The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-14
CAN'T UNDERSTAND.
SUICIDE OF SETA.
Con1ectioner Shoots Himself
Through Brain While
Family Is Near.
DIED ALMOST INSTANTLY
Children Rush Upstairs When
They Heard Report and
Find Lifeless Body.

Standing in the upper hallway OF
his home. at ola West Cary Street,
Philip Seta, confectioner. shot himself
through the brain at 1916 o'clock last
night, and died almost instantly.
Al the time all the family except
the smaller children, who were asleep
In their apartments upstairs, were
seated in the kitchen on the first
floor. Seta had Just left the store and
assembled the stairway 10 his bed
room. AS those In the kitchen sat
talking they heard the report of a
pistol shot and then the dull sound
of falling body Together they rushed
upstairs.
Tony. the eldest boy. liz on crutchcs,
ana mace his way painfully. Minnie,
eighteen years of age the Oldest
daughter. was tho first TO reach her
fathers side. She found him lyInr
In pool of blood.
Quick Calls for Help.
With agonizcd screams she ran 10
him and fell on her knees by his body.
She placed her hand above his heart
and found II was still beating family.
Mrs. Seta. who had followed the 9TH
ers. cried out aloud. and Policemen
Goode and Stone. who were not far
distant, heard the screams. They ran
to the house and then summoned the
ambulance.
But member of the family had
called DR.. Fred Il. Steerc. of ll02 West
Main Street. When he arrived a few
minutes after being called he pro-
nounced Seta dead, and the city ambu-
lance was notified that IT was not
necessary for one of the City Hospital
physicians to come
captain Mcmahon was on his way
home when n report of the suicide
reached him. He at once went 10 the
mousse ana conducted an examination.
Droodcd Over Secret Trouble.
In the meantime DR.. Stesre had
called Coroner Taylor The coroner
made an examination OF the body and
questioned all members OF the family
as to any possible motive which Set,
could have had to cause him to end
his life. They could assign none. They
said. however. that he had been
brooding over some secret trouble, and
had been In moody condition for a
week or more. SO far as they knew.
il WAS said. he had no financial trou-
oles, and his domestic life was all that
could be desired. It was stated later,
however that inc had been owing
bill sincc last December. and II was
thought perhaps this might have az
fected his mind.
Seta left his store and went up
stairs, passing the kitchen without
speaking word. But IL was his Gus
tom every night TO go TO his room and
deposit the earnings OF the day, and
no attention was paid to him as lie
passed to his room. But he never
entered. His body was foun1 with the
head resting along tho balustrades
and his feet lying against the wall.
Blood ooZcd from IA wound in his right
ear.
The revolver was found near the
body and the right hand. 4 bag OF
money was also found nearby.
Clear Cnse of Suicide.
The door at the foot of the stair
way was found to have been locked
Tor tho night. and aftef minute
examination. il was the opinion OF
Coroner Taylor and the police authori-
ties that 1T Was plain case of suicide.
The pistoi--nn iver-J ohnson OF 3s-
calibce-was identiacd By the son as
being his fathers weapon, which lac
kept with him in the store during the
day and took with hNn to his room
every night. one cartridge was found
indentcd and had Acen fired
Mrs. Seta collapsed and became hys-
tericai. one OF the little girls. awak-
ened from her sleep. ran down into the
store and sobbed there alone until she
vas taken away.
the nearest .relat!ves-James. Joseph
and stephen Cardora. brothers OF Mrs
Seta, who at once came TO the house
and gave their aid. and to Mrs. Au-
Eusta Triena, a sister of Mrs. Seta.
Coroner Taylor turned the body over
to Undertaken kain to be prepared
| for burial.
Recently Had Trouble.
Some weeks ago Seta became en-
ragged at a negro named Reuben Logan.
| who he alleged had struck one Of his
children, and followed him to his
| house. firng at him several times. The
negro retallated by striking Seta in
the arm. Logan WAS fined s25 the next
| morning In Police Court. This trou-
F, BILE and the iameness OF his son. Tony.
| is said also to have caused Seta to
| brood.
| Seta was born and reared near Pa
! lermo. SICILY. italy. and came TO this
| country about twelve years ago. Re
! side his wife, he Is survived by the
! following children: Tony, Minnie. Rosa,
/ Willie. James. Joseph and John. He