Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1885 — BLEW OUT HIS BRAINS. [ARTICLE]

BLEW OUT HIS BRAINS.

Andre J. Dumont, Late Naval Officer at New Orleans, Commits Suicide. [New Orleans special.] Andre Dumont, ex-Naval Officer at this port, suicided this afternoon. Dumont was one of the most eminent colored men in the State, one of the organizers of the Republican party, and its most earnest, energetic, and continuous supporter. He was an admirable organizer and canvasser, and held in such confidence by all the masses of the party that he was generally chosen as the figure-head in conventions, committees, etc. In 1876 Dumont was elected as President of the Republican State Convention, over ex-Gov. Pinchback, after a prolonged struggle. In 1880 he was ' Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee, and directed the canvass of the State, and in the late Presidential election he held the same office. He was a delegate to every Republican State Convention, and generally chosen as one of the delegates at large. He held various State offices, and represented for some years the Fifth District of New Orleans in the State Senate. He was an Inspector in the United States Custom House, and was appointed by Hayes Naval Officer, which position he had held up to within a few weeks, when he voluntarily resigned, without waiting for Cleveland to appoint his successor, announcing his intention to settle in Central America and invest his money in fruit plantations. Dumont had been very despondent for some years on account of do. mestic troubles, and frequently spoke of committing suicide. To-day he returned from a visit to the country gloomier than ever, and told his wife that he was going to kill himself. She secured his pistol and hid it, but he found it and took it out. She then locked it in a chest; he assaulted her and by violence wrested the key of the chest from her. She endeavored to prevent his carrying out his design, but he was too strong for her, and succeeded in opening the chest and getting the pistol. Pursued by her he fled through the two bedrooms and parlor to the sitting-room in the front of the house. She heard a shot, and when she entered the room a moment later she found him dead, he having placed the pistol in his mouth and fired, blowing out his brains. Dumont was 41 years of age and a native of New Orleana. He had served as a Lieutenant in the French army, and was with Maximilian in Mexico. He was a very light-colored octoroon, and. neither he nor his wife would have been taken for negroes. He was highly esteemed by all, his merits being acknowledged even by the Democrats. He leaves a very comfortable estate.