Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-09-19
Extraordinary Suicide-A Strange Life
and its Strange Ending.

and its Strange Ending.
In 1861, there lived in Bangor, Me-,
physician named William FL. Jewett,
welleducated and intelligent man,
who enjoyed a 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 exlled him from his home. With
a few, however, generally young men,
he formed acquaintance, 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 a
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 q 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. 10, 1872.
WIlliDm II. Simpson:
DEAR SIR 1T you will send to me the author
or the father-in-law to the article in your
Journal of June 80, 1872, first column,
Handling and Docility of Farm Stock" l
will make him (you indorsing him as the
real, lndentical author, or as the man who
at heart entertains such feelings). l 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. l think my earthly
career is nearly ended. l think that with
IN ten or twelve days shall pass the river.
Let him come soon. l am indebted to the
Journal about three-fourths of year, If
he comes, lend your bill if you please. And
please forward the inclpsed letter as directed.
Please write me. Yours, &C.,
WILLIAM H. JEwETr.
The article referred to is one showing
the advantages of treating animals
kindly rather than harshly. The letter
inclosed was addressed to the Secretary
OF the New York Society for the Pre-
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 selfdestruction.
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 tran5pired in his room
during that long night no mortal knows,
but just before the -lour fixed for the re-
turn of his attendants cry of fire was
raised and smoke and fame 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.
tlnued 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 as
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.