The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-26
CUTS THROAT AND
COMMITS SUICIDE
COURT PORTER KILLS HIM
SELF IN HOME.
LEAVES A HOSPITAL
HAD BEEN IN ILL HEALTH Fou
SEVERAL WEEKS AND ACT Is
ATTRIBUTED TO MEI.AS-
CHoLIA.

To end the agony of the melan-
choiia to which he had been subject
for several weeks, Algernon c. CJour-
ney) Porter, deputy in the Office Of
the Chancery court, committed sui
eide at his home, 29Il East Marshall
street, at o clock yesterday morning
by cutting his throat. He was gasp
ing his last in a pool OF blood when
found by his wife, and was dead
within a minute
Mr.. Porter had been a patient for
the last three weeks in Virginia hos
pitaL where he was being treated for
his meiancholia- Mrs. Porter spent
most OF Monday with him. as she had
been IN the habit of seeing him every
day since he had been In the hospital
He asked her frequently where his
Jugular vein was, but she always
turned the conversation to happier
subjects. She left his bedside al 9
o'clock. arriving home about $50
Comes Home Unexpectedly.
Half an hour later Mr. Porter
walked In. saying that he thought he
would recover sooner If he remained
at home Mira Porter at once tele-
phoned to the hospital, where she was
told that the nurses thought that Mr.
Porter had gone out to one of the
porches to get a breath of fresh air
She was advised to put him to bed at
once and make him comfortable Mr
Porter had borrowed car fare from
City Auditor e. j. Warren. who has
been in Virginia hospital since he was
attacked on Jefferson street several
weeks ago.
Mr.. Porter appeared 60 be in a more
cheerful frame OF mind after being
put to bed, and when he awoke In
- a
well. Satisfied with her husband $
condition. Mrs, Porter went down to
the kitchen to prepare breakfast. In
few moments she heard a sound as
of falling body. and asked her
brother. Newton Lee. what he thought
1t was that caused the noise.
Hear Body Fall.
II guess it's Newton" referring TO
Newton Porter, young son. falling
out Of bed" he said. Mrs. Porter ran
upstairs and found the boy safe In
bed. She went then to her husbands
room, and saw that II was empty
Then she fastened to the bathroom
and there, lying In a pool of blood she
found the body of her husband. He
was unconscious and lived but a min
ute. He had cut his throat from the
left ear to the middle of the throat
with Il razor.
BITS Porter r screams bTGGgnt HeF
brother and son upstairs with Il bound,
but they could he Of no assistance. and
the almost hystevicai wife was led
from the room. Coroner Taylor and
Detective Sergeant Wiley made an in
westigation. ard soon decided that IL
Was plain case Of suicide,
Major Charles .. Savtlla. clerk OF
the chaneery court. and many other
friends came TO the house and offered
their aid and sympathy. all knowing
the worth and honor of the dead man.
Mr., Porter was very popular. and was
always pleasant to those whose bust
court
Popular ia Richmond.
Besides his widow. who was Miss
Blanche Lee, daughter of former City
is survived by two sons. Newton Lee
: Porter, and a c. Porter Jr, OF
= Chicago. two daughters. Mrs h. W.
Of Pine BLUM. Ark, and by one sister.
Mrs Mamie Ryland also Of Arkansas
Mr.. Porter was born in King and
Queen county, August II. 1855, He
came the bookkeepsr for the firm Of
Thaxton A Nicholas, afterwards
George y. Thaxton, with whom he re-
manned until the Arm went out OF bust
mesa. Twenty years ago he became a
deputy In the office OF the clerk OF
the Chancery court under c. w. God
din. and remained there until the time
savills, with whom he had been iden-
tilted for fifteen years, he was one OF
the most capable men in the office
Faaerai Tomorrow.
ternoon at o'clock and the burial will
be in Hollywood cemetery.
The pallbearers VIII be as follows:
Wallace Brown, Arden Howell.
nard Friskhorn, Thomas l. letter and
two members Of the Odd Fellows.