The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-30
Suicide or . YaiAlist ana Philosopher
"a DInYy OF Dying rhoukhts.

-..A Diary Of Dylng Thoughts.
A few days ago, near Fond do Lac
Wisconsin, the badly decomposed body
OF a man was found inn obscure place
among some forest brush. The de,
ceased wAsa man OF medium size, and
was dressed In a dark snGk coat, lIRhl
brown pants, black felt hat, and Con
gress CATERS, His hair was OF q red,
dish cast. A pair Of pocket combs, q
ring containing large brass key and
four smaller ones, anda pocket diary
for 1867, were the only articles found or
his person. The latter contained all
that ID known OF the man. The follow.
ing unsigned statements were found ID
the diary, and were written 10 q good,
steady hand, and, with one or two ex'
ceptlons, every word was correctly
spelled:
SATURDAY, September II.
"In all well regulated communities
not among The least officers 10 watch
over the welfare OF Its citizens Is that Of
coroner. tits check 10 crime, and
conductive 10 the morality and welfare
OF society, t'E1TL ? ~
believing that the good town oi
Foud du Lac has amongits representa-.
tive officers coroner, these fines are
most respectfully y addressed, believing
that It will aid him and his Jury In ar:
rlying at their verdict, should they be
called In my case, as they undoubtedly
will. -
i"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 Rixty.se seven,
being In asane state OF mind, iaborlng
under no excitement, enjoying good
bodily health, have taken into INV
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 "a
the people here. Twill only saw that
am a latalist, and have had q. present..
tnent for the past two years that l would
come TO this, and there Ia no use In try.
ing TO staye It OF; Il 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.
~ aul expecting u small amount OF
money by mail; enough TO pay small
board bill Of two weeks and my burial
expenses. l Ihave 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 80 blunt can hardly write. Ishould
Judge It was about o'clock. Where
will be to. o.morrow ut l O'Clock? Echo
answers, whereH
"9 o'clock, P. NJ.
~ have made mistake. should
have taken thirty grains. Imust leave
It'll tomorrow.
"suNDAY, 18th.
Twenty grains TO day will finish the
Job. 1 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 in as
good hand US the preceding:
"My pulse Is growing weaker;
think 1t will have lts intended effect,
although lone day took three ounces OF
lnudanum, 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 ain the second edition OF
the Wandering Jew, but begin to feel
the effects OF II through my system.
~ have always thought that I could
meet death calmly, and find 1t even so;
feel perfectly happy, and resigned to
lny fate."