Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-28
From the Alton Courier. Oct 18th.
Attempted Suicide in tho Illinois Poniton-
tlary-A Very Singular Case

About four o'ulock on Sunday morning one OF
the cunvets in tlS Penteniary attempted to kill
himself by cutting his thral. Tho instrument
used was his cell knife. \ cnmmon case knife, old
aud duh. lilo was discovered about hall past six,
covered with blood, II bad cash across the lower
parl of his neck. unable to speak, and taken at
once the hospital. The penitentiary ply siean.
DR.. Williams. wns ut once called, who dressed tho
wound. rs we'll us posslblc. Tho wind lil is al.
most severed. and tho neck prctents u shocking
appearance. II is extremely doubtful if the man
RECEIVERS.
The case is one of the most singular ms woll y
horrible, that ever occurred III the penitontlary
Tho mans name il George Staylor, sent here from
Cook co, ON the 9th Sept 1855, for bur slary for
the term OF years. lie Id iul-sized, stout man
NV about 81 years old, aud has been looked upon
n one Of tho worst men IN the penitentlary ever
sineo coming here.
Two wears ago hc led tho rc, ut of forty or fifty
| men, who attacked the sentinel box On tho north
east corner Of the wall. 1t WAS necessary thon
for tho guard to use his gun, but tho shot struck
another man, and Stuyipr escaped unharmed lie
assisted in planning ine fro oi tho wagon shop last
July. Seven men were engaged in TINT afinir.
Slaylor furnished tho match ahd promising to pay
the man wh, touched the fire II sum Of money for
doing it. Tho vigilnt and cautious pro aeeding
of Deputy Warden Steele brought this consrira-
cy to light in three days after the fre-the hired
prisoner finally coniessing the whole. For that
transaction Stnylor was ol course, with the others,
severely punished.
After he had recovered from this, Mr. Steele
had long aud earnest talk with him. urging him
tn behave himself as he ought. lls finally promi
red that bo would, md was put u; work. wearing
the ball and chain. lie behaved very we'll till ten
twelve days ago, not attempting any net OF in
suborLination. Though watched with the greatest
possible care every effort was mnde by kind treat
men., to cause him to forget his punishment, and
keep him doing well.
About ten days ago he was detected in driving
II scratch aw into his breast, just below the heart.
OF course this WAS stopped, not, however, until he
had made bad wound. A few days in tho Hos
pital healed it, and be was again put atwork -
Early last week he caught in the same act q
second time. Whit he desired 10 do is not plain,
for lie could easily enough have killed himself
1t appears us though his object to gel the ad.
vantage of the night guard Of the Hosp tai, take
his keys, and let himself and others out. Every
prccaution to guard against this was taken, and
the man was sent to the Hospital second time.
From thence he went 10 close confinement. On
several occasions during the week. he cxpi essed
pcnitenco for his conduct and made strong prom
ses Of BOD conduet--eyen going 50 far n to vol
UNFAIRLY get on his knees an tho workshop and
beg pardon Of the guard for all that he had done
that was wrong. on Saturday evening while out
for exercise, he was caught n IL third attempt to
mutilalc himself. lie is u man Of intelligence,
perfectly sane On all subjects. and desrcrado Of
the worst kind. AS before stated. it is hardly
possible ihnt he can live, though Dr. Williams il
doing all he can to save him. lIc acknow lodges
that be has been treated with kindness by tho De-
putty Warden, and gives no reason for his singular
conduct There ia every warrant for believing TINT
it is part ofsomo great scheme to get up II revolt,
or to get out OF the pentenary.
IJRRIBLE ACCIDENT FROM SoMNAMBrLIsM-
Yesterday morning before daybreak, the cook at
Barto's Hotel. going into the al ca of the build
ing on Sixth street, was shocked to find the dead
body of a man therein. The clerk wa. called,
and, upon inspection. it was asccrtaned to be the
body Of MIR. Frederick Beish, of Fleetwood. Mr..
Beish arrived in town on Thursday morning, and,
alter attending to some business. passed the even.
ing until O'Clock, with his brother who resides
on Pcnn's Mount
At eleven o'clock, he retired t his room. and
subsequent investigation proved that he had strip
ped himself to his shirt and hung his clothing
carefully on pegs. About O'Clock, Mr.. Kline,
who occupies u room just below, says that he heard
q window fall and some object descend, and it is
evident that that object the unfortunate man.
As the window has no weights attached, Mr. Beish
must have arisen in his sleep, opened the sasl,,
and Jumped or fallen out. His ronn WI. in the
fourth story Of the hotel and in falling, he struck
an iron brace connecting the railing with the
luilding. and also severed leather strap used b,
steady tree.
The left side of his skull over the eve was bro
KEN rs also his right arm near the shoulder, and
large pool Of dark blood marked the spot ia the
area where he struck. Coroner Fox held an in
quest the jury rendering verdict in accordance