Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-29
THE SUICIDE MANIA.
Anoti.er Ciiizen Dea.rors &c Life.
as Takes Lauaanum and pies.
COrOuOr's Inquest.

There seems to have prevailed for some
months past on the part of number of
persons in this latitude an unaccountable
mania for suicide. Various expedients
have been resorted to by those who, deem
ing existence misery, in destroying their
lives, which they deemed no longer worth |
preserving. There have been no fewer /
than five or six suicides during the last five |
months on the part of persons who as
signed no immediate cause, and the sur
roundings of whom would Justify expecta- |
tions altogether different A few days since |
we recorded the death of Mr.. Burchartz by |
his own hands, superinduced by the NOR
bid grief for his wife, and we are now called
upon to chronicle the death of another
citizen by similar means. In this instance
| there was no apparent Cause, nor no mo-
| tive assigned for the rash act. The de-
| ceased was an excellent mechanic, and in
many respects what might be termed a
successful and prosperous one. His name
was Thomas Gardam, and he had long been
q resident Of this city. He was plasterer
| by trade, and had no superior in that
| specially in the State. He worked in the
employ of Capt. Stocked for a long time,
and much of the fine plastering and stucco
work to be seen on our public buildings
was tho work of his hands. BE was gen.
tleman of amiable temperament, being
genial, ioviai and companionable, and pos
sessing high flow Of animal spirits on all
occasions. He was member Of the Red
Men, and we believe, also of the Pale
Faces, and had many friends. He was in
the prime Of life, being near forty-fve
years of age, and was In excellent health
at the time of the lalnentable occurrence
He had given no sign or intention of such
determination to even his most intimate
friends up to few hours before its consum-
nation. What rasping care or secret grief
that wrapped his heart and clouded his
soul, concealed by his apparent genial exte-
rior, is known only to the All Seeing and
All Searching Eye, and will doubtless re-
main forever q mystery, till the deeds of
men are unrolled in the day of final reck-
, oning.
Mr.. Gardam lived at No. 112 Demon
breun street, near its intersection with Vine,
where he resided with his family, consist
ing of a wife and two interesting young
. children, boy and girl. On Thursday
he was in the Ohancery Court room, and
in free and by no means depressing inter
, course with his legal and personal friend,
Lucien NJ. Temple, Esq, in as good spir-
its as usual. Later in the afternoon, he
= was on Cherry street, on the side opposite
3 the Climax, where the unfortunate Bur-
3 chartz terminated his life q few day ssince.
Looking across the street ard pointing
| to the Climax, ne said to a friend
3 81 am going to do as that German did,
! and take my own life" The careless and
/ unconcerned manner in which he made
the remark induced his friend to treat it
3 as jest. The friend then proposed that
, they go and take good oyster supper.
This Mr.. Gardam declined, saying that be
l did not wish anything to eat, but that they
. | would take a drink together, which they
! accordingly did On his way home he
: purchased vial of laudanum, and kept it
in his pocket Shortly after reaching
} home, without indicating his purpose to
t any one, he sat down and wrote the fol.
/ | lowing to his friend, Mr. Temple:
NASHVILLE, Jan. q, 1969.-Bro. L. N.
: Temple; You will, as a friend, respect my
f memory. have never wrongsd any one.
Take care of my remains, and see that my
wife and children, Willie and Mamie, get
home. remain yours,
THOMAS GARDAM.
This was evidently written before he had
| taken the fatal dose, as it is in an even,
! | plain and steady hand. Having written
: this, he stepped out upon the porch and
: swallowed the principal contents of the
! | vial. lie then went into the family room,
, and, seeing that some Of the laudanum re.
) manned, he was about taking it, but turued
to his wife and said: ''Wife, 1 have
, taken enough; you will have nc
: husband and the children no ia
Their in the morning" The laudanum
was swallowed about 10 o'clock; shortly
, after, when evidently under the influence
Of the fatal drug he seated himself, and
wrote the following incoherent and unhn-
ished note to Mr.. Temple, the penmanship
of which evinced the tremor of his situa-
: ton.
/. NASHVILLE, Tenn, G. S. D. 3T9.-Bro.
L. NJ Temple. I regret this act, but al
8 the same time the treatment that l have
Here the pen dropped from his nerveless
hand, and soon the poor man was in q
state of stupefaction from which he never
aroused He died yesterday morning al
near o'clock. Coroner Brien, yesterday
held an inquest over the body, at which 8
verdict was rendered in accordance with
the foregoing facts. His funeral will take
place tomorrow, with the ceremonies
peculiar to the Independent Order of Red
2 Men. Capt. Stockeu yesterday telegraph
ed to his relatives, in Philadelphia, inform
| ING them of the sad event