Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-04
GaIes ano Sketfbfs.
rnE PoIssSER.

the side OF man VINO had committed
suicide -
It Is Friday, the thirteenth day OF Nov
ember-ill-omened date. II is just one
wear since she died and before nightfall
shall have followed her across the mystic
threshold of darkness and death. 1t Is
just one year ago to-day since she
died in a foreign ship. on the restless
ocean. Alone. with no friend near her.
with only strange hands to soothe her
brow. with stranger tongues to answer
her questions. She died at six in the
evening, and at six in the evening shall
die, alone. also away from the world. stiil
more dreary and desolate to me during the
past wretched wear. At six O'Clock this
evening. when the damp streets are hlled
with hurrying feet. when the lights dot
the dim avenues with sparks OF fre. and
an autumn night has fallen upon the vast
city, I shall die, alone and lonely.
do not die to punish my sin. No. II
were greater. far greater punishment
for me to live. tortured. racked by my
conscience. with my body worn and weary.
with nv brain on fire, with my heart dull
and heavy, with nothing In the future to
long for or to live for. ! die because
am not worthy 10 live.
And am vet more unworthy to die,
unfit for death. though ready for the grave.
shall die. though-and then
Before I cut short the thread OF my
brief existence must confess my deadly
sin. WHY need confess, Why need
write these wordso Who will read them
Well. write them will! The world as
curiosity and curiosity may find this. and
curiosity may read this record OF my
crime shall not begin at my birth and
bringing up; for it is not OF my birth, but
IL my death that curiosity will care to
read.
was youth Of studious habits and
odd, queer tastes. always delighted IN
antiquities and curiousties As boy-if !
ever was boy. Sometimes have doubt
ed it, when have seen other children.
Once hoped to have lived as child in
nv own children; but now
When left school. proficient. u not
a profound, scolar of Latin and Creek
even knew Hebrew and Sanscrt-l went
10 college, and determined to be law
yer. When left college. plunged into
legal studies with youthful ardor-that
youthful ardor has burnt out now with the
youth itself, and left but the smoldering
ashes. | studied the old law-boOks; |
learnt Norman French; deciphered old
medieval Latin treatses full of contrac-
lions and elsions dug and delved in the
mine of legal lore; gained an intimate
acquaintance with the mnutiH OF legal
history; and all the time | was learning
these things--good in themselves. but not
ALL was training my mind for the arena
of the courtroom and now. even the
traces Of that mental training have van
ished. How like a dream it all seems
when | look back on it; and how like
horrid nightmare my later life,
Although | intended not to practice in
the criminal courts, determined to study
medical jurisprudence. read Wharton
and Stille routed out old trials for in
fanticide, for assault. for murder; | rum
mayed through curious old volumes of re-
ports examining curious old cases; l
studied the subject of wounds and NAL
practice, and death by strangulation and
by suffocation and by poison!
There the fatal word is written. 1t
changed the whole current of my life no
longer did that current flow slowly and
smoothly along it became only too soon
u raging torrent. The subject of poison
fascinated me. had read poisoning cases
| began to know the different effects of
vegetable and mineral poisons; began
to know their antidotes; | knew the one
that has no antidote. Suddenly the desire
took possession OF me. the resolve came,
to leave the law and take to medicine.
Immediately enrolled myself again to
study; again read the history and growth
of science. and found my legal studies
and my linguistic training of great use to
me.
Time passed and was graduated.
was twcRty-six years old on the day took
my degree. ! am thirty-ive years old to-
day. Nine long. long years.
had little fortune, enough to support
me. and | did not try to get a practice,
hut devoted myself and my labor TO study
and to writing. got together the most
valuable library Of Genealogical works in
the United States: had fine collection
of criminal reports containing the accounts
Of poisoning cases; my laboratory pos
>essed specimens of every poison. animal.
vegetable or mineral, which had ever
heard Of or which could be procured for
love or money. began to be an authori
" on the subject; Twas often called upon
TO testify rs an expert and my testimony
decided more than one case more than
once mans life hung on my words. In
spite OF oddity. was rapidly gaining a
name among both doctors and lawyers AS
rising man. when an event happened:
fell in love. Her name was Lillian Nor
gan. and she was beautiful. with singu-
lar beauty. She was fascinating. with
weird. curious fascination. Her form was
perfection; her hair was deep. dead black
her eyes were deep. dark black; they
seemed to look into you. Her complex
ion was white and transparent. except
whensone red spot flushed upon her cheeks.
She was tall, pale majestic woman. and
she loved me. Her only relative. her ag-
ed mother. consented to our marriage, on
one condition-our fortunes were about
equal but MIS-. Morgan insisted that
should insure my life for fifty thousand
dollars. She said Lillian must also insure
hers. Each was for the others benefit.
Alter the wedding we left America for
Europe. There was scant dozen of rare
old Genealogical treatises had sought in
vain in new An'e.ica. and I hoped to Sc
cure them in Europe. Do what would
even in the heat of my love. my best
thoughts were given to poison.
So we travelled all over Europe, we
did what all bridal couples visiting the