The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-03

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Gaavanic Hat
terry and the Stomach Pump.

teTy and the Stomach Pump.
Mr.. Martin L. Best. who came to this
city April %. and has since been living al
the Commercial Hotel, yesterday evening
attempted to commit suicide, and only
failed because of the strenuous exertions
made to save him. He is man we'll up
10 years. carpenter by trade, and was
formerly of Reynolds and later Of Geneseo'
It appears he has been strict temperance
man for some time, but has broken through
his good resolutions recently. and has in
dulged too freely in the inebriating cup.
which is the main cause OF the SUICIDAL
attempt. Last evening he went into the
Harper House, about . o'clock. ana
asked the night clerk, Mr. Willie FLOR
ence, for some writing paper. After
soribbling some time he left. and the
clerks attention was called TO the mans
strange conduct, and TO what he had been
writing; which latter turned out to be
BADLY written letter, as follows:
SUNDAY NIGHT. May 2d-Maggie;,
good bye, DruDks Harper House. L
have just procured from my desk two
ounces of Iaudanum. Maggie. rather than
parry you and drag you down to HE OF
misery, dear, poor drunken pen oies.
Maggie. good bye; in future | will meet
you on the other shore. M. L.. Is.
Best on leaving the Harper House went
into the restaurant of John Russ in the
same block, and ordered dozen oysters.
part of which he ate, and then began to
act in an incoherent manner, stating that
he had taken poison and wanted to die.
Mr., Russ who had gone up stairs. was
called down by his wife; the man was then
continuing bis strange conduct, and finally
pulled a two ounce phial out Of his pocket
and attempted to drink the remaining
liquid. but Mr.. Russ snatched the bottle
from him and told him be wanted nothing
OF that sort. Best then for time was
violent and the baker of the establishment
had to be called in to help in keeping him
quiet. After time he became passive
aud Mr.. Russ with the bottle in his poss-
ession went to the Harper House drug
store. whose label was on the bottle, and
related what had transpired, TO the
assistant.
When Mr.. Russ returned he found that
Best had left. Best then went to the Com
mercial House. and called for writing ma
terials. and sat down at table whore he
wrote letter, and was in the act of seal
iEg it when Deputy Marshal German and
Officer Bunker, stepped 10 and arrested
him, and took him to the Armory. The
letter was similar to the one given above
and was addressed to the same person
but was slightly different in the phraseo-
Iogy. DR.. Craig was sent for Immediately
aud by that time tho mans symptoms
were very alarming. DIR. Barth was after
wards called 10, and antidotes were admin
lstered but without effect; the galvanic
battery was then tried but the result was
unsatisfactory, and as last resort the
stomach pump was applied and its sppli-
cation had to be repeated aud coffee and
water administered before the poison
could be sufficiently drawn GU: of him. a t
one time it seemed as if pulsation had
ceased and it looked as if the doctors ex-
ertions were in vain.
Last Friday Mr., Best obtained from the
Harper House drug store. bottle Of St.
acob' oil. for an injured wrist, and about
o'clock last evening went to the store
again, ana said the wrist panied him
so much that he wanted some lau-
danum to apply externally to
deaden the pain. Mr.. w. III. Marshall,
the assistant. knowing the circumstance
Of the wrist, let him have the lau6anum'
taking the usual precautions in selling
this drug. 1t is supposed he took more
than half the contents of the bottle, imme-
diately on leaving the drug store. The
night clerk of the Harper House, on fno-
ing the note as above, Informed Mr.
Harper, who at once notified the police
and Mr.. Marshall when he
learned of the mans conduct, also went.
and informed the police. It is said Mr..
Best had previously tried other drug
stores for laudaoum, but as he was
unknown they declined to serve him.
This morning Mr.. Best was considered out
of danger, but he remains at the Armory.
being watched by Messrs. Ed. John
SOD and Charles sFiebig alternately
as his mental condition is such
that he is liable to do himself an
injury if not prevented. The circumstance
is much regretted by those who know Mr..
Best, and feel an interest in him; he has
had hard luck and has been endeavoring
for some time past to do we'll. till within
the past few days. when overcome with
drink and bis imaginary troubles, one of
which is the supposed going back on
him" By lady who resides at Reynolds.
and to whom the letters written are
addressed.
Peace 10 the Family" You can enjoy
] good nights rest and retain peace it the
amily by keeping DR., Bulls Baby Syrup
q the house.