The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-25
CAPT, JOHN PARHAM
COMMITS SUICIDE
Shoots Himself Through the
Head at His Home i'll
Petersburg.
BROKEN BY ILL HEALTH
Was Well-Known Citizen and
Had Splendid Record in Con-
federatc Army.
Especial to The Times. Dispatch.

Especial to The Times. D!spatch.l
PETERSBURG, VA, April 2i.-John
T. Parham, well known citizen and d
Confederate veteran, with a splendid MI
itary record. committed suicide aoout
half-past 10 o'clock this morning ut ms
residence on Bank street by shooting nm
self In the right temple with an old
thirty Eight calibre Colt revolver, the
big ball passing through tho brain ana
lodging in the scalp on the left side OF
the head. He survived for more than two
hours, dying at ten minutes to O'Clock
this afternoon without regainng con-
sciousnss.
Mr.. Parham had been suffering from
melancholia for several weeks-so much
so that his friends feared that his mind
would become affected. and to this cause
only can the deed be attributed. All con-
ditons indicate cool reconciliation of sui
cde and the fatal shot was evidently
fired before bureau glass. the body bs-
ing found on the floor by the bureau in
a bedroom. DR.. William Preston Hoy
reached the wounded man few minutes
after he had shot himself aud remained
with him until he died. Mr.. Parhan!
went to the Chesterfield Hotel only
few minutes before his suicide and asked
to see the proprietor, who was not there.
and began reading newspaper, which
he soon handed to his daughter, and en-
tered an adjoining room, where he re-
moved his hat and coat. laid them on a
bed and killed himself.
Mr.. Parham was sixty-five years old.
and is survived by his wife and one
daughter He was born in Prince George
county, and at the beginning OF the Civil
War was resident of Yorktown. Va.
He enlisted In the Williamsburg Junior
Guards, afterwards Company c, Thirty
second Virginia, commanded by Colonel
c. b. Montague, and served throughout
the war. receiving several wounds. He
was commissioned ensign of his regiment
in August, 1864. Mr.. Parham resided in
this city after the war almost continu.
ously. and during the first Cleveland adj
mlnistration was deputy collector of Gus
toms. In 1883 he was appointed deputy
sergeant of the city, holding that office
for several years. He was sergeant of
a. p Hill Camp of Confederate Veterans.
Railroad Company Blamed.
A coroner's inquest al Swift CreeL
yesterday afternoon to investigate the
Killing OF Mr.. George Parkinson and
his sister. Mrs. John Schel, by a Sea-
board Air Line wrecking train at a
road decreasing near that village Mon
day. resulted in a verdict by the Jury
that the deceased came to their death
through care!essness and neglect on
the part of the railroad company to
provide proper warning at the cross
ing. Justice Lundy conducted the in
quest.
Hurt in Sewer Trench.
Adam Scott, a colored laborer. was
severely injured while working in a
sewer pipe trench on Bank Street thlr
morning. Two large rocks rolled in on
him, striking him on the head and
back when in STOPPING position.
Scott was taken to his home, and at
tended by DR.. Powell
Fire of supposed incendiary origin
destroyed the barn and stables OF Hay
wood Turner at Booker in Sussex
county, several nights ago. A horse
was burned to death, and a quantity
of grain and provender was destroyed
Rev. George C. Gates. who is con-
Quoting the big union revival now in
progress here at the Tabb Street Pres
hyterlan Church under the auspices of
the Presbyterian, Methodist. Baptist
and Christian Churches of the city, has
issued letter addressed to the peo-
| pie of Petersburg, expressing his sin
| cere gratitude for the cordial welcome
| accorded to him, and calling on every
Christian man and woman in the city,
| regardless OF denomination, to toin
| him In most earnest prayer for the
! outpouring of Gods spirit in this COM
| munity.