Monthly Archives: November 2013

Suicide by Fumes!

He Tried To Die By Gas

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February 2, 1892


HE TRIED TO DIE BY GAS.

Stephen J. Thompson Loses at Horse-racing and Tires of Life—His Mother Goes to New York, Where the Deed Was Done.

Special Dispatch to The North American.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2.—At the Putnam House, Fourth avenue and Twenty-third street, last evening, a well-dressed young man registered as “J. Davis.” At 10 o’clock this morning he was called according to his order. He didn’t answer to the knocks at his door and it was broken open. The room was full of gas, and two burners were found turned on. The young man was lying in the bed unconscious. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where the physicians said he would recover. In the room were found two letters. One, dated February 1, 1892, was directed to Mrs. J. M. Thompson, 232 south Twenty-second street, Philadelphia. It reads: —

“MY DEAR MA — I can’t account for your not answering my letter. I am in an awful condition—walking the streets without a penny, with no overcoat and no place to sleep; and then my own mother will not help me. Well, I don’t think you will see me alive again if I can get something to put an end to all my trouble, for I am sick and tired of all this. If you care to keep me from doing this send me $10 or $15 by mail as soon as you get this, so I can get a room someplace for a week. If not I shall most surely carry out my plan. Then you will have no other person but yourself to blame. At this moment I am wild.”

The letter was unsigned. The envelope on the other letter was addressed to Miss A. C. O’Donnell, No. 85 Lexington avenue. On it was also written “My Sister” and “A Beauty.” It read: “I am walking through the streets with no place to lay my head, so for God’s sake do as I say. Send me enough money to get a bed with for the night. If possible send an answer soon.”

This letter was also unsigned. Mrs. O’Donnell when seen was greatly agitated, and though she denied that the young man was her brother seemed much concerned about him. It has been learned that the would-be suicide is Stephen J. Thompson, that his parents live in Philadelphia, are wealthy, and that he has an income of $3000 a year. Betting on horse races is said to have been the cause of his down-fall.

 

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
(The 1892 Morbid Scrapbook)

Suicide by Fire!

A Horrible Method Of Suicide

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Steele Scrapbook – October 6, 1885

A Horrible Method of Suicide.

 

VERONA, N. Y., Oct. 6.—Last Saturday Miss Emma Faulkner, daughter of William Faulkner, of State Bridge, removed the burner from a large lamp and poured the lamp’s contents over her head and shoulders. She then set fire to herself and ran shrieking around the house. Mr. Lawrence, a neighbor, seeing her, ran to her assistance. After considerable difficulty the fire was extinguished, but not until nearly all Miss Faulkner’s clothing had been burned from her body. She died at 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon. She had attempted suicide before.

 

Stealthily Stolen From An Unconscious Alf

Suicide by Bullet!

Tragic Passion

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Steele Scrapbook – September 1, 1885

 

TRAGIC PASSION.

FATAL RESULT OF REJECTED LOVE AT ASBURY PARK.

Horrified Sybarites—An Infatuated Youth Attempts to Kill a Lady Because She
Refused to Marry Him on Sight—He Shoots Himself.

ASBURY PARK, N. J., Sept. 1.—A sad case of suicide and attempted shooting took place at the Newman Spring Hotel, a summer resort near Red Bank, last evening. About three weeks ago George Curry, a son of Orrin Curry, a well known resident of Red Bank, became acquainted with a young lady stopping at Red Bank. Acquaintance ripened into a warmer feeling. The girls’ name is Susie Westcott, and Curry became infatuated with her, but found that he had a rival in the person of Mr. Stevens, bookkeeper for W. A. French & Co., who had supplanted him in the young lady’s affections. Last night Curry asked Stevens if he were going to the hotel. Stevens replied in the negative, and Curry then remarked that he would go and started to walk away.

As soon as Curry was out of sight Stevens procured a wagon and drove up to the hotel, thereby reaching it in advance of his rival. It is surmised that Stevens had advised the young lady as to Curry’s coming and probable intentions, and when Curry arrived he and the girl soon after started for a stroll around the grounds. Shortly after a pistol shot was heard, quickly followed by a second shot. The first shot was fired by Curry at Miss Westcott, the ball striking one of her corset steels and glancing off harmlessly. The pistol was then pointed by Curry at his own head and the shot proved fatal. He died almost instantly.

Curry’s father—whose only son he is—is a highly respected citizen of this town, and has held many offices of trust. His son George was educated at the Medical College at Philadelphia, in which city he married, after he graduated, removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he practiced his profession for two or three years, and was successful until some difficulty arose between the young couple and they parted. The Doctor soon after obtained a divorce, since which time he has been residing with his parents and has led rather a restless life, although he was much esteemed among his acquaintances. The blow to his father is a severe one and he is prostrated from grief. The remains of the young man were taken charge of by Coroner Robert T. Smith and an inquest will be held.


Harmlessly Harnessed From Alf

 

Suicide by Bullet!

Suicide In A Bank

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1892 Morbid Scrapbook

SUICIDE IN A BANK.

The Watchman Found Dead With a Bullet in His Head.

BALTIMORE, Feb. 3.—Shortly after three o’clock this morning, Watchman McCauley, at the Continental National Bank, committed suicide in the bank by shooting. McCauley was seen by the officer on the beat at ten minutes before three o’clock. He was walking up and down and nothing unusual about his demeanor was noticeable. At three o’clock he should have turned in an alarm, and it was his failure to do so that apprised the authorities that something was wrong. A messenger was sent to the bank, but reported that the watchman was nowhere to be seen. Another boy was sent around, and he saw the watchman lying on the floor with the blood pouring from his head.

Patrolman Lewis hastened to the bank and saw McCauley lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He summoned Sergeant Kirsch and Patrolman Reynolds. Marshall Frey and Cashier J. Wesley Guest, of the bank, were sent for. McCauley had been dead for some time before Sergeant Kirsch reached his side. Teller Roger Frey, of the bank, a son of Marshall Frey, said that the revolver used was kept in one of the drawers at the paying desk. This drawer was found half open. McCauley was about sixty years of age and exceedingly feeble. He leaves a wife and family. He was a brother of Rev. James A McCauley, ex-president of Dickinson College, the famous Methodist Divinity School at Carlisle, Pa.

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair

The 1892 Morbid Scrapbook
Suicide by Bullet!

Mysterious Shooting Case

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Steele Scrapbook – October 28, 1885

Mysterious Shooting Case.

LEOMINSTER, MASS., Oct. 28.—A mysterious case, which is now being investigated by the police, is causing considerable excitement. Arthur Spill, a young man, left here for Worcester yesterday. He returned on the evening train and went to the house of Edward Crockett, who is employed at Northboro, his wife and children being at home. About 10 o’clock Spill was found in Crockett’s door-yard in a dying condition. He had been shot through the lungs with a shotgun, and lived only about an hour after he was taken home. The wound evidently could not have been self-inflicted. Spill, while dying, talked freely against his neighbors in general, but refused to furnish any account of the shooting.

Further investigation proves that a man named Allen, who first reached the dying man, reports that Spill’s clothing was on fire, having been ignited by the discharge of the gun, and that Spill admitted that he took his own life.

 

Unceremoniously Stolen From Alf

Suicidal Death!, Suicide By Blade!

City Marshal Files Charges

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Chico Weekly Record – December 11, 1897

 

CITY MARSHAL FILES CHARGES.

Claims that His Officers Neglected to Arrest Jim Hale and Allowed Geiger to Kill Himself.

Every chair in the city council chamber was occupied last evening when Mayor Rodley rapped the Trustees to order, half an hour late as usual. The cause of the large attendance of spectators was the announcement that the alleged discord in the police department was to be aired. Some were there out of curiosity, and others because they would like to have a job as policemen.

The surprise of the evening came when the Clerk read a communication from Marshal Mansfield, in which both officers Henry and Walsh are charged with neglect of duty. The communication was as follows:

CHICO CAL., DEC. 6, 1897.
To the Hon. Board of Trustees of the City of Chico:

Pursuant to the provisions of Article XIV of Ordinance No. 16, Revised ordinances of the City of Chico, I beg leave to report the following complaints against the Police officers C. A. Henry and H. M. Walsh, to-wit:

That on or about the 25th day of November, 1897, the said policeman H. M. Walsh and C. A. Henry failed and neglected to perform their duty as police officers, as follows: The said H. M. Walsh refused, failed and neglected to arrest one James Hale who in his presence violated the provisions of the ordinance of Chico in being on a public street of said city in an intoxicated condition, using loud and boisterous language offensive to passing persons on the street, and displaying a revolver, and guilty of a breach of the peace; and the said C. A. Henry refused, facilitated and neglected when the said matter was thereafter on said date reported to him by the said Walsh to assist in or himself arrest the said Hale or attempt so to do, or in making any attempt to prevent said Hale from further violating the provisions of the ordinances of the City, after being informed of his said condition and breach of peace.

“That on or about the 30th day of November, 1897, the said police officers C. A. Henry and H. M. Walsh failed and neglected and refused to perform their duty as police officers in permitting one Wiliam H. Geiger, at his residence on Wall street, in said City, to cut and kill himself with a knife in the presence of said officers without taking proper means or making proper attempts to prevent said Geiger from consummating his self-destruction, although both of said officers were present and saw the said Geiger engaged in trying to cut his own throat with a knife and finally, after repeated efforts, succeeded in so doing and inflicting wounds from which he afterward on said day died, when the said Geiger’s life might have been and in all probability would have been saved if the said officers had taken proper means or precautions to prevent the same, when they arrived at the scene of the tragedy.

“The above complaints have been made to me by citizens of the City of Chico, and I am credibly informed that the facts supporting the same are accessible, and therefore under the provisions of Sections 6 and 12 of said Article XIV of Ordinance 16, I make this report to your honorable body for such action as you may deem proper after a proper investigation, and at any investigation you may order I will be pleased to present the testimony that has come to my knowledge. There are other complaints which are not, perhaps , of so grave a nature as the circumstances attending the above would make them. I have thought it advisable to make the above, only hoping that a proper investigation of the same will present sufficient facts for a proper action on your part, in the matter of charges against the police officers, as I do not want to appear unnecessarily critical of what I conceive to be proper conduct of the police officers of the city mentioned herein.

“Respectfully submitted,
“H.C. MANSFIELD,
“Marshal of the City of Chico.”

The report was referred to the police committee, with instructions to report on it at the meeting December 15th. At the last meeting it was understood that Officer Henry’s job was the only one in jeopardy, but the Marshal has put Walsh in the category, and there is no telling but that the whole department will be in the swim before the difficulties end, as Sproul for Henry, intimated before the board that the investigation may occupy several days.

 

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair

Misc. Accidents!

Terrible Suffering

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Steele Scrapbook – August 18, 1885

 

Terrible Suffering.

MARSHALL, Ill., Aug. 18.—One of the most horrible cases of suffering on record is reported from McKean, six miles east of here. On the 8th of the month, Davie Black, aged eleven, was thrown from a horse and his arm broken in two places. An unskillful physician set it, leaving one of the bones protruding through the flesh. Mortification set in and soon spread to the child’s shoulders and body. The mortified arm was left exposed to the flies by some means, and last Wednesday worms began working at the flesh of the living boy. After suffering the most awful agonies for five days and having his arm daily eaten away by the worms, the sufferer died Sunday night and the remains were buried at once. The surgeon has been warned to leave the country.

 

Unceremoniously Stolen From Alf

Misc. Accidents!

A Physician Buried Alive

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Steele Scrapbook – January 4, 1886

 

A PHYSICIAN BURIED ALIVE.

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 4.—Intelligence reached here to-day of a fearful accident that occurred at Proschovitsaks. A physician, to all appearances, died. The body was interred. A few hours after the mourners had departed from the cemetery some men who were engaged about the grounds were startled by hearing a succession of the most unearthly shrieks which came from the newly-filled grave. Shovels were procured and the earth was removed from the grave and the coffin lifted out. Upon opening the coffin it was found that the doctor had been alive when he was buried, but he had subsequently died from suffocation.

 

Stolen From A Freshly Buried Alf

Misc. Accidents!

Killed At Play

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Steele Scrapbook – October, 1885

 


KILLED AT PLAY.

Sad and Fatal Accident to a Young Boy in Butler Valley.

A sad accident happened Tuesday morning at Drums, in the Butler Valley. Frank, the nine-year-old son of Peter Reisenweaver, was attending school, and at recess engaged in a game of ball with some of the older pupils. Ettie Roth, a young girl about thirteen years, and a daughter of George Roth, was trying to throw a heavy base ball bat over a fence on which young Reisenweaver was sitting, when it slipped from her hand and struck the little fellow on the head causing the blood to flow freely. He went back to school when the bell announced recess ended, and the teacher, noticing the blood on his head and face, dressed the wound as well as she could and washed the blood from it, but thought nothing serious of it. At noon the boy complained of feeling sick and went home. His condition becoming more serious, his mother sent for a physician, but the little fellow sank rapidly and died at three o’clock. It is thought the skull was fractured by the blow on the head.

 

Unceremoniously Stolen From Alf