Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-03-17
Erroneous Report Corrected.
BEDFORD, Pa, NJ trch IS, 1877.

Editor Ml,anq Jownol will you
oblige me by publishing the followlng7
1t refers to lhe present illness Of
my young friend and pupil, George
NJ. Kane, son Of James Kane Esq, OF
YOUR town and is intended, by
giving the true version, to correct
any erroneous impressions which may
have been occasioned by statements
already given to the public.
Our own papers have, ont Of regard
for the feelings of friends, kindly re-
trained from reference to the matter,
and the only notice of the unfortu-
nate affair | have seen, is Il local in
the Cumberland Daily NetrS Of the
10Th inst, which gives substantially
what was the current rumor 'at the
time, as follows
Last Sunday Mr. George Cain, son of
Mr. John Cain. ofFrostburg Il dental stu
dent at Bedford, Pennsylvania, attempted
suicide by taking laudanum. He drank
the drug in the presence Of number of
persons, and speedy relief measures saved
his life. The cause of the rash act is not
known, but said to be boyish troubles
The facts are these Between four
and five weeks ago, George had fell
on on one Of the fingers of his left hand
and suffered severely III consequence.
His physician danced it and directed
him to have it poulticed and gave him
an ounce phial Of laudanum to be mix
ed as needed with the poultice. Not
being able to rest at night from the
pain in his hand it very naturally oc-
CURED to him to take few drops of the
laudanum, as a sleeping potion, Oh re
firing. He continued doing this un-
til his finger was we'll and then, find
ing himself unable to sleep without
his usual dose Of opiate, he made the
mistake, young man Of his age might
thoughtlessI y make, Of continuing its
use, night alter night, until deIjruln
was the result and on Sunday even
ing, the 4th inst, IN a temporary aDer-
alton OF reason, he drank an amount
Which, bat for the prompt application
Of remedies, would probably have re-
suited in his death.
The above is the truth as to the
cause of the rash act referred to.
He had no "boyish troubles tnat
could have made ten minutes impress
sion on his mind, had he been IN q
normal condition. There WIS no pre-
MISUNDERSTANDING at5uicidea ndhe had
Ho intelligent realization, at the time,
OF the import Of his act, and his phys
lclans unanimously concur in the opin-
ion that he was not morally responsible
for 1t.
Another thing, he did not take
the drug IN the presence OF number
OF persons, nor OF any person whaCev-
er. His action led his friends to sus-
pect that he had taken poison OF some
kind and Il lutte Watching confirmed
their suspicious.
We all noticed some slight peculj-
aritles in his conduct for d day or two
previously, but as he complained OF
not being well, We gave it bat little
consideration until subsequent level-
opments gave US the key TO his eccen-
trlC action.
[ have thus given you simple state
ment, IN brief, Of the facts IN the case,
for the sake OF his friends, who are in
deep sorrow, as George is now very
dangerously i'll from cerebral intiam-
nation, which may prove fatal, and
also that injustice may not be done a
Young man who has endeared himself
to me by many excellent traits OF
character.
Very respectfully yours.
c. n. IIIcKoK.