The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-17
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
A Man Cuts His Throat and Clashes His
Arms-He will Survive.

AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning Marshal
Bridges was notified that man named Frank
W. Smith, shoemaker. residing on the corner
of Smith and Oxford streets, had committed
suicide. The marshal at once repaired to the
place and found the woald-be dead man lying
on q sofa in his room in the second story of the
| large double block on the upper corner. Dr.
True had just arrived and was engaged in
dressing his wounds, which were quite severe.
He had cut a cash three inches long in his
throat and also two deep gashes acres the
muscles of his arms, severing several arteries
ard causing him to bleed freely. After the
wounds were properly attended to it having
been ascertained that the man was without
| means to help himself, Mr.. Baker of the Over
seels of the Poor conveyed him to the City
Hos 4ital for treatment. He was able TO walk
to the carriage Notwithstanding his loss OF
blood, and will undoubtedly recover.
1t seems that Mr.. Smith, who is dissipated,
has been without work for some time, and in
consequence has become involved financially,
Failing to pay his rent he has been repeatedly
warned out of his house, but has always es-
capped being squarely put out, but yesterday
was the day when he was to be elected His
wife and three girls, one of them a fine young
woman, left him last Monday, as it i, alleged,
owing to his dissipation and went to Biddeford
to live. He was thus left alone and probably in
his despair wasl led to attempt to end his misery
by taking his life. He was heard in his room
at about o'clock yesterday morning, but was
neither seen nor heard from again til 9o'clock
in the forenoon. He then left his room, step
ping to the head of the stairs and called to the
lady living in the lower part of the house ask
ing her to send for doctor. The lady sup
posed that it was some common illness and
calling boy on the street sent him for DR..
True. She then called lady neighbor and TO-
gether they assembled to the room of the uI-
fortunate man, little guessing, however, that
they were to meet such CHASTITY sight. The
room was darkened and as they entered tn ey
saw the form of the man lying on sofa, and
on approaching him they soon discovered the
reason why physician was desired. His
wounds were bleeding profusely and in chair
in front of the sofa was large carving knife,
common jack-knife and a razor, all three COW
cred with blood He said. in answer to ques-
ton by one of the ladies, that he was tired of
living but had made a bad job of it. The ap-
pearance of things indicated that he had sat on
the sofa and drawn the chair containing the
weapons before him. After cutting his throat
he did not bleed sufficiently and so he cut his
arms. The deed was probably accomplished at
an early hour in the morning, as the knives
were perfectly dry. On the table was found a
letter from his wife. On the back of the en-
velope was note directing that the letter be
returned to Mrs. Smith, and signed by Mr.
Smith. Mr. Smith is man about 40 years of
age and is well known. He has been employed
ty Messrs. Sawyer & Webb as shoe cutter
forseveral years, untll he was discharged ow-
ing to his bad habits.