The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-11-06
From Despair to Death.
Isan Francisco Chronicle, October ls.l ]


A L. Butenop, the Russian bankers
son who committed suicide by swallow
ing poison on Tuesday last, left the fol-
lowing:
That the public should not suspect
that the deed was done in fit of in
sanity, l state that after months re-
flection / take leave of this world in the
full possession of all my senses, and that
/ am calm and collected, but I am driv-
en- to this by extreme dispair, nervous
excitement, &c. Absolute want turns
the angel into devil. Every creature
must live, and to live one needs peeunid
that which I lack at present las the
saying is, 1 have gone to the dogs. For
years 1 have deported myself correctly
to this world, but during the last ten
years l found that would have to be-
come in debt and live upon the charity
of others. Even now find that l have
overstepped the bounds, and can no long
er obtain cents worth of favor. Truly,
I am now SO situated that do not know
where to obtain food for tomorrow.
For weeks / have offered my services
for board, but they were not accepted.
1t would take too long for me to regain
my former status. l have worked too
much already and can hold out no long
er. In August I was asked to return
home, and, depending on the words of
the letter, gave up my pupils and my
position as teacher; but after sixty days l
find my hopes dashed to earth. Since then
my destiny has tortured me very much,
and rather than die of hunger I take
my life. Now, many will say, Had he
come to me he would have obtained
what he needed" spurn such persons
and spit upon them. have done too
much good and was too liberal, but in
my moment of need no one would re-
cognize me. have almost begged OF
those who, through me, made hundreds
of dollars, and they turned from me
with their dimes in their pockets /
swear to this before death. Some did
help me at first, but their manner was
such that to approach them a second
time for favor became impossible
| Farewell.
"P. 81 am not tired of life. / felt
rejoiced upon recovery from an eight
years sickness. One can imagine how
hard it is for me to leave this world, and
in such a manner. Once more / ex-
claim, Il am driven TO it through mis-
fortune My inner most thanks to There
follow the names of dozen person iv-
ing in this city.-Rep.1, who have, this
day that take poison, refused me cred
/ it.
an. B.-The secret is destroyed in
case the poison fails"
The unfortune man was unmarried
and 81 years Of age. He arrived in Cal
ifornia several years since, he lost his
money by an unfavorable land specula
ton in Alameda. His father is n
Butenop, member of the banking firm
of Butenop Brothers, doing business il
Moscow, Russia, with a capital of $50,
100000. The suicide was an accomplish
ed scholar, however, and did not desire
to apply to his father for assistance, anC
he sought to regain his financial stand
ing by giving instruction in foreign
languages. In last July he petitioneC
his father, by letter, for assistance, ask
ing for $3.50 to enable him to return
home. A reply was received assuring
him that the money would be forwarded
1t did not come, however, and he wa
compelled to borrow small sums of mon
ey to enable him to subsist. An inques
will be held on Monday morning next