The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-20
WAKEFIELD.
The Notorious Astrologer On His
Death-bed.
An Apparent Case of Self-destruc-
tiOn.

Am ApDArGmB case Oh OeAA-ucSSA~S-
tiOn.
Our readers will readily recall the
fact that during the first part OF last
year William A. Wakefield, alias
DR.. Raphael, and Sarah Wakefield,
his wife, were arrested at the in
stance OF Miss Sarah Reynolds, young
woman, who charged them with pro-
curing an abortion upon her, and the
subsequent disgusting details that were
made public in consequence in refer
enoe to the manner OF business carried
on in the quackery line by the precious
pair at their house, No. Ill Richmond
street. Some few weeks after the ar
lraignment of the defendants on The
| charge, it will farther be recalled, the
wife, Sarah Wakefield, who was placed
under close guard, died at the age OF
tiIty-5eyen years, and the suit against
her OF course was dismissed.
Another chapter in the dismal drama
| is now to be added. Since the bringing
of the above mentioned suit, DR.. Wake
field has been living at the old place, on
r chmond street, but has had no inter-
course whatever with the outside world =,
| his spirits seemingly having been
crushed by the odium attaching TO his
name in consequence OF this pubic ex-
posure. He has had very little to du
also with his immediate family, prefer
| ring to live like II hermit in his own room,
and eating at a separate table.
He has been in depressed condition
for some time, but it was not feared that
he intended to take his ife. About 3
O'Clock yesterday afternoon he visited
in person the dru. store OF Mr.. X. Is.
Ashteld, at the southwest corner OF
Eighth and Central avenue, where he
has been in the habit Of buying all the
ldtugs used in his once extensive prac-
| tice but which, by the way, dwindled
into insigniticance after the Reynolds
exposure) and called Tor six ounces OF
ilaudanum, saying he wanted it to be
pure and strong. The drug was fur
nished him and he departed, apparently
III his usual spirits.
Since that time he has not bean seen
by the family Consisting OF Mike Lip
man, the Snowman, and his wife, the
latter being daughter OF Wakefield
Until this morning between 8 and
lO'clOck, when for some reason Mr.. Lip
! man was soIicit0us as to Wakefield $
condition, and proceeded to his rOrm to
enquire as TO his health. The door was
found locked, and the key absent from the
inside. Becoming thoroughly alarmed,
help was sought, and soon Officer Stew
ara responded, and gained admittanse
to the room by breaking down the door.
| Going to the bedside OF the old man,
the officer and family were terrified 10
| tina him in an unconscious condition
and very pale. An examination OF the
room was at once instituted, when it
was found that bottle OF Iaudanum,
the identical one procured from Ash
| field the day previous, as has been since
learned, was on the dressing-case, with
but an ounce remaining. In the waste
| basket was discovered an order for lau-
| danum, which had been torn in two.
AS soon as the shock OF the discovery
had passed, Drs. Jesse Garretsou and
Beckwilh were summoned, but, after
examining the patient, they gave it as
| their opinion that he could not survive,
as he had taken enough OF the poison tu
kill dozen men. By the time this
reaches the public, he will, in all proba-
bility, have ended his career.
A lew days ago Wakefield, in a some
wnat heated interview with his soE-.E-
law, Mike Lipman, informed that gentle
| man that lie Intenued to institute pre-
ceedings looking to the breaking of the
will OF mis- deceased wife, by which his
immense estates in this city aud Phila-
delphia, amounting it is said to half "a
million dollars, had been given to the
| only child, Mrs. Mike Lipman. -.
| From ali that can be gathered OF she
case at This writing, the affair seems to
be clear case of sci -Iestruction; but
what facts may be elected by CorO-
ners jury in the event OF his death
(Which by no means Is uncertainty, OF
course we have no means OF judging.