The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-25
CITY Intelligence.

-l C,tv Intelligence. -
SUICIDE Dr.. HORACE WELLs.-Quite an excite |
ment was created yesterday morning at the Tombs In
consequences Of the selfdetructon Of Dr. Horace Wells
dentist No 100 Chambers street II appears that
Mr. Wells was detected on Friday right last, in the
act Of throwing vitriol upon the dress of young
woman, In Broadway, near the Aston House. when he
was arrested and conveyed to the Sd Ward station
house, and the next day conducted to the Police
office and after the testimony in his case had been
taken before Ju,tice Osborne he was committed to
srs, OF any Intention Of sefdestruotiou Mr.. Wells
appeared to be rather cheerful on Sunday converting
freely, and while out Of his cell, the corridor,
appeared to pay particular attention to the sermon
delivered by the Reverend gentleman who breaches eve
Sunday to the unfortunate and
discourse related to the Ill effects arising from the early
and constant association with dsreputabe females, and
seemed 50 throw Mr. Wells into deep meditation ana
whom it concluded he retired to his cell and request
ed the keeper to bring him letter paper and
die which was done. Between six and seven O'Clock
that evening" the last time that Mr. Wells alive,
the keeper locked the cell door, and he then
pied in writing. On the following morning, (Mondsy0
Mr.. Jackson one Of the deputy keepers, opened the
cell door, between and O'Clock. and was astonished
to find Mr. Wells in sitting position on his bunk with
hanging the side of the bunk and the left lying
straight the straw mattress Between his legs on the
FORM" q razor, and a penkpfs. The razor was fixed
with o slip Of wood running from the back OF the
blade along the HANDLE fast om Win n. Isos
of his mattrass The left leg Of this unfortunate man
exhibited most horrible sight, from desperate cash,
evidently inflicted by the razor This wound was made
about the center Of the thigh severing the mora
terry, pene rating nearly to the bone and some six
inches in length from the effects Of which he bed to
death. On his mouth he had place silk handkerchief
bunch.d up, and another passing on the outside
aS sa on '0s top b, wss su ne
posed have contained the chlorotorm, which he in
hailed just before he inflicted the fatal wound In one cor
ner Of the cell laid his gold watch together with the
uexsd letters and small piece Of candle about three
inches in length which he had evidently extnguished
before perpetratipg the awful deed
SIR IL wish through tho medium Of your journal to
make plain statement respecting the unhappy circum
stancssin which am at present placed My real pane
is before the public miscreant, guilty Of most
despcable act that Of wantony destroying the proper
ty of those girls OF the town who nightly promenade
The far :. s%
thom had recently formed an acquaintance went with
to my ONCE in Chambers street, while there he said
ment for him while walking in the streets, by throw
ing something like vitriol upon him that he knew who
had some suphuric acid in my office, which was using
In chemical experiments he requested the liberty
e sons Of 80
tit only might escape when It was suddenly thrust Tor
nsa s ssa which
be much injured by tho acid as was good for no.
thing By his REQUEST walked into the street with him,
he wearing my old cloak, and having my ordinary
overcoat We proceeded up broadway, and when about
opposite the theatre he said that he the girl he
was in pursuit Of and he soon gave her shawl
sprinkllng we then turned down Broadway, when my
friend proposed to sprinkle some OF the other girls
Immediately ohjeoted ana t9id nun that what ne nad
although done in revenge and when We arrived
at Chambers street took phia and my cloak the
posing that had dssusded him from doing the mischief
he proposed which is foreign to nature as light
ID opposed to darkness then regretted exceedingly
that had countenancsd in any manner, the first
act On getting home found that my cloak had APP
psrenty received the principal part of the acid which
had escaped from my phial rs the wind was blowing
towards us when the act done. On meeting with my
acquaintance the next day. he said that himself and his
two friends whom met the previous evening, had re-
solved drive all the bad girls out of Broadway, by
spriukling them with acid, in vain reasoned vito him
bssn harmed This was the last tsrvew which have
had with him to the present time. wish now to state,
well as am able what influenced me to do this act,
on Friday evening" which CONFESS WAS done with my
hands; and this was the only one Of which am
guilty and which resulted in my arrest had, during
FORM for the sxhirating effect produced BY IT. and
Friday evening last lost all consciousness before
manned there do not know, but coming ousof the
stupor exhirated beyond measure, exceeding any
the phal Of acid (Which had been used few evenings
previous before described) standing the msntel
in derium seized it and rushed into the street and
but | have recollection further than this
The effects of this inhalation continued very
much longer than before, aud did not
entirely pass of until time after my arrest do not
make this statement expecting to free myself from all
blame in this matter yet have been induced to make
minute statement facts that the public may better
Judge Of this misdemeauor, so far Is am concerned
state unhestatingy that would no sooner deliberately
cold blood 20 into the street and commit the gross
wsntonpess which have been committed for the
last few evenings than would cut my right hand from
my body. No: l am not prone to do mischief, as
ali can testify who have ever known But now
placed in circumstances whore am obliged to
tsmp aa ac" in which have not particpsted
Because did this one act In moment of derium, /
must bear the brunt of the whole Some Of the papers
disbeeve my statement about others being concerned
in this business; but am informed to-day that while
in close confinement last evening" the Same acts
being committed In Broadway were sprin
killed. with acid. However, my character, which have
priced above very thing else is gone, rrevocaby
which it is possible for to be placed One of those
abandoned females who were examined yesterday,
stated that had often addressed her in Broad
ment of this girl is utterly false mover have, on
any occasion, had anything to say to these miser-
who is to suffer by all the false statements which
may have been made respecting me, it would
be nothing to the injury 70 my dear as
preceed my hand too unsteady, and my whole frame
is convulsed in agony. My brain is on fire.
Sunday evening, o'clock again take up my pen, to
to this Is it not all dream Before twelve
o'clock this night am to pay the debt of
live and be called villain. God knows EN- not one.
o. my dear mother brother and sister, what can say
y sDg1sh will only sSs m. to BID you
all hearts, win forgive the dreadful act shall spend
my remaining time in prayer Oh, what misery shall
bring all my near relations; and what still more
dstresses me, is the fact that my name Is familiar
to the whole scientific world, as being connect
ed with an important discovery; and now, while
| am scarcely able to hold my pen / must bid
a'l farewell May God forgive me. Oh my dear
wife and child whom leave destitute Of the Of
support. would stir live and work for you but can
not fer to live on, should become maniac.
feel that an but little better than already The
instrument of my destruction was obtained when the
ofcer who had me in charge kindly permitted me to
to my room yesterday. HORACE WELLS.
To EpiToRs: -
MY last request to Editors IT, that they will, while
comm .nting this unhappy affair, think Of my poor
wife and childalso my mother brother and sister, all
OF whom are numbered among the most respectable
members Of society. ii. WELLS.
To NY DEAR WIFE
/ feel that am fast becoming q derangsd man, or I
would desist from this act cannot live and keep my
reason and this account God will forgive the deed.