The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-20
LEVINE'S UNIQUE SUICIDE.
NATURALIZATION NOT AN 1NTTDO TE ron
DOSE or L1UD4NUM.
Refusing 10 he Interfercd with, and Coolly
Dying In the Presence Of his Friends and
Physician, None OF whom Deferred Him.

Physician, None Of Whom Deferred Him.
Boardcrs at 31s West Twenty-second street
heard RoNlan Levine walking in his room late
on Monday night. They remembered that he
had threatened to kill himself and so raped
at his door. He readily admitted them. and his
composed manner was dlsconccrting. for they
hardly knew how to excuse the intrusion but
he relieved the awkwardness by saying that he
was glad to sec them. as probably 1t was for the
last time. lie had seen all tho trouble he wanted
TO- he continued calmly. and was going to es-
cape from any more. having just taken some
thing that would put him at rest forever. He
pointed to an empty bottle that had contained
laudanum. The boarders sent for DR.. Henry
II. Wilson Of 1908 West Twenty second street. TO
whom Levine reported that he had poisoned
himself. Tho physician tried to induce him to
take an antidote.
mo" he said; 81 have made up my mind to
die, and am going to-"
He sat upon the sofa fully dressed and no.
body but tho physicians could detect the effect
Of tho drug. An cmetic and a stomach pump
were suggested. but the young man firmly de-
clined TO have anything to do with either.
You may watch me all you want to. doctor"
he said. but II you attempt to do anything to
me I'll order you out. and II you don't 20 out
one way you'll 80 another This is my room.
~
only through courtesy | allow any OF you gen
ucmen to remain. II you're curious To sec
man die you can stay. so long Tvs you don't in
terfere with me-
The boarders nrgued to induce him TO submit
to treatment They spoke Of his duty 10 his
widowed mother but he was unmqved. His
called from her room, and was ignorant Of
What was going On ~ the strongest appeals
Levine replied: " My life Is my own TO do ~
please with, and | propose 10 take It. 1t is no
pleasure for mo to live"
After watching beside tho patient three quar-
| tors OF an hour. and being assured. both by
the young man himself and 10y circumstanta
evidence. that nearly two hours had elapsed
since he mad taker tho poison. the physician
| concluded that the doee had been either too
| little or too big to affect him seriously and that
| he would recover all right without assistance
| So he said TO Levine: | guess you'll come out
oil right after ALL"
4 hope not" was the reply II calculated
the quantity. very accurately and II shall be dis
| appointed II | am no. successful; What's the
difference. any way 2 There'll only be one fool
| less in the world Bv the way. Doctor I've a
notion 10 bequeath my body to you. and let you
see II you can find any brains in my head"
| This lcvity increased the impression that his
| CONDITION was not SO serious as had been
| thought DIR. Wilson said to him. "a he started
70 leave tho room. you get over this all right
| wish you would come and see me. Perhaps a
| little visit will do us both good"
| All right thank you. Doctor" Levine said.
| call around for an evening. II you've plenty of
brandy and soda. bat don't believe you u ever
see me"
Al this he arose and shook hands with the
| physician. who went down stairs and would
| have gone from the house had not one OF the
| men begged MIN 10 remain in tho pHrlor for
while. until 1t could be seen how Levine acted
when left alone,
| times. but maintained his quiet. determined
| manner until a few minutes after o'clock
when be suddenly collapsed The two ounces
| and max OF laudanum that he had swallowed
seemed 10 eNert their full influence in an in
| slant. Or. Wilson was hastily recalled. He did
! all in his power to remove or counterfeit the
| poison. The use OF n stomach pump showed
that tho drug had all been absorbed from the
measures were resorted TO. Finally the diving
man was kent alive for while 10y artificial
respiration. "a. o'clock lie was extinct.
Levine was between n and % years Of age.
| was prcpOsscssing ia face and figure. and Is
said 10 have been agreeable socially when, he
| porting druggists At Gs William street, lntterly
| as entry clerk. Mr.. Kemp says that the firm
| held him In the highest esteem. and would have
| done anything in their power 10 assist him had
they known that he was in difficulty. lie did
| Coroner Flanagan took the case. aud his dcp-
gty, Or. Miller, set about investigating H. Tho
dead man left several letters 10 friends these
were taken charge Of By persons wh9 refused
short time before his death and said that he
had written and mailed others. A brief note
was received by the Arm Yesterday morning. in
which he briefly begged 70 be excused from
duty tomorrow Yesterday and forever" As
10 his motive his friends profess total igno-
rance. 70 Dr. wilson and those who were with
IN n way so vague that their nature could not
be determined. IL Is said that the family WAS
once very wealthy. His employers say that
they did not know OF his being dissl pRtcd. II
WAS learned that he was in the habit OF smok ing
opium, and possibly he may have swallowed II
internally as well. Tho fact Of his using IL AT
all would account for the peculiar sluggish in
fiuence of the immense dose 81 laudanum and
then its sudden and overwhelming action. Lee
vine was partially OF spanish descent, aud WAS
not native Of New York. The family con-
sisted. besides himself and mother, Of an older
brother. who was employed In this city. His
mother was not informed of his death until she
| awoke yesterday morning. when friends were
| the police the fact Of the suicide.
| Dr. Wilson said that the case was an unusual
one. He had met with only one similar In his
practice, and that was OF a man who. after tax
while he held a cooked revolver covering the
doorway OF his room. He thought that. in th'
present instance, his course was proper one
In the case OF a child. or an ordinary sick per
sou. he would have exercised mis- own IudRmcn
as 10 the use ot force; but here was aman 1t
| the full possession OF his faculties. mental anC
| physical. who knew thoroughly what he wal
| DONG ana the consequence OF MS actions. The
three or four persons present would hay'
| proved pOweress TO overcome him, for h
would have fought like tiger. Had his friend
seen M C. call in the police. or other aid. {,
| oVerpowcr MIN, II would have been well enough
but the physician did not feel that he would b.
| Justified in doing So nor did the other men con
slider It their duty. Until Levine yielded TO th
| influence OF poison, DR.. Wilson continued
there wRa no evidence other than his word an
the empty bottle. that he had taken poison. Ii
some cases that would seem proof enough, bu
dom from the Influence OF the drug, were wei
calculated 10 make one doubt this evidence. a
least sO far as his taking sufficient - produe
death.