Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-18
The History or Suicide.

society MT. H. .. GuernSeys paper on
" The Penal Laws Relating to Suicide in
Ancient and Modern Times" was read
by DIR. Miller. After defining the differ
ences between the two classes of suicides
recognized by the law, the author took
up the history of suicide and the laws bear
ing upon it in different ages and different
countries.
The Mosaic law contains no penalty for
teao de sc. The first suicides mentioned in
the Old Testament were those of Saul and
his armor- bearer. Samson,s death can
hardly be called suicide. Josephus
says that in Judea the body of the man
who had taken his own life was not buried
till after sunset. In some parts of India
suicide was once considered mertorious,
but the selfimmolation of widows on the
funeral pyres of their husbands is no
longer permitted. In China suicide is by
no means uncommon, and no disgrace at
taches to the victim of his own violence
or to his family, In Japan suicides are
frequent, and the taking of ones life is
often looked upon as meritorious. When
an official has failed in the performance of
his duty he has the privilege of perform
ing hari- kari, or disemboweling himself,
to save him the disgrace of dying by the
hand OF the executioner. 1.-The avails him
self of the privilege his property is saved
from forfeiture and his family from dis
honor. In some countries the act of sui
eide is looked upon as heroic, and frequent
ly the sons of the self-murderer are
rewarded for the courage of their
father with important appointments and
promotions. The Stoics, the disciples Of
Zeno, taught that suicide under certain
circumstances was right; that as man had
nothing To fear after death he was at lib
erty to take his own life whenever it be-
came irksome to him. Pythagoras held
that no man had the right to leave his
post without an order from his command
er; but other philosophers reasoned that
as mans life was his own he could dis
pose of IL as he pleased.
Egesius was said to be so eloquent i'm
praise of death that hundreds who heard
him made away with themselves and sui
eide became epidemic. Ptolemy, alarmed
at the spread of the inlatuation, ordered
Egesius away from Alexandria and the
people at once came TO their senses.
At one time in France poison was fur
nishcd to all who could give satisfactory
proof that it was better for them TO die
than 10 live. A cobbler who had de-
termined to kill himself thought he would
do il with eclat; so, having prepared his
poison he began letter which was TO be
cad after his death and to be talked Of
throughout the province. He started OFT
with a quotation, and continued: THUS
says Moliere," but fearing that he had
erred in attributing the remark 10 Moliere
he took down his tavorite author and be-
gan to read. After an hours pleasant
communion with the great writer he put
the poison away and went To work at his
last.
The Milesian virgins once became af-
fliCted with the insane notion that they
should commit suicide, and many of them
obeyed the impulse. A law was passed
ordalning that the body of the suicide
should be dragged naked through the
streets, and this etfcctually dispelled the
illusion. Some of the Roman iurists said
that suicide was felony unless permitted
by the Emperor. Under one Emperor the
soldiers were set 10 ditching and making
sewers. Mortified at what they looked
upon as an ignominy, many of them com
mitted suicide Under another a soldier
attempting suicide was treated as de-
sarter. Domitlan decreed that the suicide
OF an accused person should entail upon
him the dishonor that would have attached
Among the early Christians there was
an ardent longing Tor martyrdom, and UNI
der the influence of Tcrtullian's saying:
The blood of the martyrs IL the seed of
the church" numbers OF them fell victims
10 their religious fanaticism. A Bishops
Council in the fifth century decreed that
suicide was the effect Of diabolical intiu-
ence. Afterward the church treated il az
a sin, and the body Of the seli.murderer
was buried without the sacred rites. In
the time of Louis TX, OF France, the
body of the suicide was subjected to the
grosscst indignities. IL was taken from
the house through an opening made for
that purpose, was horribly mutilated, and
buried at night. No mass was allowed
for the soul Of the dead man, but the
charitably disposed were kindly permitted
to pray for its repose Ii they felt inclined.
Mahomet expressly forbds suicide in
the Koran, and the crime Is extremely
rare among Mohammedans.
The Roman Catholic, the Greek and
Protestant Episcopal Churches prohibit
the reading of the burial service over the
body Of the suicide, except In the case Of
one who died while insane. The statute
law Of England prohibits II In all cases.
At the time of the Reformation In England
the suicides property WAS confiscsted To
compensate the State for the loss Of sub
ject, his body was buried at the cross
roads and stake was driven through IL 10
mark the detestation of the law and TO
deter others from the crime. This very
ancient rule fell into general, II not entire,
disusc many years ago, but 1t was not re-
pcaled until the fourth year OF George
lV.'s reign, and even then, to manifest the
horror OF the law nj the act Of suicide, y
was ordered that the body, which might
be placed In churchyard or other conse-
Grated grounds, should be buried at night
and without the performance OF religious
rites.
The Indians Of South America when OPP
pressed beyond endurance by their Span
lsh conquerors made away with them
selves In great numbers. They were
checked onl by being told that II they did
not dcsst from the practice their masters
would commit suicide too, and follow them
into the next world, where their tolls and
torments should be increased tenfold.
This threat had the desired effect. There
IL little suicide among the North Ameri-
can Indians. It is only the squaws who