The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-02
Mrs. Whites Letter.

New Orleans, La, October 27, 1905. Mrs. J. J. Dickson. Birmingham, Ala.
 My dear afflicted friend Accept an apology from me for keeping you so long in suspense but I have been trying to get MT. Dicksons things together On that dreadful night the police sergeant took possession of his revolver. I have sent three different times for it, but they kept putting me off and finally said they would not give 1t up. That is why 1 delay ed so long, Tonight his grip will be ex- pressed to you with all that belonged to him except the revolver.
 MT. Dickson came here on the 9th of August and said he only expected to be here few days. 1t was his intention to go out by way of Atlanta a week later. He was taken sick with heart trouble and was i'll about week. By the time he was strong enough to leave, Atlanta had quarantined; so he was cut off there He would have been forced to go north to get out of here Then came on a second attack of heart trouble, worse than the first. He was quite i'll and be- came very much alarmed about him. self. He would not let me write you. saving he would be better next day. He had physician and asked me to notify the lodge so that some one would be sent to sit up with him. He could not bear the idea of being left alone The physician found him very weak It re- quired much longer time to regain his strength the second time he was sick. but after he recovered he said he was ready to leave the next day Prior to the terrible night, he was in the best of spirits, and seemed to be happy oyer the fact that he was well again. He was of a quiet temperament, and his happiness was all the more noticeable. After pack Ing his grip, he said that he would de- part the next day, and that he was going home. He bade every one good night and went up stairs He came back short ly and asked me for my machine oil can. A revolver was in his hand at the time. l gave him the oil can; then he told me of the shade catching on fire in his room, few moments before he came down stairs. It seems he had opened window and the wind, being very strong that night, blew the shade over the gas jet, which was on the window frame
 After getting the oil he went back up stairs. l returned to the parlor and had been seated about twenty minutes, when l heard the report. We rushed to his room, which was unlocked. On opening the door we noticed the gas burning very high. and on the floor. in the center of the room, lay MT. Dickson. I rushed to him and tried to get him to speak, but he never said a word. One of the board CTS ran out and phoned doctor, but an ambulance was summoned and he was carried to the hospital The students With the ambulance pronounced the wound fatal. As the telegram read, that is the first one. the sergeant and the corporal of the police force and the stu dents all came together They were all satisfied that it was an accident The papers had everything upside down, and the letter said to have been left by him on table was nothing more than an empty envelope addressed to you All that were present in the room saw that 1t was only an envelope. I used the ad- dress on 1t to send the telegram.
 MT. Dickson died at the hospital at II 30. the accident happening about e:S0 D. m. l notified the lodge here, but 1t had re- ceived notice from the Birmingham lodge.
 You will find enclosed in his grip a story he had written for one of the mag azines. and everything that belonged to him with the exception of the revolver and the clothing he wore when he was taken to the hospital. Yours sincerely, MRS. B. 10, WHITE