The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1911-03-23
SUICIDE AND NEAR MURDER.
Sanford Hotel nan Takes Savage At.
tempt Upon the Lives of Two Well
Known Citizens of the State and
Then Blows Out His Own BraIns.

The union station over at Raleigh
was on last Thursday evening the
scene Of sensational suicide and
attempted murder, when Henry Pow
ell, proprietor Of the Sanford Inn,
shot twice at Charles II. Smith and
Duncan +. Mclver, his fellow towns
men, and then turning his smoking
pistol on himself blew out his own
brains.
Above the murmur OF voices in
the crowded union station rang out
the report of revolver, followed by
two more reports in rapid succession.
Then pandpmOnium reigned for sew
crul minutes, while Officer Barrow,
who was on duty at the station,
made his way to the Nor theast cor
ner Of the waiting room, whore he
found Mr. II. H. Powell, prominent
hotel man Of Sanford, lying pros
trdGe ON the floor, while from his
head flowed a stream of blood. Some
feet distant vas Mr.. e.. Il. Smith, q
..s cr,,
''a''I''N il'''''"''''u uie' vi 0''liolu "
with bullet hole through the feahy
part of his right forearm, while the
bullet itself was imbedded in the re-
giDu Of his right shoulder, two and a
half inches from the shoulder tip.
Immediately after the first shot,
aud duriuo the firing of the second
AMI third, there was IL rush in all di-
r-ctiOus. women screamed. aud in u
short time llIe waiting room was al
most empty, save for IL few curious
spectators who crowded about the
body OF Mr.. Powell. For Il time pan
d,munium rrigned, and the cry went
out: cone man killed two others;
then Shot hims-If"
4 more upporrunc time to create Il
srI.4ation could not have been chosen.
All of the trims we're nearly due and
the people had gathered to buy tick
cts 40 d to take leave ON the three
chief passenger trains. Mr., Smith
had come from Sanford to testify in
"a case before the CORPORATION com
mission and it is presumed that Mr..
Powell had followed him there The
story had somehow gotten out that
the object Of the visit of Messrs. Smith
and McIver was the securing of q
chartrr to operate II rival hotel. The
dead man had hrundad over if and
during the afternoon eve witnesses
to til" tragedy declare they heard
the three men talking about it.
When The shooting occurred. the
waiting room was crowded with men
and women, and some children most
of whom became greatly excited and
rushed towards the outlets of the
room Miss BIaclnalI who WAS sit
ting near the SPOT where Mr. Powell
fell, did not lose her comnosure .at
all. but cot up on the seat TO spe inst
what happrned When the nponie in
the station became fully aware of
what was happening, women tainted.
children screamed, aud men scattered
in every direction. Both Sanford
men walked into the street c0olIy af-
trrWards and later went tn their
homes. There were Detained q num-
Der of witnesses to testify MT the in
quest.
All three men come from Sanford's =
best citizenship. The dead man has
suffered dconsiderableg grief and trouble
recently and is said to have lost
money. He was IL former COnfeder-
ate veteran and was regarded as one
Of the most quiet and inOffensiye of
men. Temporary insanity is believed