The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-15
SUICIDE Of YOUNG
LADY |N.C|7Y PARK
Miss Lottic Matthews Found
Dead With Empty Pistol BY
Her side.
FROM HOME ALL NIGHT
Mystery About the Cause, But is
Generally Accepted As
Suicide.
FROM HOME ALL NIGHT
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.)

Especial to The Dispatch.)
LYNCHBURG. VA. February H.
the dead body OF Miss Lottte Matthews
the elghteen-ycar-o daughter of w.
Frank Matthew's. president Of the Lynch
burg Grocery Company. and we'll
known citizen. was found early this
morning in Rivernont Park, three miles
from the city, with a wound In the right
temple. which had been caused by n
thirty-two calibre revolver The pistol
which she purchased at local store
yesterday afternoon. was found at her
side with nll five cartridges fired. The
young lady was discovered by her sister.
who. with two friends were scard-
ing for her. she having been missing
ON her home since late yesterday az
ternoon and they we're the first To- dis
cover her in n deep ravine In remote
part OF the park.
DR. Davis. the county coroner, view
ed the remains and summoned jury OF
Inquest. and the jury which was in ses-
sion for four hours, adjourned at n
late hour, until o'clock tomorrow
morning.
Case of Suicide.
There seems to be no doubt but that
the ease rs n suicide. but no evidence
has been ndduccd yet to show the cause
for II.
She had stated, 1t was testified, that
she intended killing herself The Young
lady WAS N strlkingly handsome girl.
and vas popular with Il large circle of
friends
The discovery of the remains caused
sensation in the city. There are several
circumstances that look as though the
case Is not one OF suicide. and the corner
expects to hold an autopsy late tonight
for more light
The incident has caused the widest
kind Of rumors and speculations on the
street from the first report Of the find
ing OF the body. but nothing has develop
cd Up TO n late hour Tonight, that will
admit OF any other conclusion but that
the whole affair has the appearance Of
n well planned suicide: one in which
the plans were. carried out apparently as
Intended by the young lady.
A Love Affair.
Ono OF the rumors that Is generally
accepted is that the young lady was IN
love with n gentleman whom neighbors OF
the family objected to.
II is said she left home yesterday about
three o'clock. About four she purchased
the revolver at Main Street hardware
store, asking the, clerk for pistol that
could he used easily. When this was
found this morning all five Of the shells
had been exploded. this giving rise 20
suspicion, of foul play. 1t Is believed,
however, that she fired the first shots 10
test the weapon, and turned the last
10 her temple.
Some of those early on the scene de-
clare there were evidence of a scuffle,
but this correspondent. along with DR..
Davis, the county coroner. could see
nothing out of the ordinary.
Dr. Davis believes the skull is fractured
in the region of the wound. but attri-
butes this probably to the effect of the
ball
@ Hands Blackened.
Her hands were badly blackened in
side as If discolored by grasping solid
club or the like, but this was probably
caused by her deasi struggle on the
ground. which had but lately been burned
over by fire.
The family OF the young lady is pros
trated by the tragedy and strong efforts
have been made to keep the matter from
the local papers, and 1t Is very hard TO
secure any real facts other than much
of the. speculation that has been brought
out at the inquest.
1t is understood that several of the
Jurors hold to the murder theory. but
that commemorative Attorney W. NJ.
AIlrrell thinks it n plain case of suicide.
At any rate most searching invests
CATION is being made and more facts
may be brought out tomorrow.
BUCKINGHAM COURT.