Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-18
THE BLOODY RAZOR.
s.Dcctor. VIII 1 Liver,

Yesterday Sheriff Lavender, of William
son county, brought to the Mayors Office a
man with his throat cut, almost from ear
to ear, and with his clothes covered with
the blood which had poured from the fright
full cash. .-- n
This man, be stated, was found in an in
sensible condition the evening previous ly-
ing on the ground not far from Brentwood,
and the indications being that be had cut
his own throat with razor which was
found near him. He was taken in
hand at orce, the wound sewed
up, and as there was no hospital nearer
than Nashville, he was brought to this city
and application made to the Mayor for his
admission to st. Vincent's Hospital.
After hearing Col. Lavender's story, the
Mayor wrote the following communicst on
to DR.. Vaughn:
DR.. Vaughn, st. Vincent's Hospital
Dear Sir: Col. Lavender, the Sheriff of
Williamson county, has brought to the city
q man who cut his throat, and wishes to
put him in the hospital. Col. Lavender
agrees to pay his board and EXPENSES in the
hospital for fifteen days, and you can
enter the man for that length of time,
the city being responsible for that
time, and the city will look to Col. Layen-
der for the money. Yours truly,
THos. KERCHEvAL, Mayor.
Armed with this document, Sheriff Law
ender conveyed his charge to the hospital,
and was Immediately relieved of any fur
Their esp0nsibility concerning him.
a representative of this paper called at
the hospital about O'Clock, aud was shown
into the ward occupied By the would be
suicide By DR.. Vaughn. He found 2 slim
built man, with dark complexion and black
hair, mixed with gray, stretched upon an
iron cot, with his bloody pants and coat
under his pillow. A flannel cloth had been
fastened about his neck, and Ibis was satur-
ate with blood, which had also stained
the bosom and sleeves Of the cross barred
wooden shirt which he had on. The coat
and pants were of some dark material, and
seemed to have been worn but little. The
unfortunate man had heavy dark chin
Whiskers, his cheeks being covered with a
stiff beard OF about q weeks growth.
As the Doctor and the reporter entered
the room, the man raised his head up, and
whispered, with look of intense anxiety,
"Doctor, will hve?"
"We hope you will" replied the doctor,
and the weary head dropped back upon the
pillow, as the man gasped for breath.
"Wont you bring me some soup" he
asked, in faint T0ice, when he had recoV-
cred his breath. -..---.- ......--.-.
DR.. Vaughn told him he should have some
soup as soon as it could be prepared, and
then handed the man cup of water. He
raised himself on his elbow, and as the
change of position seemed to give him great
relief, the reporter asked him his name and
whether he had a family He said his
name is James Stone, and that he had no
family, having never been married.
He then said that he had been
been working for some man who lives tif-
teen miles from Pulaski, and that he had
cut his own throat with the razor which
was found with HIM. ---
"Whisky done it," be added, in horrible
whisper, as his voice began to fail him,
"Whisky done it, had been drinkin for
three weeks and -"
"Did you have fit of the mania potetl"
inquired the doctor.
The victim Of whisky nodded bis head
and seized the cup of water which the doc
tor had been holding in his hand. At
tempting to drink the water, he was taken
with a fit of coughing and choking,
and the water Gushed from
the cash in his throat, as he vainly endeav
ored to swallow it. He dropped back upon
the cot thoroughly exhausted, and in this
condition the reporter left him.
The doct lr stated that be would feed the
man some sonp by means of tube, but he
thinks there is hardly possibility Of saving
his life; indeed it is very surprising that he
had lived thus long, considering the extent
the cash in his throat.
Stone informed the reporter that ne is
forty years of age.