The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-11
SUICIDE OF AN ACTOR.
IFrom the Meanwhile Yanner. March !

From the Nashville Banner, March IL
W. II. Roberts, the actor who attempted to kill
himself by thrusting the blade of pocKetknife into
his breast and abdomen thirty.one times, at Bowl
condition that but little hope OF his recovery is en-
Roberts was subject to fits of melancholy and
frenzy, q state OF mind which is believed to have
been OccaslOned by the partial loss OF his voice
year or so since. in consequence Of which ne mad to
be cast for minor parts. This depressed his spirit
to such u degree that he came to the conclusion
that he was untitled for the world ana the world for
rageous fortune" he would often remark that the
@ his thoughts sdsa mys
FERROUS bourne from which no traveller returns"
Winchester vs BY W cutting an ugly CASH s IN his
throat, but was saved by skillu doctor and care
Early Tuesday afternoon Roberts went to bed In
one OF the hotels at Bowling Green. The opposite
bed was occupied by MT. s. W. Ashley, VINO had
been suffering from bilious attack. At halfpast
three O'Clock Mr. Ashley got up and dressed himself
FOR the purpose oil going after some medicine.
Roberts asked him TO close the door after him. as he
wanted to take an uninterrupted nap. AS MIR. Ash.
ley went through the passageway he heard Roberts
get up and lock the door, but thought nothing or the
circumstance. Mr.. Ashley did not return to the
room until he went with William Vestell, the latter
teile Roberts sister, VINO said she believed her
brother intended TO XIII himself: She had pre-
vlonsly gone to his room and asked adnitance. He
opened the door for ner, and she thought she oh.
served blood upon him; but the room was 80 dark
that she was not certain as TO this fact BE re.
be sorry II she didn't stop there and not 20 to the
hall that night. AS the hour at which she was 70
appear upon the stage had almost arrived, she mas.
tened to the hail. hoping to find and send some one
to prevent Roberts from doing any Ina rim 10 himself
When Vestell, Ashley aud the landlord attempted
to enter Roberts room, they found the door locked
and had to force II open, Roberts having become 50
weakened IRON the loss OF blood that he was un-
able to rise from mis- bed 1t was discovered that
he had lost nearly gallon and half OF blood that
his cl0thiny the Sheets quilts and the bed were
completely saturated. The inside floor knob which
he had turned, upon the appearance Of his sister,
was covered with OlO0d, and The f0Or from his bed
TO the door, was red with the liie-stream which ne
had SO desperately poured out. His most serious
wounds were below and above the heart and
through the lungs though none OF the cuts were
much wider than kniie-blade with which he stab
bed himself. The blade was as sharp as any razor,
and II 1t mad been pushed from side to SIDE would
doubtless nave produced almost instant death.
The unhappy man insisted that his wounds would
prove mortal, and shook MS head despalringly
when any chance Tor his recovery was suggested.
On the last page OF MS diary the following enJry
had been made:-
..Mr Ashley has just left the ROOM am gong to
take good long seep GoodDy, life, forever"
Very little OF Roberts history Is known here. W,
r. Roberts IS said to be Ills professional name. he
was from New York, and had been connected with
the Jenny Wilmore troupe only since she became
the lessee OF the Masonic Theatre. He Will be cared
for by the hospitable people OF Bowling Green.