Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-02-22
ROA1EROY.O.


one time he was Local Editor of the Gin
cinnati Enquirer" and while in that sta
tion acquired reputation for promptness
in furnishing copy" aud general moral
character that might be envied Ly many
filling similar positions.
We take the following account of this
rash act from the New York Tribune"
4, The most intense excitement prevailed
in Poughkeepsie on Saturday, caused by a
report which was spread abroad in that
city thst gentleman named King, a news
paper correspondent, who was stopping at
Rutzer's Holel, had committed suicide by
taking prussic acid. This report proved
TOO true and though we have collected all
the particulars from his arrival in that
city 10 his death, enough yet remains un-
known 10 cover the whole affair in mystery
80 deep that the vail probably never will be
removed.
On Friday night last gentleman arrived
in PoughkeepsIe by the 6 o'clock train
from Albany, and was conveyed in one of
the numerous carriages in waiting around
the depot to Rutzer's Hotel. He there
registered ais name as ERNEST Montague,
Cincinnati, Ohio" Before retiring to his
room he eonverse1 over half an hour with
Mr.. Rutzer, and attracted the attention of
other gentlemen who were present by his
remarks, which were sensible and spirited.
from his conversation it appeared that he
had visited most of our Western cities.
and was perfectly at home on Kansas.
While speaking of the Burnet House at
Cincinnati, Mr.. Ru,zer remarked that It
was a epiendid piece Of architecture; to
which Mr.. Montague replied, Eyes, taking
Il altogether, consider it one of thu most
adi in ha
aud sixteen -seventeenths of that structure
is now owned by the proprietor" A fire
having been built in his room, he retired
for the night.
At IL o'clock on Saturday morning, he
having not yet made his appearance, Mr..
William Rutzer, supposing he had over
slept himself, went up TO his room to call
him, but no answer being returned to his
loud and repeated raps upon the door, ex-
cept his hard breathing, that gentleman
became alarmed, and informed his brother
John of the fact, who, in company with
two or three gentlemen, rushed up stairs.
and only waiting All instant at the door OF
his room, to confirm what his brother had
already informed him Of, and hearing the
same loud and apparently painful breathing
was alarmed, and without further ado,
burst open the door, when one of those
horrible spectacles presented itself to his
gaze-a man struggling in the last ago
nies Of death, the result of his own hand.
He lay upon the bed a pistol loaded to
the muzzle, the cap exploded, was in one
hand; upon the bed lay the play of Richie
lieu; vial, labeled prussic acid, contain
ing small quantity of that most deadly
of poisons, was within his reach, while
upon the table was a paper with small
quantity of sugar in 1t, which showed
plainly the marks of finger and thumb,
the unfortunate man having taken 1T for
the purpose of saturating IL with the deadly
acid.
Several letters, directed to different per-
sons, also lay upon the table. DR.. Hills
was instantly sent for, who arrived before
he expired, but nothing could be done, and
in few moments he died.
The following letters, written by de-
ceased and directed-one to the Press and
the Public, and the other to Mr.. Rutzer-
reveal his true name, though they give
little clue to the cause of his committing
the rash act.
FR1DAY MIDNIGHT, Feb. II, 1859.
Zothe PreSs and The Public:
die by my own hand, thus fittinglY
terminating an existence which to me has
been productive only of disappointment,
discord, blight and pain. Ah! yes, let me
except few bright hours of love and
friendship which gIeam like stars in
canopy OF gloom-their reflection in my
"yet lucid sOHl'' constituting my only basis
of hope for the future.
If In cutting the cord whieh binds me
to earth, violate any 1nwritten law of
the universe-for surely L violate none of
man's-let it be remembered that L 20 TO
confront the Law Giver, and to pay the
penalty, thereby acquitting the world of
the necessity of pronouncing Judgment.
This reflection, l am sure, will suffice
with the blinking, the phiiosophic few.
The verdict of the unreasonable and un-
charitable who compose the throng, do
not fear Let them, if they choose, de-
fame my character, or if they please, howl
like hyenas over my grave. Then let
them draw what consolation they can from
my dying declaration, that IF I could return
to earth II jscouLd be but to erpr1ss forgive
ness, and, If possible, to bless and brighten
their eristeace.
AS my religious sentiments happen TO
be more generally known than approved,
a single word of reference to them at this
time may be pardoned. They may be er-
Toneous. Inability never claimed; but
thev were not adopted without reflection,
and cannot be relinquished without rea-
son. They, therefore. remain unchanged,
standing the test of this, the hour of death.
as of every other during my life.
death frghtsn ehilGrsn He'll the wretch
leave this world fearing none worse,
hoping for better, but content to follow
my destiny where it leads-my only prayer
being that il mag not recnnSjg1, me to EARTH
JOHN F. KING.
2 O'CLOCK, A. NJ. SATURDAY, Feb. l2-
Do.,oI EEoIaI.