Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-31
A Human Match-A Sad Story.

A PERSON who says he has been un.
justly ~ accused of doing to death one
Jacob P. Nitson, furnishes the following
statement of the case to the Sunday
World. We copy it with the simple re-
mark that it borders on the credible:
For several months we had been living
in Denver, Col, enjoying the salubrioHs
air of that place, engaged together in bus
iness. Nilsson was my partner, but can
assert, without fear of contradiction, that
watched over him more as if he was my
younger brother. He was occasionally
somewhat eccentric-given to states Of
despondent feeling-which frequently
threatened to develop into melancholia.
These sentiments at length obtained such
nearly complete mastery over him as to
cause me the most poignant emotions
Day by day did / sorrowfully perceive
how, instead of fighting, struggling
against this desolate state of mind, he
yielded to it with scarcely any resistance
My soul was grieved, panied, but what
could dor
At length happy thought occurred to
me-so happy that considered it in the
light OF an inspiration. 1t was to take
my friend Nilsson off upon hunting
tour. The excitement of the chase, the
continual motion, the sense of a wider,
freer life derived from being constantly
in the open air would, fiattered myself
fondly, soon restore the faded bloom to
his cheek, the sparkle to his eye, and the
old-time springiness to his step Delud-
ed being that l wasl Little did l dream
the possibility ofrsuch confusion to eur
trip as that which arrived
Nitson readily assented to my PROPOSE
ton, A-short time suftlced to make our
few simple preparations, and then we de-
parted for the plains, bidding all our
friends warm farewell. In addition to
my hunting implements l took with me a
few of the more harmless implements of
the pharmacopia, in case that sudden ill
ness should attack either of us. Better
were it for me had never seen the inte-
rior of q medicine store.
For some days our success was equal
cd only by our pleasure. Game of every
kind was abundant. We had no difficulty
in securing deer, antelope, and grouse as
many as we could by any means dispose
of. From early in the morning to sunset
we shot, rode, or walked, admiring the
beauty of the country, and enjoying, In
facts adelightful heliday. At night. we
would build a-fTe, cook our food, make
some coffee, and take the principal meal
of the day. That disposed of, we would
light our pipes, loaded with killikinick
of true Indian kind, largely composed of
dried willow leavesf and sitting in the
merry, leaping light of the fire, discourse
of philosophy, literature, art and science
One night he complained of sore
throat. I offered him some medicine,
but he declined 1t, saying that he had no
faith in drugs. Next day it was worse,
and upon the third evening his palate
and tonsils were in such ahighly-infamed
condition that he was forced to retract
his refusal and accept my aid. gave him
large dose of chloIate of potash, and the
beneficial effect was plainly perceptible
the following morning, This neglect,
however, required that the dose should
be repeated many times, so frequently
that my stock of the salt was speedily ex-
hausted, hut as his sore throat was cured
in the process that made little difference
TO me.
All this time his melancholy, though
slowly disslpating, still hung around him
like thick cloud. He was often gloomy
and sad; so gloomy sometimes that even
wild materialistic assertion could not
arouse him TO semblance of his former
self. This was a mournful spectacle to
me, and therefore determined to induce
brighter mental condition. Since argu.
ment and conversation were of no avail, j
determined upon a bolder stroke. Ii was
with some lttlereluotance that decided
upon acting as did, but desire for the
welfare OF my friend conquered all
scruples. persistently and slyly fed
him with phosphorus, Let no one blame