Wake County NcArchives News.....Pipkin, Charles Augustus Last Hours of a Single Gentleman April 20, 1866
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The Daily Standard Saturday April 21, 1866 (Raleigh, NC) April 20, 1866
The Daily Standard Saturday April 21, 1866 (Raleigh, NC)
           APPALLING CATASTOPHE

LAST HOURS OF A SINGLE GENTLEMAN-- 
HE CALMLY MEETS HIS FATE.

Yesterday morning, at 11 o'clock precisely, an unfortunate young
man, Charles Augustus Pipkin, suffered the extreme penalty of
infatuation by expiating his attachment to Clara Amelia, in front
of the altar railing of St. Barnaby's Church.
                 HISTORY OF THE CRIMINAL
All our citizens who were present at the pic nic given in Mantua,
some two years ago, will recollect that Augustus was then introduced
to Clara, and immediately began to pay her particular attentions.
From that period their intimacy dates, and it was continued until
it ended at last in the painful catastrophe of this morning.
Poor Pipkin had nearly attained his twenty-eigth year, but there is
every reason to believe that, had not extreme impecuniosity 
prevented, his single life would earlier have come to an untimely end.
A change for the better, however, occurred in his circumstances, 
and Clara's friends were induced to sanction his addresses, and
thus became accessories to the awful calamity which was 
overthrown him in the hey-day of his youth.
                    THE LAST HOURS
The unhappy young man passed the last night of his bachelor
existence in his solitary chamber. From half-past eight to ten
he was busily engaged in writing letters. Shortly after ten, his
younger brother, Henry, knocked at the door, when the doomed
man told him, in a firm voice, to "come in."
Upon being asked when he intended to go to bed, he replied, 
"not yet." The question was then asked him, "how he thought he
would sleep;" to which his answer was, "pretty well." He then
expressed a desire for a cigar and a glass of water, which were
given to him. His brother now demanded of him if he would 
"want anything more that night." He said "nothing," in a firm
voice.
His affectionate relative then rose to take his leave, when the doomed
man considerately advised him "to take care of himself."
At precisely one minute after seven the next morning, the victim rose
and promptly dressed himself. he had self-control enough to shave
without the slightest injury, for not a single scratch appeared on
his chin after the operation. It would seem that he devoted more than
usual care to his toilette on this occasion. The wretched man was
attired in a light blue frock coat, with frosted metal buttons and
white waistcoat, and nankin trowsers, with patent leather boots.
Having descended the stairs with a quick step, he entered the 
apartment where his brother and a few friends were waiting.
He shook hands cordially with all present, and on being asked
how he had slept, answered, "Very well;" and to the further demand
as to the state of his mind, he said "he felt happy." One of the party
having suggested that it would be well to take "something" before
the melancholy ceremony, he exclaimed with much emphasis,
"Decidedly." -- Breakfast was accordingly served, and the poor
fellow ate the whole of a roll, a slice of toast, two sausages,
and three eggs, washing the whole down with two large cups of
coffee. In reply to his expressions of astonishment on the part
of the company, he said that "he never felt better in his life."
Having inquired the time, and ascertained that it was ten minutes
of eleven, he remarked that "it would soon be over." His brother
then asked if he could do anything more for him, when he said
he should like to have a glass of ale. Putting it to his lips, he 
remarked, "here's luck," and drank it with satisfaction.
The fatal moment now approaching, he devoted the remainder of
his time in distributing among his friend those articles which he
would no longer want. To one he gave his cagar case, to 
another his tobacco stopper, and he charged his brother Henry
with the care of his latch-key, with instructions to deliver it to
his landlady with due solemnity.
The clock at length struck eleven, and he was informed that a
cab was at the door.-- He merely said, "I am ready," and was
conducted to the vehicle. Arriving at the tragical spot, a short
delay took place, when they were joined by the lady, with her
friends. Little was said on either side, but Clara, with customary
decorum, shed tears.
Pipkin endeavored to preserve composure, but a slight twitching
of his mouth and eyebrows proclaimed his inward agitation. 
The victim now walked side by side with Clara, with a firm step
to the altar. He surveyed the imposing preparations with calmness
and gazed unmoved on the clergyman, who waited behind the
railing. 
                           FINAL SCENE.
The preliminaries being gone through with, and the prescribed
melancholy formalities finished, the usual question was put,
"Wilt thou have this woman to be they wedded wife?" To which
the miserable youth replied in a distinct voice, "I will." He then
put the fatal ring on Clara's finger, the hymenial noose was
adjusted, and the poor fellow was launched into matrimony.


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