The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-09-20
Extraordinary Suicide--A Strange Life
and IFS Strange Ending.

In 1861, there lived in Bangor. Me-,
a physician named William Ii. Jewett,
a well.educated and intelligent man,
who enjoyed good practice. An ardent
Democrat, he shared the prosecutions
which at that time were bestowed upon
those of his political faith, until in dis.
gust he abandoned his practice, packed
up his effects and left the place. After
some wanderings he settled at North
Haven, one of the Fox Islands in Pen
obscott Bay, where he occupied house
alone. He held little intercourse with
the people of the place generally, seem.
ing TO brood over the injustice which
had exied him from his home. With
few, however, generally young men,
he formed acquaintances, and charmed
them with the extent and variety of his
information and his flow of converse
ton. He practiced medicine to con.
siderable extent, and was known as q
skillful, though eccentric physician.
But to the world generally he was cold
and reticent, living in a house entirely
alone and preparing himself his simple
meals. Within few months he fell
ill, and during that time two young
women had gone daily TO his house to
do the work and look after his comfort.
Last week the editor OF this paper,
who had known DR.. Jewett only as a
subscriber, received from him the fol.
lowing letter:
NORTH HAVEN, Aug. Is, 1872.
Willipm II. Simpson
DEAR SIR Ill you will send TO me the author
or the father-inl law to the article in your
Handling and Docilty of Farm Stock"
will make him (you indorsing him as the
real, indentcal author, or as the man who
at heart entertains such feelings). | will
devise to him the amount that will enable
him to carry his humane, holy, and hope
heavenly purposes to some notable results,
if he needs such help. think my earthly
career is nearly ended. ! think that with
in ten or twelve days shall pass the river.
Let him come soon. | am indebted TO the
journal about three-fourths of year. If
he comes, tend your bill if you please. And
please forward the inclosed letter as directed.
Please write me. Yours, &C.,
WILLIAM Ii. JEwErr.
The article referred to is one showing
the advantages of treating animals
kindly rather than harshly. The letter
inclosed was addressed to the Secretary
Il
vention OF Cruelty to Animals, and was
written as requested. A reply to this
letter was mailed on the 18th, stating
that the real author of the article was
unknown-that it had been copied
from an agricultural publication not re-
membered. Before that letter reached
its destination the hand that it sought
was cold in death. DR.. Jewett had died
by one OF the strangest suicides ever re-
corded in the history of selt.destruction.
On the morning Of the 10Th, six days
after the date Of the above letter, he
sent one young woman for two quarts
of spirits of turpentine, which was
brought to him. All night he told his
attendants that they need not call as
early as usual, or not until about eight
O'clock. What transpired in his room
during that long night no mortal knows,
but just before the hour fixed for the re-
turn Of his attendants cry OF fire was
raised and smoke and flame were dis
covered issuing from the house. The
persons who rushed to the spot found
the doors fastened on the inside. They
were burst in. Those who first entered
behold an appalling sight. Stretched
upon his bed, with no garment but his
shirt, lay the Doctor with the great ar.
terry OF his leg severed. The blood
flooded the bed and fell in streams to
the floor, mingled with turpentine which
had been previously poured over the
bed and floor. The back portion of the
room was mass of flame. Strong arms
seized the bed and bore the unconscious
man TO the open air. They laid him by
the roadside, and stood around his bed,
knowing that no human aid could avail.
The red streams of his life blood con.
tinued to pour out, few struggling
gasps, and the poor recluse had laid
down forever the burden OF his sorrows.
Kind hands closed his eyes and com.
posed his limbs. And those unused to
weep found tears upon their cheeks rs
they thought of his silent, solitary,
cherries hermit life, and his strangely
mysterious death. 1t remains for US
only to say that the house and all its
contents were burned, although his de-
sign Of being consumed with it was
Observation-Disclosures Ne. Journal.