Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-14
THE SUICIDE OF COL. POWELL, OF
MISSISSIPPI.
New York Times, April 10.

NcH AOih Lluess ApfA 10
= The fact was made public yesterday that
Col. John NJ. Powell, one Of The guests at
the Pieuepont House, Brooklyn, had at
tempted to commit suicide on Thursday
morning by taking thirty grains Of NOR
phine. Before the war Col. Powell was
one of the most influential planters in Mis-
sissiDDi, ard Il was he of whom Wendell
Phillips said, "COttOn and slaves grow
spontaneously on POwellis plantation
His grandfather was e cousin Of Washing
ton, and in all the South there was not,
perhaps, man of more personal popularity
than Col. Powell. The war brought him
many severe TeTerses. Money, slaves,
houses and lands yYers sacrificed; and long
before tie national cOlOrs were again raised
over Fort Sumter, Col. POWelrs pIs,neely
torture had crumbled. He still owned
hundreds of acres of land in Mississippi,
but heavy taxation and the de-
moraliZaLiOn among the former slaves
made the possession Of these plan
tatiOns a constant financial drain
upon the COlOners resources. To his
many troubles were added difficulties Of a
domestic nature, and about year ag0the
Colonel went to Brooklyn and took up his
residence at the PierTepont House. He is
of a c0mpaniOnable nature, a good cOnyer-
satiOnalist, abOunding IN reminiscence, and
there sprung up between him and the
guests Of the PierrepOnt House a most
friendly feeling. Col. POWelTs life has
been far more than ordinarily eventful.
For thirty years preceding the war he was
acquainted with the men who were leaders
in the nation. During his stay in Brook
lyn, Col. Powell has been endeavOring to
sell some Of his land in the South. These
efforts have not been successful. As taxes
have increased his property has deprecated
in value, and the old planter natural
" dropped into dependency. He had
no immediate financial obligations to
meet, but he thought he saw sure disass
ter in the distance, and out Of this feel
ing grew his attempt at suicide. Tie
Colonel sometimes took small quantities Cf
morphine to induce sleep, and few days
ago he formed a determination to end his
life through the agency Of this drug. With
deliberatiun and method he proceeded to
arrange his affairs preparatory to suicide.
To some Of his more intimate acqUaint-
ances among the gentlemen guests he sent
letters Of remembrance. To the proprietor
Of the PieuepOn't, Mr.. George y. Peed,
the Colonel wrote a long communication,
warmly thanking his host for his interest
and his kindly Offices. In this letter he in
formed Mr.. Peed that If ever a man was
justified in taking his own life, while in
the possession Of all his senses, he (POWelD
was that man. On Thursday morning,
about IL O'Clock, Mr.. Van Cleef, the
clerk Of the hotel, had occasion TO
visit the Colonel's room. He knocked
at the door Of the parlOr, in
tending to ask the ColoneIs permission
to allow a gentleman to enjoy the superb
view from this room. No response was
made to the summons, and inquiry de-
veloped the fact that Col. Powell had not
been seen during the morning. After re-
peated attempts to secure a response from
within, the bedroom adjoining the parlOr
was forced, and the old planter was found
lying on his face, apparently lifeless. Mr..
Van Cleef gave the alarm, neighbOTing
druggist was called in, DR.. Richardson and
another physician were summoned, and an
examination proved that life was not yet
extinct. For over two hours the doctors
and the hotel attaches worked over the
body Of the unconscious man, and finally
succeeded in producing q favorable change.
The Colonel had taken thirty gains Of
morphine, or over sixty times the quantity
that is prescribed for an ordinary dose.
He was removed to the Homeopathic
Hospital, where he died at a late hour last
night.