Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-24
SUICIDE BY HIS WIPES ADVICE.


AT half past three o'clock yesterday after
noon, z. A. Schreyer committed suicide at
the county Jail by taking dose of strych-
| nine. Last Wednesday he was taken sud
denly Ill and had violent commissions. He
remarked at that time to Jailor Jackson
that he was going 10 take his case to the
Suureme CONT. but not of Tepnessee
From remarks made then and since, it is
now believed his sickness on Wednesday
was caused by poison, but an overdose was
taken and consequently did not prove fatal.
About two O'Clock yesterday afternoon an
visit the Jail, walked into the
and Lad feW minutes conversation with
him. lie appeared in good spirits, and
spoke hopefully Of being released, and 60
ing back to his home in Virginia. a few
minutes after the reporter left Schreyer's
wife visited him, IS It was her habit to do
almost daily, and brought him his dinner.
Size was in the room but a short time, and
when she STATED 10 leave him, Schreyer
pressed her 70 remain longer. She replied
that she could rot, that she had Al appoint
ment with a person who wanted 10 rent
her house, and she could not stay longer.
SChreYer seemed distressed al her refusal to
stay, and said to her: s4yOu do not care any
thing for me, and I an going to kill my
SELF To this his wife replied.
'GOOD. KILL YOURSELF!
You were better dead His wife then
left, and SchreyeT turning to a fellow pris-
Oner, who was allowed 70 sit in the room
with him, and who witnessed this scene.
said: "YoU heard what my wife said.
will Go as she wants me 10, and kill my
self" The young man only laughed at
him, and nothing more was said on that
subject. About o'clock Schreyer asked
Tor a pencil, and tearing of the margin If
newspaper, wrote a note, placed it under
his pillow, and told the yOung nan that if
his wife called again, and he was asleep,
10 give her that note. He had been taking
quinine at intervals during the day, and
after whiting the note, he asked for q little
water in q cup, which was given him, and
he dropped into it q powder and drank it.
Particles Of the powder dropped on the
floor, which was examined after his death
by d.. Marable and pronounced stTych- |
nine. a few minutes after taking the
powder he informed the young man that
he had taken poison, but it was Of no use
to send for a doctor IS
HE COULD NOT SAVE BIN.
Jsiler Jackson was notified and upon be- |
ing assured by Schgeyer that he lad taken |
poison, he sent-Nf tor a physician. Be
fore a doctor could be procured, however,
he was dead.
ScbTeyer acted as hospital steward at the |
jail, mixing and administering medicines, |
Ct which he had considerable knowledge, |
under the direction Of DR.. Morrison, Jail |
physician. But how be obtained the |
is a mystery, as it is not kept |
among the drugs at the jail. In the note |
he tells his wife that he has followed her
and killed himself, and accuses |
her Of having caused him TO take MS life. |
ShT6yer will Re remembered as the |
man who, sometime in 1871, killed |
Esquire John Norton. lie was tried, con-
7icted and sentenced 10 two years impris-
Onment. He appealed his case to the Su-
preme Court, and pending the appeal was
released on bond, his wife becoming his
surety. He did not await TIE termination
Of his case, however, but ran away. The |
bond was ordered forfeited, and soon there
after, about the first Of last April, SChreyec
vas arrested by Special Detective Charles
Smith, in Wheeling, IT. Va, AID brought
back to Memphis.