Fluvanna county.
and Mrs. Charles Manson, Of Columbia
| S.. G.. The last two have been telegraphed
for and are expected 70 arrive this morn