Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-28
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
A Reverend Minister Who Went
WrOng"---He Arrives in this
City to Find Himself a
Subject Of Public
Scandal.
Il Being too Much for His Nerves
ne Takes StryehnIne,
And Now Lies In a Critical Condition.
His Letters to Friends and
others, Etc, Etc.

A person known as tho Rev. James A,
Dixon, hailing from New Albany, Ind,
attempted suicide at an early hour this
morning by taking s%trychnine. He now
lies at the Peabody Hotel, in a critical
condition, under the care of Drs. Nuttall
and Craft. Its supposed that the would
be selEmurderer took an overdose of the
poison, and while he may not recover
the chances are fair that he will.
The attempt is said to have been made
about l o'clock this morning. Mr.. Gal
loway, of the hotel, first knew Of it about
4 o'clock.
A number of letters were found on the
table of the room ~occupiedby Mr.. Dix
on, and the indications are that he had
made careful preparations to leave this
world, where troubles and tribulation;
have recently heaped upon him beyond
his ability to Withstand.
One of the letters written in pencil on
paper used by newspaper reporters fol
soft and quick work, is as follows:
MEMPHIS, TENN., December q, 1878
To the People of Memphis: l came tC
your city nearly two weeks ago, and came
as an erring and foolish, l may add, sin.
ming citizen of the United States; but ]
was not deemed by tho people | left and
who knew me best an object of scorn anC
indignation. | was up to that time, De,
cember 18th, at least guilty Of no more
than indiscretion. | have not beer
charged with more. Some demon
allied papers, such as the New York
Police Gazette, have gotten up {
sensational report of shelters" passing
between myself and a certain young lady
in that city, New Albany all Of which
are misrepresentation and lies. / have
never, by the young lady or her friends
been charged with immorality-i.e., Grim.
inal Intercourse with the young woman
! All | have ever been charged with wal
im~prudence, and that has not been tried
and therefore not proven. | had resigned
my charge as a pastor lat September
and decided to settle in Memphis a
a physician my old practice.
lived in the South many years
was born and educated in Eng
| iulut anu II l. NUA llNlilitu W lUNb bl
~ladies-among which / never was charged
with before-the place of my birth ant
where l spent my happiest life ma,
have something to do with it.
say this sincerely, because l am nov
in the South. | am surprised a
the excitement | learn Of in this city.
know it to be unthinking and unjust, an,
the citizens will afterward regret tile
when they have found out that it is unjus
and purely the work of sensational Nor
thern papers, who love to feed the unhap
py taste we have, alasl cultivated 5
largely in the United States for scandal
Please wait and do me the justice of
fair hearing. JAS. A. Dixon.
Another letter was addressed to Floy
Tuley, Esq, whom he calls my dea
friend" In it he recites that he is SUI
prised to find himself an object of susp
cion in this city, as if he had been guilt
Of some crime. He overheard remark
limiting at these suspicious while awaitin
the arrival of his wife and family. He ais
refers to a so-called scandal between him
selfand MissK. and asks tohave the mayo
and other friends notified that he wi
call for statements regarding the matte
so that he may be exonerated. lie say
he came here to earn his living in a Law
full calling and does not understand VIII
he should suffer so much indignity as h
has been called upon to suffer.
And the letter address ID to Mayor MAJ
ben, Of New Albany, alao as My Des
Friend" says:
"There is much excitement in this cit
over what is called the Dixon Scandal
Tho news seems to be late getting her
Long has the whole thing been known j
Indiana"
He asks to have Mrs. Dixon informe
Of the facts. The lady was to have starte
b for this city yesterday, the letter says, bl
. the condition of things here checked HI
and upset all his plans. He further say
n 81 am a 9eaceable and law-abit
ing citizen, as you all know in II
diana, and have always been so r
garded for twenty years. am pc
fectly astounded at what | have heal
with my own ears, here in Memphis. "
+, saw me before / started and babe me GC
speed. Ihave done TO offense to the law
: and yet | am bounded among stranger
Ie and that in the South / have loveds so we
See my dear wife and tell her this in a
+, diticn to what / have written her in t
> last day or two. Yours truly,
ID JAMES A. DIXON.