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Story
September 12, 1826
The Intelligencer, & Petersburg Commercial Advertiser
Petersburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
Inquest determines James Whitlock died by suicide, shooting himself through the chest with a pistol. He was a youth previously convicted of petit larceny and imprisoned for a year, leading to melancholy and despair over his degradation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SUICIDE.
On Sunday evening last an inquest was held over the body of James Whitlock, and a verdict returned by the Jury, that he came to his death by deliberately shooting himself with a pistol through the body. The contents entered immediately under the left breast, and instantly terminated his life. Whitlock was the youth who was convicted of petit larceny before the Superior Court of this town about 18 months since, and sent to the Penitentiary for the term of one year. We have heard no cause assigned, but there is little doubt but that he was prompted to the rash act by a sense of the depth of degradation to which he had fallen and from which he entertained little hope of rising. We understand that ever since his release he has been disposed to melancholy and seclusion, and a few days before his death declared his innocence of the crime for which he had been imprisoned.
On Sunday evening last an inquest was held over the body of James Whitlock, and a verdict returned by the Jury, that he came to his death by deliberately shooting himself with a pistol through the body. The contents entered immediately under the left breast, and instantly terminated his life. Whitlock was the youth who was convicted of petit larceny before the Superior Court of this town about 18 months since, and sent to the Penitentiary for the term of one year. We have heard no cause assigned, but there is little doubt but that he was prompted to the rash act by a sense of the depth of degradation to which he had fallen and from which he entertained little hope of rising. We understand that ever since his release he has been disposed to melancholy and seclusion, and a few days before his death declared his innocence of the crime for which he had been imprisoned.
What sub-type of article is it?
Tragedy
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Tragedy
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Suicide
Inquest
Petit Larceny
Penitentiary
Melancholy
What entities or persons were involved?
James Whitlock
Where did it happen?
This Town
Story Details
Key Persons
James Whitlock
Location
This Town
Event Date
Sunday Evening Last
Story Details
James Whitlock, previously convicted of petit larceny and imprisoned for a year, shot himself fatally through the chest. The inquest returned a verdict of deliberate suicide, attributed to despair over his degradation and proclaimed innocence.