The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-28
Attempted Suicide.

Attempted Suicide
4 ro,,. fa,,ov named Joseph Bird who
had formerly been teaching
In ,ha Orion Female Seminary came 70 TINS
,.., Thor.d.y, and put up at the Rock
- Hon,e. aging that he was writing
80, and Intended starting a school in
~. o;tv. He either met 60 encouragement,
or VIZ. easily discouraged, for he made all
necessary preparations to quit this world,
BY writing letters to his friends and
scquaintances he also called on Gaylord,
and had several pictures taken, then he pur-
chased two ounce bottle of laudunum at
Bengston's, and got drunk, evidently lacking
the courage to extricate himself from his
difficulties, without being under the infu-
ence of liquor. He then went to the hotel,
and called the attention of all to him by his
singular actions. At first it was thought
that he was drunk, then as he became more
violent in his demonstrations, he was thought
to be crazy. Detective Pinkerton, who was in
the Office at the time, saw q bottle protrod
ing from his pocket, and informed Mr.. Guild
of the fact, and told him he thought the fell
low HAD been taking poison, whereupou Mr..
Guild walked up to him and drew the bot
tie from his pocket. 1t was noticed at the
! time, that the bottle did not contain as
much laud unum as full measure would war
rant Mr.. Guild then poured out the con-
| to nts and asked Bird if he had taken any OF
it, to which Bird returned anwer that be
had not. But as this answer war not salts.
factory dose of sweet oil and vinegar was
| ad administered to him. He was committed
to the charge of Mr.. Mitsch, who took him
to Jail ON the road to which ee confessed to
having taken a swallow of the poison, also
couple of glasses Of wh'skey- lie was
lodged in Jail over night, and this morning
hrough. before Squire Chopper. He said
| ia court that he had not taken
the laudunum with the inten-
ton of committing suicide, but that he had
purchased it for medicinal purposes. Doc
tor Powers testified that he had taken some
of the poison, that the quantity remaining
in the bottle at tbs time Of its discovery,
was not sufficient for full two ounce bottle.
At the time the bottle was discovered, three
letters were found in his pocket Thinking
that they might throw some light on the
subject, they were opened In the court. We
give a copy of them that our readers may
judge whether the act was . prenediated
| one: The first one appears to have been
addressed to q friend at Orion:
Please mail this.
Mr.. JEFFERSON LUTON, ORION, Ill.
FRIEND JEFEERsoS-Wheny you read this
| will have left this hard and toilsome world
for ever So good bye.
y our friend,
JOSEPH BIRD.
No more.
The next one is addressed TO the post
master at Orion, with whom he boarded
while teaching in that place:
Please mail this.
POSTMASTER, ORION, III.
Mr.. TREGo.-lf there is letter comes
there for me, from New Castle, Pa, written
by female, please return it to Amanda
Warner, New Castle, Pa.
Yours, respectfully,
JosEPH BIRD.
No more.
The last is addressed to one whom he
claims as a cousin, aud who he says Tilted
him
Please mail this.
Miss AMANDA WARNER,
NEwcAsTLE, Pa.
Rock ISLAND, Jan. 20, 1871.
Dear Cousin-I send my love to all my
friends, and bid you good bye forever.
JOSEPH BIRD,
No more.
In the first and last letter are inclosed
two pictures of himself. Speaking of him
self he SAYS that he was raised by sn uncle
in Missouri, where be spent greater por-
ton of his life His mother died when he
was an infant, and his father is entirely
act appears to have been the manner IL
which he was treated by his cousin, Miss
Warner, with whom he appeared to be des
perately enamored, and who has not bestow
ed upon him that share of affection he wish
ed for in return for his devotion. His
effects consisting of a trunk and vRlise are
at the Orion House, and he manifested con
siderable reluctance to have them sent for.
We cannot at present state what action will
be taken By the State Attorney in his case.
But if he is allowed to 60 free, he should 60
somewhere and forget that pretty cousin.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST SHERIFF
PAYNE.-We have received q letter contain
ing q series of charges of i'll treatment of
prisoners by Sheriff Payne, which if true |
should be Investigated by the Grand Jury.
The letter is written by one who ''has been |
there" and therefore speaks from expert |
ence. The charges made are that the pris-
oners do not get the board that the county |
pays for, and that they do get some things
not called for in the prison regulations, and
that the discipline among the prisoners is
wrong. How far these charges we'll
founded VIZ have no means of knowing, but
we do not publish the letter until we have
further proof that the charges made are
true. We however hope they are not true
for the sake of the good name of Sheriff
Payne.
IRISH PoPLISs.-May Bros. have just re-
ceived a full line of colors of the Genuine
Irish Poplins." Call and see them.
State Items.
Carbonate wants FIRE engine.
The Sontharn Insana Asxlnm In A.aa