Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-06-29

re- SUlolDE-On Monday last, June
oath, an elderly gentleman, looking to
be about GO years old, aud an entire
stranger, came 10 our town and put up
at J, A. Adams Hotel, and at halt-past
twelve on Wednesday, July 10Th, he
died the death of the suicide, under cir
cumstanoes peculiarly mysterious and
SO far unaccountable. AT about eight
o'clock on Wednesday morning, the
proprietor, Mr.. J. A. Adams, of the ho-
lei named, called at the door of the
room occupied by the stranger, tor the
third time, and finding him still lying
on the floor of his room as before, APP
preached him to awaken him to come
TO breakfast. He did not awaken to
the calls and shakings given him, and
Mr.. Adams, seeing his guest was in a
deep and unnatural sleep, at once sent
for DR.. w. p. Manning, of this place.
The doctor found the patient in far
advanced and fatally developed state of
opium poison, and at once applied the
best remedies for relief known to the
medical profession. Drs. Butler and
Marshall, of this town, also were in at
tendance to assist, and were uptirlng IN
their aid and skill to do all in the pow
er of man to eounteract the effects OF
the deadly poison from which tie I'M
happy victim was suffering "A battery
of fine power was at once applied and
continuously so for nearly four hours,
up TO within few minutes preceding
death, together with sub-cutaneous in
lection of belladonna. But the suicide
had done too well his work to be re-
lieved by the skill of man, however in
dustriously and scientifically applied.
The suicide, it appears, came here
from Harper's Ferry, on Monday, by
canal boat, and was in decidedly bad
health, and, though cheerful, ate moth
ing and seemed to be at a loss where to
90 or what to do lie gave no. name,
and would not register at the hotel. An
inquest was held on Wednesday after
noon, when from the evidence given the
deceased had purchased in town four
grains of morphia, and on his body was
found halt an ounce of laudanum in
vial. The following note was also found
in the hip pocket of his pants:
"J. Berdell, N. Y: l have come
many miles to end this unhappy life,
and have no friends. ]. Berdei!.
Two memorandum books were also
found on his person with all the leaves
written on carefully cut and leaving
bothiug in them to lead to identified
ton. A deposit card of Hinh!eys,
Philadelphia, No 6l2, apparently for all
Umbrella left for repairs, was also found
in one of those books, with names OF
streets etfectually scratched, and show
ing how carefully the suicide had pre-
pared against Identification. A few
dollars were found in his pockets and a
gold watch. The deceased was man
of quite respectable demeanor, evidently
suffering from some disease of mind or
estate and probably both; with nothing
in his conduct to indicate his purpose
of self-destruction. Evidently he had
seen better days, and had come to un.
trequented point to carry out his fatal
purpose, hoping to escape from all In
curry hereafter as to his fate. Tie
lame of Berdell given by himis thought
here to be an assumed one, as all his
actions were carefully taken apparently
TO elude and deceive all inquiry for him
hereafter. He had lost the first joint OF
the fore-inger of the left hand, the only
mark of designation Of the body. The
body was turned over to Mr.. II. +.
Cameron, Undertaken, for burial, who
uttered the same in the ground allotted
for such, in the Elmwood Cemetery at
a o'clock on Thursday evening.
Mr. WIN. Darnell, Artist, took his
photograph before burial. Rev. MIR:
Miller, of the NJ. Z. Church, ofhclated
at the grave.
lie was dressed in a suit of black
clothing. red flannel undershlrt, aud
white linen shirt, pair Of yarn socks,
black slouch hat, aud a pair of new
shoes; and had an upper set OF false
testh. His height was about 5 feet
0Sinches, and weighed about ITO
pounds:
The following is the Jury of Inquest,
with Justice VIM. Rightstine presiding
S. Is. Neill, Jno. f. Welshans, Lloyd
Licklider, J. w. b. Frazier, I. w. Lat
liner, G. Il. Stonesiter, JOS. NJ. Stone
braker, r. D. Kearfoot, b. +. Harrison
NJ. Il. Raker, G. w. Humrickhouse, j
A. Tenant. The examination was con