Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-28
THB CITY.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.
A Worthy Young Man Tired OF Life
Takes Morphine.
Distressing Occurrence.

1t becomes our painful duty this morn
ing to chronicle another of those event
the occurrence of which throws a deer
gloom over immediate friends, families an,
relatives, and shocks an entire community
When an individual dies in the ordinary
course of events by the fell fangs of disease
or when in heated combat he is hurled into
eternity by the mad passions of the hour
| or falls victim to the cupidity CT the
assassin's steel, it is not unnatural as aris-
| ing from the infrmities and incidents Of
| life. But when a man, amisble by nature,
cultivated by education and association,
| possessed of fine business qualifications,
surrounded by friends, and Just fully enter
ing into the bright morning of a life full
| of hope and of promise; when such man
is induced, with his own wild hand, to fling
back in the face of Heaven the life God had
given, for useful and noble purposes, as no
longer desirable, it produces a shock as
profound as the deed Is unnatural. The
| deed is done but there is a righteousness
| about it that the most astute cannot pene-
trate, and hidden causes that impel the
deed, which will be known only when the
great scroll of human events, blurred and
blotted with tears, shall be 1nrolled by
Omnifc Hand in the day of final doom.
On the occurrence of such an event, seek
ing not to lift the veil and penetrate the
hidden causes, we can only say in the Ian
guage of Shakspeare's Antony and Cleo
patra-
'sHe is dead;
Not by the public minister o! justice,
Nor by hired knife; but that self hand
Which writ his honor in the acts it did,
Hath, with the courage the heart did lend il,
Stilled the heart"
These are some of the reflections super
induced by the death of OvertOn Flippin,
who took morphine at II o'clock on Sun
day, from the effects of which he died at
8 o'clock Sunday night. Deceased was
near % years of age, and was regarded as
one of the most pleasant, affsble and
promising business young men of our
city. His brother, T. D. Flppin, has long
been Abstract Bookkeeper, very respon-
BILE position, of the Nashville and Ohstta-
nooga Railroad. Overton was clerk in the
office, and lived with his brother,
who resides on Berryhill street, be-
tween Walnut and Spruce streets.
His brother on Saturday had gone out
on the pay train, leaving Overton in the
Office He continued the discharge of his
duties with his accustomed correctness and
urbanity, giving no sign of the terrible
catastrophe that was to follow. Sunday
morning he grew melancholy and remarked
to his sister that he intended to make az sy
with his life. The full import and signi-
fcance was not attached to the remark
which subse queHt events showed it really
implied. True to his word, at u o'clock
he went to drug store and procured u
grains of morphine which he deliberately
prepared with his own hand and swallowed.
Some three or four hours elapsed before it
was known what be had done; the system
had sunk into torpor under the influence
of the fatal drug from which he was never
to be aroused. The most skillful of medical
aid was at once procured, but he was be-
yond all remedial agencies, and at
o'clock he died at his brothers residence
on Berryhill street. We understand that
he made a similar attempt at taking his
life by morphine some nine months ago,
but failed Shortly after his death Cor
oner's inquest was held whose verdict was
that he came to his death from the effects
of morphine, administered by his own
hand.
Deceased procured the drug at - o'clock
Sunday, at the drug store Of NJ. @. Curry,
corner of Church and Spruce streets. He
entered the store with party of friends
aud purchased some cigars and tobacco.
He called to Mr.. F. L. King, the clerk,
who happened to be standing in the door,
and asked for twelve grains sulphate OF
morphine. The clerk demonstrated, and
asked Mr.. F. if he knew the nature of
morphine? He replied that he did but
that he did not want the drug for himself,
but for another person. While he was
putting it up, Mr.. K. cautioned him to be
very careful with it. Deceased then went
down the street with his friends and ex-
hibited the morphine Ono Of the party
asked him if he was going to take it? He
said no, that it was for friend. Another
Cf the friends then remarked, that if ne
(Ieceased) took it, they had better all take
seine.
Deceased then left the party and went
home on Berryhill street, where he COM
planned of being sick, and retired to his
room. A few minutes after he called
servant for water After drinking the
water he retired. Some time after the ser
want returned to the room and found him
breathing very hard. The case was re-
ported to his sister-in-law, and the best OF
medical skill was procured, with the result
already indicated. We will state that MIR.
King is careful and courteous prescrip-
zionist. Deceased left brief and some
what incoherent note to his brother, ID.
Flippin, written evidently after the drug
had been taken, which read substantially
as follows:
NASHVILLE, Feb. 2G.-Dear Till: Do
not think strange of nv disappea' ance.
give-a-morphlne.
OvERToN
His brother, returned to the city yester-
day, and found his home house of mourn
ing, ana brother. on whom he dotted, cut
down in his manly pride. The funeral
will take place to-day, which will be the
last act in the sad tragedy. Whatever of
faults he may have had will be buried with
him, while his many virtues and sterling
qualities will live on in the hearts of his
IL. l.. L.