The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-03-22
Death Of One. Eyed Thompson.

At a quarter after = o'clock this afternoon
March 3D. IN the Essex street Prison, New York,
WIN ii. Thompson. known ~ One Eyed lhDmp
son brcathed lis last Ii will be recocctcd that
he was IN prison on a charge Of eOuuterietln.
His death was Causei by u dose of uorph.uc
as stated in a letter Dy HIM, directed to tbs C,r
ouer lie also left note directed to his wife,
and another to Mr. Oliver, requesting him to in
form his wife OF hs death. GrDans were heard
in his Gel, about half past frc last night, when.
upon breaking H. the officers found him IN state
oi almost :nscu-ib',ity he lingcrcl until
this morning. An inquest was held to day over
the deceased, when the following letter was Civ
en in evidence:
There IL nothing extraordnnryin my end
From nv boyish DAYS as far back as my mem.
ory serves me- have had disposition to com.
NIT suicide surrendered BY mystery above my
comprehension AID one that 10 known theories
promulgated by others accounted for have de
sired death as the only means Of apprehension OF
eternal quiet. For long time haze tired Of
ihi, world; conscious Of my perfect ability to
contOurd this new charge to my prejudice, thu
hope of behc Of further service to my family
has departed. So long M man may be useful To
those he is bound to protect the act u s'cide Is
selfish. criminal and cowardIy, but when hi. con
tnued existence is likely To be attended with n,
good effect, the case becomes one of different
nature.
/ For reasons and causes, aot necessary for m,
10 explain, but apart from any danger that may
be supposed to threaten my liberty, feel tsat il
is my duty To- die. No death may serve those
am physically and mentally incapacitated to ben
eft All men live only in the future, and thos,
most gifted aud w,e would not like to live thcir
past life over So little Is life worth. So lar a,
my ability allowed, | have been all that a maj
should DC to hi. children. Their reputation with
that Of my wife Is unsaned, and to the Charta
bic and good commeRl them. The unthiukIne
and malignant will prosecute them aud endcavo
To- make capital 10y publications to my injury
Who knows what the morrow may bring forth
VINO can iureteil the fate OF his children Tn,
luterposItion Of tue thinking and vlriuous agar
implorc.
Let my suflrrings atone for all; they should
be- sufficient, | beg tie forgiveness Of those
whom | havO injured, anl solcmnly declare
that the Drury', are guilty Of all with which
they have been charged Til, Ia,seit from pos
hive knowledge The theory that Warner had
any knowledge oi the torpedo previous to its cx
po,iun is false Eutes mistakenly swcars to my
being in New York ON the evening specified
At o'clock ou the evening in question, | lei
my house as several will testify. A half past :
o'clock was in the drug store Of Mr.. Rice, ard
from there returned home and went out with my
wife, as many know who met Us when abroad.
The disposition made of MY body to me car
be Of No Consequence; yet, 50 far a can. de
sire to spare the feelings Of those Nho loved NJ,
while living On their account to prevent mu
ti'ation shat would increase their suffering,
state that my death was caused 10y thirty.tv,
gruins Of the Acetate Of Morphine lproture,
it without the connvancc of any one
Signed, W H. THOMPSON
The verdict was that the deceased came To hi
death by taking quantity Uf the Acetate u
Morphine,