The New York herald., 1877-10-21
FELO DE sE.
A Remarkable Record of Self-DeStruc-
ton and Inducing Causes.
GERMANY LEADS THE LIST.
MelanchOlia, Domestic lnfelicity, Business
Troubles and Temporary Insanity.

tho number OF cases far those any like tmc
In the previous history Of tho city Many are
advanced for the apparent epidemic OF suicide and
II urged that unless some method devised to check
II increase may be expected The laws OF England
until within comparatively short period were very
against feo do The property OF the suicide
con6scatod and the rites OF Christian burial were
denied the body, which IN many cases was buried IN
the open highway with stake driven through the
breast These laws were confirmed during,th reign
OF George w., and continued In force into the
present century, when public opinion forced their
disuse. II ID argued that tho season known as
Indian summer has tho effect of stimulating suicide;
and indeed tho records Of past years show sui
cdcs during that poriod than any other time Of tho
year. 1t any rate, whatever the cause the death rate
by suicide during tho past months has been alarm
ingly increased.
Tho record s not only interesting In It's statistics,
but also In tho varied nature OF cases. ranging
as they do from stupid brutality to
somc almost unparalleled for romantic orgi-
nality. Sidc by side with Lavergne, who
gave exhibition OF hts deadly skill with
knife and pistol to two weak, trembling womon, be-
iorc trying to end mis- unhappy life, is Potzsche who
alter crucy beating his patient and long suffering
wife, hanged himself TO his bedroom door In brutal
drunken pot. The story OF Thomas Cooper, poor,
gctfulncss, jumped from tho centre arch OF High
Bridge, ending tho lifc that had become burden 10
him, but the ocho Of tho story OF Dr. Stein. Of
this city, who, wandering about unhappy, mourning
the death OF son. with desperate resolve 70 end It
oil, dashod hcadlong from the Niagara Suspension
Bridge into the roaring food below
Unrcquled Affection we'll represented in the cases
OF Edward Nowman who stabbed Kate Hayes because
she wound not marry him. and then In despair at
ing her dead cut his own throat aud OF Henry E. Van
voss who shot himself through tho breast is stated
because Mimic Smith. aeiress. would not become
hts WIFE, There humors In the subject, and
ono cannot but smile at Mary Mayer who, when told
by her husband whom she was slightly annoying ut
the time. to "go and drown herself'' went and
throw herself into tho river with suicidal intent.
NUMBRn NATIONALITY
The total number OF suicides was % and Of at
tempts IA 1t Is somewhat curious fact that OF tho
total number Of persons wanting to die 16 were of
German birth. The other nationalites about
equally represented and, although, some 1t
difficult to ascertain tho birthplace tho following
figures may bo relied upon or the Suicides
~ born III Germany, IN America, 2 IN Ireland.
and each IN England, France, Norway and Cuba. Two
;er%as br.e each Of Ensan ir,sn a"s American s
birth, and each OF Russian aad French.
CAUSES
II Is exceedingly nArd mAttcr TO ascertain tho
real cause OF many attempts, particularly where the
attempt suocessuI but there is little doubt that
the majority OF cascs due tO tntcmperance and do
mestic iniencitios The classification that follows
inade from careful investigation OF The facts in each
case. Undor the heads of temporary INSANITY"
whcn is unjus.iy applied in many cases .'nean.
chola'' ana "lamiiy troubles" there will bc found
differing wuoy " their nature aud yct prop
ory clAsscd unaer those heads
Ot the suicides nyc were duo to temporary IN
sanity, two to iamiy troubles, three 10 business
troubles, threo 10 melancholia, two to drunken
vi four cnscs tho cause unknown, and
in man jumped from Niagara Suspension
fg.t., tI,rf lha laalh
some time previously committed suicide IN thus CITY,
OF the attempts four were duo to meianchoiia, two
10 family troubles two ~ jealousy, to drunken
10 unrequited love- aud the reasons Tor ioar
others were unknown.
soMH CURIOUS CASES.
Vniscl Procheski, native VI Bohemia, was at ono
time practising physician ana man IN good stand
ing IN his native town. Some years ago be came 10
tho Uncd Satcs with tho desire OF following his pro-
fcssion here HIS money went by degrees and hc
beLame poorer he removed 10 Boston and established
| himself there. Luck seemed 10 be against him.
short time ago he to New York and, after
derng about too streets ior some days, gave up IN
to tho hospital and his iie may be- saved lie sixty
During The month OF August DR. Edward Stein COM
mtted suicide at Frcnch's Hotei, IN this city. HIS
father, Dr. Lewis NJ. Stein, physciun vi established
reputation IN THIS cIty, was so overwhelmed with
grief that be could not remain In tue city wherc his
had diod. kesLIess and apparently ncartbrokcn
hc wandered from place to place, At last reaching
Niagara Falls On the ls OF september Dr. Stcn
tns Suspension bridge. Alter remaining there
some hours he seen 70 clasp his hands 70 heaven,
Genevo Kaiter on the 7th or September diec from u
dose oi PARIS grccn, which she took Intentionally rho
cause as gwen, was that sho had lad considerable
| troabo WITH her hus3anu, brought about by his
jealousy Not wishing to proong the struggle, sho
| exprcssod IT, she put an end 10 her existence.
Catnarino Stncs was iorty eight years VI age when
died, ON the Sth oil September. She drink-
ing woman, and wnon undor tho influence OF liquor
need almost insane desire 10 destroy her lilo.
On tho day question found her opportunity IN
| u fourth story window, through which she Jumped
and WAS instantly killed.
| The case oI George Gcler, who was un old man OF
Beventy-two years, aud whose suicide was dcbcr-
ate as any ~ the iis was duo to somowhat curious
cause He was man 0i considerable means or ut
| loast hhd been before his business niisVrtunesL
Bogus Insurance companies wero his financial ruin.
it, he decided thai he had nothing further TO live Tor,
| and 80 he Jumped ulo tho river
AnuTcw Nelson died on the 5th Of October from
dose oi Two ounces 0. prussc acid administered by
| himself. Just prlvr to his DEAN explained NJ
| takug OIL charge OF improper conduct, brought
against him by iorncr servant his house, worried
and annoyed nIn. He appealed TO the law when he
thought too SLOW ana haraSsed and despoLdent ho
iet his case uninisnod here aud went " poad his
| cause the Court o. Courts
Henry Roseman was nity-four years OF age aud
| cartman. In hts younger days he had anasscd COO.
siderable properly IN his business, but acquired with
II The iabs o excessive drinking and gambling lie
drank away his health and gninbied away his prop
erty and on tho 1th OF October hanged himself TO
| beam In tho cellar Of his house,
Andrew Cooper was y.scvcn years OF ago and
nilng-an old man, with scaht and whitening Jocks
ana yot he mpaticnt tho dread destroyer.
On inc ytn Of OctoDcr the old man took his way TO
| High Bridge, and walking to- the centre gazed ior
timo The parapet the distance below nearly
Two hundred cet Dut seemed TO have crrors Tor
him. He carefully uid his cap upon stone, aud
carefully mountcd aud stood upon Tho Larapot his
| white har streaming IN the wind. A moment and ho
was over, aud >)ash below announced reception
| OF his CORPSE by The river.
Albert LavcrgDe, who Is now lying In tho hospital,
is most extraordinary man IL Le not entirely in
| sane. Jealousy was the cause OF his trouble, and
jealousy Of so peculiar and nreasonabIe type as 10
| be almost beyond bcici. lie had wife, OF whom at
ono moment lie was passionstoy fond and ut another
Insaucly Jealous. When walking ~ they met gcn-
tcnan no would accuse her Of an improper intimacy,
ana when the wle, IN hcr distress ut his conduct,
would cast down hcr eyes, he would accuse her OF
s.Dot loving him." Her SISTERS chiid (shc had
herscij, o whom she WAS exceedingly fond, ho boldly
told her was own, that tho lather
yet hcr sister he forbade the house, because
was taking from his vile the love she should give him.
| Tho two sisters were together evening and La
vcrgne closed and fastened the door Opening "a bu-
reau drawer he display ed to she gazo Of the terrified
1 Indies collection kuivos and uistOlg. Walking