Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-11-28
The Attempted .Suici,I,


stated yesterday narning that Mr. John
a. -. yen formerly well known apotheeary Of
iaiehin nj, hui attempted suicide in PETERSBURG
o"hohf morning by cutting his h.oat The Ex.
PRES sises the following account If the melan.
eholy affair:
.,hr. Iyel is about thirty seven years of age.
aiia' With his brother Ind heen adopted aud we'll
educated by n relative, Mr.. jas. MoKildoe, a
wei known drugg ist of Richmond
Afterwards. Mr.. l.yell became proficient in
.hs profession. md was partner in the firm If
Lyfll, johnson Lye, of Richmond. IIe is a
married man, and has wife and four children.a at
present residing at Georgetown, d. e.
On the 29h October last, Lyell came to this
city, formed a temporary engagement in the
hrm OF u. Il. j Dnes Co, chemists and drug.
gists on Sycamore street. Here he was very
attentive in the discharge of his duties till about
the 4th OF this month, when he resolved to go
down 10 Nortold, made preparations according
ly, and left Messrs. Jones Il Co.'S firm.
II Is the opinion, however, that Lyell did not
go to Norfolk. but. perhaps with n view to for
get private griefs. spent what money he had
earned, IN drnkng,as On Thursday last he made
his appearance at the above store, and was then
inebria,ed, and seemingly, laboring from the eff.
fects OF mania a potu after hard drinking bout.
As he was not fit to be up, he accommodated
with a bed in a room of one Of the clerks over
the store until he should be restored to his usual
power. He seemed to get better rapidly, and on
Saturday, appeared nearly in his usual strength
Of mind and body. Two other young men slept
in the same room with him, and on Sunday morn
ing yesterday about dawn, of these young
men woke up and saw that Lycll had left his bed
He immediately reused up his room mate Mr.
Robt. Bowden) excaiming that Lyell had gone
off somewhere Mr.. Bowden jumped out OF bed
and ran down TO the store, and in the rear of it
seated in n chair. with head thrown back, eyes
glaring with fearful widness, cash from ear To
in his throat, blood streaming all over his
night clothes, a razor bloody in his hand and n
lamp burning before him, was the unfortunate
Lye!l. writing in fearful agony from hls self-
inflicted wonnd, for death TO end his suiferings.
The sight was terrible one, impossible TO
imagine, so Bowden in alarm rushed back to his
room to get the cooperation of his companion
On their return they found Lyell intenty staring
at hem. and to their enquiry, said he had cut
his throat because he was in trouble and wanted
to get out of it. He also tried to dash his brains
out with an iron weight
While one of the young men ran for medical
assistance. he made "A further attempt to get the
razor to in1icta further wound on himself, and
since the fearful cash has been sown. ho
has attempted tn get out of bed to destroy hun
self He says he is resolved to do So, and there
fore demands constant watching.
Drs Spencer and Dudley were immediately in
attendance on this unfortunate man. They found
the wndpipe cut and other wounds very serious,
and proceeded with their usual surgical skill ~
dress them. Lyell is still in very critical posi-
ton, and indeed recovery from such II severe Mt
tempt on his If is very doubtful.