The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-11
Suicide or . Ratalist and Philosopher
...A DlAPy OF Dying rhouRhts.

A few days ago, near Fond du Lac,
Wisoonsin, the badly decoinposed body
OF a man was found In nn obscure place
among some forest brush. The de-
ceased wHsla man OF medium size, and
was dressed in q dark Rnck coat, light
brown pants, black felt hat, and Com
gress CATERS. His hair was OF q red
dish cast. A pair Of pocket combs, n
ring containing large brass key and
four smaller ones, anda pocket diary
for 1867, were the only articles found on
his person. The latter contained all
that 10 known OF the man. The follow.
Ing unsigned statements were found Ia
the diary, and were written 10 good,
steady hand, and, with one or two ex.
ceptions, every word was correctly
SATURDAY, September II.
"In all we'll regulated communities
not among the least officers TO watch
over the welfare OF Its citizens is that OF
coroner. tits q check 10 crime, and
conduetiyeto the morality and welfare
Of society. t5 u
"Believing that the good town or
Fond du Lac has atnongits representa-.
tive officers coroner, these fines are
most respectfully addressed, Believing
that It will aid him and his Jury In ar.
riylng at their verdict, should they be
called In my case, as they undoubtedly
will. -
l"Be IL known to whom II may con.
cern, that /, A. q, Alden, have this, the
fourteenth day OF September, In. the
year eighteen hundred and sixty seven,
being In o sane state OF mind, lab0rlng
under no excitement, enjoying good
bodily health, have taken into my
stomach ten grains Of morphine, for
the sole purpose OF putting me into an
eternal sleep; yea, the sleep OF death.
"My reasons are OF no importance 10
the people here. Twill only say that /
am latalist, and have had q, present..
tnent for the past two years that / would
come TO this, and there Ii no use In try.
Ing 10 staye II OF; II Is sure 10 come, and
there Is no filter time than to-day. II
there have been clouds In my life, the
sun shines on me now, and am not
unhappy.
81 aui expecting u small amount OF
money by mail; enough TO pay small
board bill OF two weeks and my burial
expenses. have nothing more to say.
A. g. ALDEN."
On the opposite side OF the sheet is the
following:
~ have Just taken 1t with peaches,
and calmly await results. My pencil
ls so blunt I can hardly write. Ishould
Judge It was about / o'clock. Where
will be tomorrow at o'clock? Echo
answers, where2
"9 o'clock, P. NJ.
"I have made a mistake. i should
have taken thirty grains. Imust leave
It'll tomorrow.
"SUNDAY, 10th.
"Twenty grains TO day will finish the
Job. l have felt rather sick this morn.
ing from the effects Of the small dose,
but that will soon be over"
On another page, not written iu as
good hand as the preceding:
"My pulse Is growing weaker; /
think 1t will have its intended effect,
although lone day took three ounces OF
laudHnum, but my strong constitution
aud strong vitality threw II of; It did
not even make me sleepy; but II ten
grains OF morphine do not do 1t, shall
think that 1 ain the second edition OF
the Wandering Jew, but ! begin TO feel
the effects OF 1t through my system.
81 have always thought that I could
meet death calmly, and find 1t even 80;
l feel perfectly happy, and resigned TO
my fate.n