Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-10-06

condition.
Using a .38 calibre revolver with
which he sent ball crashing through
his right temple Alexander w. May,
clerk of the court of appeals and
one of the best known young men IN
Staunton, attempted suicide in his
home at 10 Bagby street yesterday
at noon. The bullet passed through
his head, missing the brain, but de-
stroying the sight of both eyes. The
injury is such that Mr.. May may sur
vive, although he will be blind for
life. The exact cause of his act re-
mains to this time undetermined.
After having spent the morning
in his customary way, dividing his
time between his Office in the Masonic
Temple and the streets, Mr.. May
went to his home shortly before the
noon hour He met his wife as soon
as he entered the house and request
ed her to see that dinner was served
somewhat earlier than the usual
hour.
Mrs. May thereupon went down.
stairs to give instructions to the
cook, while Mr.. May proceeded to his
room. Only few minutes had clap
sed when Mrs. May, her mother, Mrs.
Shapley Bagby, and her sister, Miss
Nettie Bagby, were startled by shot.
Without even surmising what had
happened they rushed upstairs and
into Mr.. Mays room, and there found
him PROSTATE on the bed, with blood
flowing from the wound in his temple
and the revolver by his side.
His Eyesight Gone
Physicians were hurriedly sum-
moned, and in very short time sew
eral responded. Among them were
DR.. M. J. Payne, DR.. j. B. Catlett,
DR.. R. P. Bell, DR.. A. L. Tynes and
others. Examination revealed that
Mr.. Mays attempt at self-destruction
had not been successful and that
though in a critical condition he still
had chance to live. Only glance
was needed, however, to show the
physicians that the ball in its pas
sage had robbed Mr.. May of his sight.
Although it was the first belief of
those who discovered him that Mr..
May was quite dead it afterward
developed that he had not even lost
consciousness. Soon after the ply
sicians' arrival he spoke to them in
answer to questions, though never
once did he tell them the reason for
| his deed.
Many Theories
There were hundred theories ad-
vanced yesterday afternoon to ac-
count for Mr.. Mays attempt, all of
which were different while at the
same time having many points in
! common. No one of them, however,
| could be pinned down to fact by in
| vestigation, nor could any member
of his family advance an explanation
| for his act.
There was much talk to the effect
| that Mr. May had been drinking to
excess for a week past, and that
over-indulgence yesterday morning
had led to high state of nervous
ness which brought with it mental
responsibility. This theory does
not seem to be borne out by facts,
however, for friends who talked with
Mr.. May a half an hour before he
went to his home assert that he ap-
peared to be in the best of spirits,
and that while he may have had a
drink or two he had not imbibed to
any great extent.
With his wife and other friends
Mr.. May spent Sunday at the Van
Ike fishing lodge on Middle River.
He drank nothing during the day,
| say those who were with him there,
| and returned to Staunton yesterday
| morning, apparently greatly refresh
ed by the day on the river and in
fine shape for the weeks work before
him. The supposition that Mr.. Mays
act was due to drink therefore does
not seem to be confirmed by facts.
Refused to Explain
While the examination was in pro-
gress at the home, Immediately fol-
lowing the physicians arrival, one of
them asked Mr.. May why he had at
tempted to kill himself. There was
no answer, but when the question
was repeated Mr.. May replied: "You
didn't hear me say did you? Well,
| you are not likely to hear me tell"
| Several minutes later he remarked
more to himself than to those about
him:
'This is the biggest fool thing 1
ever did,
| So far as could be learned yester-
day there was no unpleasantness at
home which might have pro-. led Mr..
May to his deed. Friends and neigh
bors say that his home life was in
many ways ideal, and that the sup
position of any serious trouble there