Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-04-18

pared evidence TO show that their death
was accidental why should there not bo
one in wbic h the fatal act was 10 he $50 far
as possible) justifiedf
"In the fourth place, granting that there
was either real homicidal mania or fancied
homicidal mania tending TO suicidal, or
simply the latter--was there possibility
of cure?
"As the first three questions rested for
their solution on one set of facts, and the
deductions TO be drawn therefrom, con-
sldered them together. A victim of suicid-
al mania rarely If ever speaks of suicide.
When man says he is going TO drown him
self, you may generally direct him TO the
cars which will take him to the river side,
with the fullest conviction that he will not
breakfast with crabs. If, in an exception
al case, suicide is mentioned, 1t will either
be treated lightly, as an act that is not
crime, or the patient will be very earnest
In his assurances that he would never conf
init II. Remembering my pcor friends
manner, noticed that he spoke of taking
his own life with much more emotion than
he evinced when he told me of the impulse
to shed the blood of others. His words, Il
must have human life--if had had ps-
tol with me, should have shot her-some
day soon, shall take pistol on purpose
and shoot her-I should murder my keep
er, and go straight for that innocent GIRL
were spoken as calmly as though he said,
4 owe five dollars-I must go and pay
them, and at the same time with a
topo rf Joa,, IN, ~, ;sorot;o,, tho ,,oJo,
tined victims. They were TO die for no
fault of their own, brit they were doomed
to death--if he lived. When, on the other
hand, he spoke of saving their lives at the
sacrifice of his own, his manner changed.
No one afflicted with suicidal mania, ever
treated self-destruction with the horror,
the consciousness OF its wckcdness, and
the religious doubts as TO its being pardon
able under any circumstances, with which
he considered it. He had never once spok-
en- OF murder as crime.
"After a long and careful consideration |
came to the following conclu sions:
"IIe Is rot laboring under suicidal ma
mia.
"His impulse is real, and will have fatal
results
Confinement in an asylum would have
no curative effect.
"Then I took down my books bearing
upon the anatomy of the human head.
"The next morning addressed him
thus:
"'Before answer you az to whether you
would be justified before God, under the
impulse you have told me of in taking
your own life to save that of another, you
must answer me several questions
"'Go on he said.
"'When you consulted these doctors did
you tell them all that you have told me?'
"'No. / did not dare. I said that had
horrible thoughts and cravings, but with
out entering into details az to what they
! were. Once went so far as to say fear
( ed was becoming dangerous, and the fool
smiled
"'Good. Did they ever speak of search
ing for that ball?
"'Yes, they said it might be the canse of
my sufferings, supposing it bad lodged
near the brain, but that no one would take
the responsibility of searching for it--so to
speak-in the dark
"'They were right-the operation might
kill you, and the ball not he found after
ALL
"He looked up, and the dull, detected
look that had become habitual passed from
his face.
"'And even il it were found, went on
its extraction might cause your death all
the same
ale laid his hand on my arm, and tried
to speak, but he could not
"'Stil, 1t would give you a chance-ius
a chance of more than life.' His grasI
tightened. I could feel his heart beating
And submitting to such an operation--al
most hopeless though it be-would not bt
quite suicide
"He fell on his knees and sobbed like
child. You'll do III? he cried, God Al
mighty bless you! You'll do it?'
"Well," said my friend, lighting a fresl
cigar, "to make my story short, did it
with the assistance of young surgeon
miserable piece of lead near where / sus
pected it TO be. II was just case of toucl
and so. Had my knife wavered twice th,
breadth of its own edge-had the assistan
been unsteady with the forceps-it woulc
have been fatal. l don't want TO appea
vain Of my success, so I'll say no NOR
than this-he recovered"
"And hasn't killed anybody?"
"No, and doesn't want to-
"By Jove wouldn't be too sure OF that
And so the girl he wanted to murder mar
red the Maior?'
"She did,"
"Then If were her husband I'd tax
precious good care that your interesting pa
tient didn't come into the same State wit
her."
my dear fellow, if you were her hus
band you'd do exactly as her husban
does"
"Doe, he know?"
"None better"
"And doesn't care?"
"Not Bit"
"Then he's brute ~
"You'd better tell him so-hcre h
comes.'
"Does she know p
"She does"
, "And she is not afrad?"
mo"
zone other question. Does your inter
estng patient still live in this country ?"
= "He does"
r "In what slater
n "In this State ',.t ...
. "Near here?'
: "Very near" .'..
: "Then, with all possible Difference ic
b our friend, the Major, think he is vel