Washington telegraph., 1850-02-13
SUICIDE BY STARVATION.


ago in Corsica. During the elections, the
Sieur V. rushed into the electoral college
armed with a dagger, which he plunged
into :he breast of man who had done
him some injury. The man fell dead a,
his feet. The assassination was committed
IN The full light Of day, and in the pres
ence of an assembled multitude.
Y. was tried, found guilty and con
demned to death. His high spirit and
resolute character were we'll known, and
it was suspected that he would seek, by
voluntary death, to evade the disgrace
OF perishing on the scaffold. He was
therefore vigilantly watched, aud every
precaution taken TO deprive him Of the
means OF putting an end TO his existence
Heresolved TO statve himself to death
during the interval which elapsed be-
tweeI the sentence of the Court of Assizes
and the reply which the Court of Cassa-
ton would make to the appeal he had
ADDRESSED 10 it.
lie had succeeded in concealing from
the observation of his jailors a portion of
the ood which they supplied him, so as
to rake it be believed that he regularly
took his meals. After three days absti-
nense the pangs of hunger became insup-
portable. 1t then suddenly occurred to
him that he might the more speedily ac-
compish the object he had in view, by
eati,g with avidity. He thought that
the state of exhaustion to which he was
reduced would unfit him to bear the sud-
lon nd hot IA "
occasion the death he so ardently desired.
lie accordingly sat down to the food
which he had laid aside, and eat voraci-
o,sly, choosing in preference the heaviest
things. The consequence was that he
was seized with violent fit of inliges-
Iitn. from which, contrary to his expecta-
titn. the prison doctor speedily cured him.
He then resumed his fatal design. He
suffered again what he had undergone
before. The torture was almost beyond
hB strength. His thirst, too, was into
letable. 1t overcome his resolution. He
extended his hand towards the Jug OF
water which had been placed in his cell
lie drank with avidity, and, to use his
owa expression, acas restored to life.
To avoid yielding again to similar
temptation, he daily took the precautiou
of overturnlng the jug of water which
was brought to him. Lest he should be
induced to raise it to his lips, he threw il
down with his foot, not venturing to touch
it with his hand. In this manner he
passed eighteen days.
Every day, at different intervals, he
noted down in his album minute ac-
count of his sensations. He counted the
beatlng of his pulse, and marked then
number from hour to hour. measuring
with the most scrupulous attention the
gradual wasting of his strength. La
several parts Of his melancholy memento
he declares that he felt it harder to beal
the agonies of thirst than those Of hunger
He confesses that he was frequently on
the point of yielding to the desire of drink.
ing. Tie nevertheless resisted.
He was surprised to find his sight be-
come more and more clear. strong and
accurate; it appeared to him like the de.
velopment of new sence. The nearer
he approached his latter moments. the
more his power of vision seemed to III
crease On this subject he thus expresses
himself; "It appears as though l could
see through the thickest walls. Ills
sense of feeling likewise attained the most
exquisite senslbility. His hearlng and
smelling improved in a similar degree
His album contains many curious state
ments on these subjects.
The Sieur V. had devoted some atten-
ton to anatomy and physiology; and he
attributes the increased acuteness of his
senses to the way in which the Intestinal
Irritation acted on the nervous system.
His ideas, he says, were numerous and
clear. aud very different from anything he
iIad experienced in moments Of excite
inent or intoxication. They were all dl-
recred to logical investigation. whether
he applied them TO an analysis of material
objects, or to philosophic contemplation.
de also felt himself inspired with stu
yular aptitude for mathematical calcula-
llon, study for which he had previously
felt very little inclination. In short, he
declares that he never derived so much
qualification from his intellectual condi-
tion, as throughout the whole duration OF
his physical torture.
He made notes in this album to the last
moments of his existence. lie had
scarcely strength sufficient to hold the
pencil with which he traced the follow
ing words: "My pulse has nearly ceased
to beat-but my brain retains degree OF
vigor which, in my sad condition, is the
greatest Solace Providence could bestoW
on me. 1t is impossible that ! can live
out this day. My jailors watch me, and
fancy they have adopted every precantlon
They little think that l have outwltted
them Death annuls the sentence which
has been pronounced on me. In another
hour, perhaps, they will find nothing but
a cold corpse.
V. expired as he foretold. His album
hopn rf,,llx, ,>rocorvoA lt