Craven-Johnston-Greene County NcArchives Obituaries.....Powell, Roderick J.  October 1826
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com December 4, 2007, 12:56 pm

Wed. Oct. 11, 1826 North Carolina Journal
   SUICIDE -- On Tuesday last, MR. RODERICK J. POWELL, merchant of Newbern, 
and formerly of Smithfield, Johnston County, terminated his existance by 
shooting himself through the heart. We have never heard of a more deliberate 
act of self-murder than this. MR. POWELL had come to Raleigh on his way to New 
York, but failing, as is supposed, to accomplish the object of his visit to 
this place on Tuesday morning retraced his way towards Newbern. MR. TAYLOR, 
the Sheriff of Greene County, who was travelling in a gig in company with MR. 
POWELL, says that he observed nothing singular in his deportment. In about 10 
miles from Smithfield, MR. POWELL got out at an old house, and wrote something 
on a paper with a pencil, after which, resuming his seat, they drove on when 
within a mile of Smithfield, MR. TAYLOR, says he heard the report of firearms 
and instantly MR. POWELL fell from his seat to the ground -- he crawled a few 
steps and died. In each hand was a pocket pistol, which, having bared his 
bosom, he had discharged simultaneously for MR. TAYLOR says the report was but 
that of one. In his hat was foound the paper which he had stopped to write -- 
it contained directions to a friend to have him interred by the side of his 
mother, and also a hope was expressed that no one might be suspected of his 
death, as it was produced by his own hand. A dose of arsenic was also found in 
his pocket-book. The probably case which influenced him to the perpetration of 
so unnatural an act, was apprehended pecuinary affairs. He has left a wife and 
one child to sorrow for their premature bereavement.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/craven/obits/p/powell1092ob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/

File size: 2.2 Kb