The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-08
Mrs. 0. P. Rennolds Comes to
Richmond for Treatment.
Buys Pistol and Ends All
CAUSE OF TRAGEDY IS
ILL HEALTH IS SAID
While Husband Searches Parks
and Cemetery Wife TAX 5
Room at Cuerrant Hotel and
Shoots Herself

Suffering from depression. brought
Noout BY continued illness. Mrs OF
way p. Rennolds. OF Frederick Hall.
Louisa County. yesterday afternoon.
about three o'clock. shot herself In
the temple. in her room at the Hotel
Guerrant. Third and Main Streets.
Her body was found an hour later by
the maid.
Coroner Taylor was called Mr..
Rennolds who had been searching for
his wife for several hours was mott
ned. and the body was turned over to
Funeral Director L. r. Christian. who
prepared 1t for burial The remains
will be taken TO the old home on the
afternoon train today. and the funeral
will be in the family burying ground
late this afternoon
From Prominent Family.
Mrs. ReRnolds was the wife OF Mr..
o. P. Rennolds. a prominent planter
OF Louisa County. She was Miss
Bessie G. Leitch, daughter Of promin-
ent citizens OF Buckingham County.
She leaves, besides her husband,
three children. Otway F., Jr. Lang
horne and Katharine The children
were7no notified OF the death of their
mother last night She leaves several
sisters and brothers. Among them
is Mrs. Nat Lancaster, Of Ashland.
who was telegFaphed to yesterday
afternoon. and who came to Rich
mond later. remaining until last
night
The incidents which led up 10 tho
tragedy were these. Mr. and Mrs.
Rennolds left Fredericks Hall about
III moan yesterday ~~fcf~ustsy~- The
~ t~sx
pair of glasses fitted, to relieve the
eye trouble with which Mrs. Rennolds
was suffering After alighting at
Main Street Station, Mrs. Rennolds
disappeared Mr. RennoIds. after
waiting a reasonably long time. start
ed in search. He went to the husi-
ness house OF Heniny & Nuckols, with
which he did much business. He
thought that probably his wife had
gotten lost from him. and might call
upon that firm.
Secures Revolver and Cartridges
He learned there thar she had
gone to Harris, Fiippen & Co. at
Thirteenth and Main Streets, and pur-
weapon. she indicated that she had
no cash. but stood ready to present
a check. and referred her respons,-
bifity 20 Henirg & Nuckols A
phone conversation resulted In salts
factory inform alton, and she was given
the revolver. an Ivor-Johnson. six
cartridges and a street car ticket.
Her movements from that time on
can only be surmised. A short while
later she appeared at the Guerrant.
where she had stopped on previous
occasion. and engaged a room, Not
long after she had taken possession
far
port Of a revolver. He did not know
the sou~>e OF the report ami in going
TO the door. saw a number OF persons
standing around an automobile on
the corner. Then ne drew the infer
ence that the sound he heard was the
result of an exploding automobile
tire.
Dead Body Ia Found.
Later. the maid at the hotel. in
roang into the room taken by Mrs
RennoidA, found her lying on the
floor, fully dressed. beside the bed,
She was dead. with a bullet in her
brain.
Death must have been instanta-
neous. Coroner Taylor responded,
and turned the body over to Major
Christian.
In the meantime. Mr.. Rennolds, in
company with members OF the firm of
Hening a Nuckols. was securing the
city In search Of his wife. They drove
70 the parks, and went to Hollywood.
thinking that as the fact OF the pur-
chase Of the revolver had been es-
tablished. she would seek death in
some secluded spot.
Mrs. Rennolds was forty-three years
old, and was highly esteemed by hum
Arsds Of people who knew her, Be-
4ore committing the deed, she wrote
letter Of endearment to her hus-
band. and one to her sister Mrs. Lam
caster.
II know Of no reason for the act. "
said Mr. Rennolds last night. at MUIR
phys Hotel. except that her health
for a long time has been bad. She
has been to Stuart Circle Hospital
upon several occasions for treatment.
We came to Richmond yesterday to
get a pair Of glasses. and to do a little
shopping. We were to return on the
5 o'clock train"
Az It appeared to be clear case of
Z suicide, Coroner Taylor decided that
no inquest was necessary.