The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-11-15
A REMARKABLE RECORD.

An Epidemic Of Suicide in New York
The Cause Generally Intemperance,
Business or Domestic Troubles-Some
Curious Cases.
The record of suicides and attempt at
suicide from August "a to October 16,
says the New York Herald, is remarka-
BILE in the fact that the number Of cases
far exceed those of any like time in the
previous history of the city. Many rea-
sons are advanced for the apparent
epidemic of suicide, and it is urged that
unless some method is devised to check
it an increase may be expected. The
laws of England until within compare
lively short period were very severe
against .felo de SC. The property of the
suicide was confscated 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 the reign of George
w., and were continued in force into the
present century, when public opinion
forced their disuse. 1t is argued that
the season known as Indian summer has
the effect of stimulating suicide; and in
deed the records of past years show more
suicides during that period than at any
other time of the year. At any rate,
whatever. the cause, the death rate by
suicide during the two months has been
alarmingly increased.
The total number Of suicides was
twenty-five and OF attempts fourteen.
It is somewhat curious fact that OF the
total number of persons wanting to die
sixteen were of German birth. The
other nationalities are about equally
represented, and, although, in some
cases it was difficult to ascertain the
birthplace, the following figures may be
relied upon as accurate. Of the suicides,
ten were born in Germany, four in
America, two in Ireland, and one each in
England, France, Norway, and Cuba.
Two persons were unknown. Of the at
tempts six were of German birth, two
each of English, Irish and American
birth, and one each Of Russian and
French.
1t is an exceedingly hard matter to as
certain the real cause of many attempts,
particularly where the attempt is sue
cessful; but there is little doubt that the
majority of cases are due to intemper-
ance and domestic infelicities. The
classification that follows was made from
a careful investigation of the facts in
each case. Under the heads Of tenn
porary insanity" which is unjustly ap-
piled in many cases, melancholia and
" family troubles there will be found
cases differing widely as to their nature
and yet properly classed under those
heads.
Of the suicides five were due TO tenn
porary insanity, two to family troubles,
three to business troubles, three to
melanchoia, two to drunkenness. OF
four cases the cause was unknown, and
in one case man jumped from Niagara
Suspension Bridge through grief at the
death of son who had some time pre-
viously committed suicide in this city.
OF the attempts four were due to melan-
choia, two to family troubles, two to
jealousy, one to drunkenness, one to un-
requited love, and the reasons for four
others were unknown.
Vaisel Procheski, native of Bohemia,
was at one time practicng physician
and man in good standing in his native
town. Some years ago he came to the
United States with the desire of follow
ing his profession here. His money
went by degrees, and as he became poor
er he removed to Boston and established
himself there. Luck seemed to be
against him. A short time ago he came to
New York and, after wandering about
the streets for some days, gave up in
despair and took dose of laudanum. He
was taken to the hospital, and his life
may be saved. He is sixty years of age.
During the month of August Dr.. Ed
ward Stein committed suicide at French's
Hotel, in this city. His father, DR..
Lewis NJ. Stein, physician of estab-
lished reputation in this city, was 80
overwhelmed with grief that he could
not remain in the city where his Sol had
died. Restless and apparently heart
broken he wandered from place to place,
at last reaching Niagara Falls. On the
1st of September DIR. Stein went out on
the Suspension Bridge. After remain
ing there some hours he was seen to
clasp his hands to heaven, and a moment
after went plunging down to the water.
Geneve Kaiter oA the 7th of Septem-
ber died from dose of Paris green,
which she took intentionally. The cause,
as given, was that she had considerable
trouble with her husband, brought about
by his jealousy. Not wishing to pro-
long the struggle, as she expressed it,
she put an end to her existence.
Catharine Stines was forty-eight years
of age when she died, on the 9th of Sep
tember. She was q drinking woman.
and when under the influence OF liquor
evinced an almost insane desire to de-
stroy her life. On the day in question
she found her opportunity in fourth
story window, through which she jumped
and was instantly killed.
The case of George Geier, who was all
old man of seventy-two years, and whose
suicide was as deliberate as any IN the
list, was due to somewhat curious
cause. He was a man of considerable
means. or at least had been before his
business misfortunes. Bogus insurance
companies were his financial ruin. After
having invested his money in them and
losing it, he decided that he had nothing
further to live for, and SO he jumped
into the river.
Andrew Nelson died on the 9Th of
October from dose OF two ounces OF
prussic acid administered by himself.
Just prior to his death he explained at
length, in a letter to the Herald, his
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