Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-05-26
A HORRIBLE DEATH.
Suicide OF Maniac at the st. Louis
City Hospital.

City Hospital. @res-e
From the ST. Louis Times. May s.
About month ago, a young man. not more
than 26 years of age. named jesse Morgan,
whose father resides at Connersville, Henry
county, Missouri, came to Kirkwood. He
was progressing IN Appearance, but his
actions were so strange as to render 1t ap-
parent that his mind was shattered. His
increased, and the poor fell
low wandered about the streets, evidently
unconscious of his own movements, or of
the fact that his singular conduct was at
tracing universal attention. At one time
he would shrek as though in great bodily
pain; at another become perfectly quiet,
snd lie down in the streets, or wherever he
happened to be. Sometimes he would
pause in the midst of a group of boys
scores of whom, impelled by a desire to
witness his freaks, almost constantly fol-
lowed him-and make wild, incoherent re.
hgious or political harangues. Finally, one
day, in tire presence of large assemblage,
he stripped himself of clothing, and when
perfectly nude, ran down one of the
streets, shouting that the ''devil wanted his
eyes"
After this most extraordinary demonstra-
ton, it was resolved to place him where
he could harm neither himself nor others.
He was arrested and sent to the st. Louis
city hospital for medical treatment. His
conduct there varied from that at Kirk
wood only in the increase in violence and
frequency of his paroxysms. He was closely
watched, and the attendant physician
thought it not improbable thatan improve
ment might be wrought in his condition.
His conduct was wholly inoffensive. Not
! Ill 20 naft hIrrl
There was nothing to indicate malice to-
ward any one. Sometimes he would con
! verse and act quite nationally. But it was
impossible to divest his mind Of the belle
that the devil desired his eyes. Occasion.
ally, when in the height of one of his par
oxysms, he doubtless thought the evil one
| literally present, he would cover his eyes
with his hands and beg piteously for pro
| lection. Assurances that he should not b.
harmed were of little avail. The fantasy
had complete possession of him. A hor
rid specter, it followed him day and night
IL seemed to paralyze bis whole being
Nothing could break tne terrible spell
which, while he seemed to shrink from it
vet appeared to fascinate and lure him OF
to destruction.
Yesterday the end came. Poor Morgan
had been for nearly an hour slowly pacin,
the floor. His head leaned forward on hi
breast, and re was so quiet that thos
present began to feel more hopeful of hi
ultimate recovery. He had spoken but lIt
tie. and his words were properly chosen
Suddenly he startled everybody by shout
ing: .sThe devil must have my eyes rand
before he could be restrained, h
with his fingers tore both eyes fror
THAR sockets and fbrew them on the floor
The horrible act was scarcely the work c
a moment; and when the persons presen
realized what had occurred, the maniac
sightless, his face crimson with bloc
which flowed in torrents from the ghastl
sockets. and was already forming puddle
on the floor, stood before them, quiet q
though nothing had happened. Medic'
attendance was at once summoned, br
without avail. He fingered a few hour
and then death came and ended life
sorrow.