The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-03-17
e Aao,,he r Br,naa ! native Of Norfolk,

~ = H.
Virginia, aged about thirty two years,
bookkeeper in mercantile house in San
Francisco. His strict attention to business II
had secured him the condolences Of his EN-
ployers; but he fell at last into habits OF dis-
sipation and luxurious living, and, TO sup Il
port them, overdrew his account TO the
amount of 81 900. concealing the fraud by
false entries. This was soon discovered ;and
though no public exposure had taken place
OF was intended, he deliberately destroyed
himselfby taking strychnine. Then followed,
day after day, in quick succession, a dozen
other like attempts at self-destruction, OF
which six proved fatal.
The san Francisco Herald, in comment
ing on this remarkable concurrence OF sur
cides, expresses the opinion that they have
been caused, in a great measure, by he
force Of an infectious example the publca>
tion of the minute details of Rranda's suicide
having suggested to others the same course,
even in cases where there had been pre-
yiously no such intention, just as the pub
llished accounts Of great crimes against others
lhave been often known to cause the lmme-
date preparation Of like crimes.
History gives many instances Of the pre-
.alence at times, of such suicidal or criminal
infection or contagion. A mania for suicide
once pervaded the army of Frederick the
Great Of Prussia Believing the fear Of shame
i greater than the fear OF death, he caused the
body Of an officer Of high rank, who had COM
mitted suicide, TO be buried IN cross ROAD,
with a stake driven through it, on which
were inscribed the words, " Poltroon and
suicide" and declared his intention TO punish
in this manner, every suicide. The mania
ceased Immediately. In like manner. Ma
lpoleon the First, checked a similar mama
among the women Of town in his possession,
Lby ordering the bodies Of all suicides to be
publicly exposed naked.
The influence ofexample on morbid minds
is shown BY the following case, recorded BY
sir Charles Bell, the eminent English sur
geon: ,n
I" One Of the surgeons Of tile Middlesex
Hospital was in the habit Of going every
morning TO be shaved BY barber IN the
Eneighborhood who was known to be steady,
industrious man. One morning conyersa-
ton arose about an attempt at suicide that
had lately occurred when the surgeon re-
! marked that the man had not cut his throat
in the right place. The barber then casually
inquired where the cut should have been
made, and the surgeon pointed to the situa-
ton Of the carotid artery. A few minutes
: afterwards the surgeon was alarmed by hear
: ing a noise at the back OF the shop, and on
] rushing to the spot. found that the barber
! had cut his own throat with the razor ne mad
been shaving him with. lie speedily died
I Some time since a man in New lamp
shire threw himself from the top Of higf
precipice, and was killed. The newspapers
gave 4 minute account Of the occurrence, ant
!, party Of ladies and gentlemen, moved b,
curiosity, visited the spot. While looking
I from the height, one Of the party exclaimed
I !. would really like, were it possible with
! out certain death, to experience the sensa
: tions Of the suicide while falling from thu
= cliff and before he could be prevented, b
I threw himself down headlong.
DR.. Esquirol. to shnw the bad effect o. TO
z publicity Of the details Of crime, relates, tina
= !. female who cut off the head Of neigh
:, bor's child was brought to Judgment. On u
y trial. All the minor details were made public
and were very much talked Of. The conse
y quenee was, that il produced, in imitation,
great number Of homicidal attempts
= Numerous instances Of this kind might b
y given, 10 show that crime, whether again.
!, others Or against ones self, appeals power
!" fully 10 the initiative instinct Of mankind
y 50 true is this, that it may well be beiiese
!. that the suppression Of the detailed nara
3 tives Of crime that now occupy 50 large
Y. space III the public papers weald remove
= serious hindranee to the moral improvement
Z Of the people.
y The California suicides naturally suggei
many renectians on the sln and folly Of Thy
! ending life but We trust our readers nee
= no argument to convince them that i y be
ter for Us TO
a--bear those is w have.
y Than Al 10 others that knos not q.
- If they wish to make philosophical and =