The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-29
PHYSICIAN DIES
BY HIS OWN HAND
DR.. Charles Culpepcr, One Of
Norfolk's Leading Doctors,
Gives Way to Broken Health
HIGH IN HIS PROFESSION
Was Man OF Large Means and
Prominent Connec.ions-Mar-
ried Richmond Lady.

Especial 20 The Tirnra- uiar1frh1
NORFOLK. VA. December 2s-Dr
Charles Cuipeper. one OF the most nro-.-
iuent physicians OF Portsmouth a mem
Der OF a prominent family. and a man os
varied interests and large means. was
found dead In his office on Middle street
lnis morning. with bullet wound ia MS
Hgnt temple. large bottle OF wool
alcohol. with part OF its contents gone
vas found on the floor beside him.
The body was discovered by Ellen Jack
SON the colored janitress. who had nurred
0.e doctor when he WIS an infant when
En-. went 70 clean up the ONCE al 7.30
CLOCK Il was then cold ia death rfe
apparently having been extinct fo- AZ
least six or seven hours
Noooly heard the "a tai shot. which il
y DeieFed was fred about midnight The
doctor was Last seen by friend near he
once as late as 20 O'Clock last night lie
WIS then on his way IL is believed. 20
commit the fatal deed
Broken Health"
On a large For Rent sig, nr C,1-
PEPPER mad given the reason Tor his rae,
acl- IN characters. recognized fnstan.i,,
ny those familiar witk his handwrfftrg
out written IN Hand which plalnl,.
showed that the physician was suTerlnr
"Dln extreme nervousness. he had in
scrlped simply the words. "Rrol,ou
health and this is accented as ,ro
cause by those who know The hard and
losing battle DR. Culpeper vvesa5
against the malady that has had bfr
In Its grip FOR the past two years or
more
The body was fully dressed FOR the
street. and the oyercoat he wora VS.
buttoned 10 tho chin. standing between
his safe and desk. he had sent the bll-
let through his brain. The wound must
have PRODUCED instant death. IN tho
opinion Of physicians who examined u
as the bullet lodged in the brain and
there was little bleeding from the wound.
People Greatly Grieved.
The pistol was firmly clasped IN his
right hand when the body was found
When the news OF the tragedy became
known. it created q. great deal OF excite
ment. II was great shock TO his many
friends, and there were heart-rendinz
scenes at his Office. where the body Law
until ID was removed.
Since Dr. Culpeper first went away COR
his health two years ago his friends have
worried about him. quite recently thew
have been seriously apprehensive regard
ing his condition. and in the past two
days it was known 10 be serious
Yesterday afternoon he dropped in at
the clerks offlce In quite casual man
ner and transferred to his wife a great
deal Of his property.
Prominent Mason.
Or. Culpeper was about forty-threa
years Old. He was a son OF the late Henry
+. Culpeper. and a brother OF the late
DR.. Vernon @. Culpeper
He married Miss Mary HarwOod. a sis
ter Of Colonel John Harwood, OF Rich
mond. with a daughter Ottolene. she
survives him. Mr.. Richard Culpeper, a
brother, and Mrs r. Z. DUNCAN and Mrs
William Thompson, sisters of the dead
ma. also survive him.
DR.. Culpepcr was born in Portsmouth.
and received his early education there.
fe attended the University Of Virginia,
and graduated from Columbia College.
New York. Returning 70 Portsmouth, ne
practiced his profession with marked sue
cess.
He was supreme medical examiner OF
the Modern Puritans. and member Of
many other secret organizations. including
Scaboard Lodge A +. ana A. NJ, the
Woodmen Of the World. Red Men. Odi
Fellows. Royal Arcanum. Knights OF
Pythias, National Union, b. p. O. Elks
and Heptasophs.
DIT. Culpcper was also prominently
Identified with the business Of the com
munity. He Sas. as stated above. in
, terested in the shipyard of w. +. Thomas
& Co. and was a director in the People's
Bank lie was a prominent member Of
the Chambers Fire Company. No .. OF
this city. and the tollins of the bell at its
engine house carried the first news of his
death to the city.
He was surgeon Of the Norfolk and
( Portsmouth Traction Company ana has
held other positions of prominence.