The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-02-27
The Suicide of Martin Pirtle.

The Suicide of Martin Pirtle.
Justice Shields held on inquest on the body
of Martin Pirtle, the old man whose suicide
was noted in our Saturdays issue.
Mrs. M. A. Fuller, daughter of tide de-
ceased, declared that Martin Pirtle was the
name of the deceased; he took what we sup
posed to be arsenic, out of a package labelled
arsenic on that night he said he was tired Of
living. He has twice previously attempted
suicide. On Monday he purchased the poison.
On Wednesday my son Charles told me his
grandpa was going to take more poison. I
went to his room and asked him
what he was taking. He said he
was taking something to 60 to sleep. In
an hour he vomitted, and continued to do so
until yesterday evening, when he died at ten
minutes past seven. He stated he had taken
poison to kill himself and cautioned me to
take the poison from his trunk so as the child
rem could not get it. He afterwards told me
to keep the trunk locked. My daughter
found the package of poison produced. lie
showed symptoms of being dry and drank
much water before his death. His age was
seventy-six. My impression is he took the
poison to kill himself, but would not positive
ly say.
Miss Matte Whitley deposed: All know
is what my mother has said. The deceased
came home on Monday, and showed me a
bottle of chloroform, which took from him
and emptied, substituting water FOR it. He
asked whether l had change it, and an.
swered no. He said it would be better than
he had taken before. The first time he tried
to poison himself was on Christmas day; the
second time week ago. l took the poison
package from the trunk, but did not see
him bring it home. My brother saw him take
the poison. The deceased told me to get the
poison and destroy it, SO the children would
not get it. Then he said lock the trunk, and
see the children don't get it 1.-THE poison).
Two of the children got some of the poison
left in the cup, and were affected in the same
way as deceased, but not so badly. He would
often say he was tired of life. My opinion is
he took the poison and meant to commit sui
eide. found the following note in his trunk
this morning:
81, Martin Pirtle. In short time l am
going to end my life. The cause is this:
was once independent, and now by unavoda-
ble misfortune | am reduced to extreme
poverty and has TO depend on others for
support, and | chose to die and be
out of the way. AS for my time, it is short;
am getting old. hate to be buried in this
place. Death is preferable to life in my pres
ent situation. think l have outived those
who ought to be my friends"
do not know when it was written, but l
know it is his handwriting.
Mr.. Frank Fuller, son-in-law of deceased,
was also called, and the summary of his tesi-
mony was, thai the deceased had been living
with his family about year. He had fire.
quently talked of committing suicide, and had
twice attempted to do SO. AT supper time, on
Thursday, his son Charlie told him that the
deceased was mixing something. He went to
the deceased, asked what he was going to
take, and he said only little arsenic. Moth
ing further was said. About fifteen minutes
afterwards he commenced vomiting, and con-
tinued to do so unit he died.
AT five O'Clock on Tuesday the deceased
asked when he thought he would get through
the dying business. Ever since he had known
him, the deceased appeared. to be troubled
about his financial condition, and often wished
to die. We always assured him he was well
Come at our house.
The jury having heard the evidence, de-
clared that the deceased, Martin Pirtle, came
to his death by poison administered by his
own hand, with the intention of committing
suicide; the said poison being taken on the
22d of February, 1882, at the house of his
son-in-law, Frank Fuller.
This is very sad case. An old man, who
feels dependent and in the way of his children,
takes his own life tc end trouble. There
seems to have been little effort made to pre-
vent the old mans design, and the grave
seemed the only place where his spirit could
be at rest.
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