The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-01
ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.
A Striking Incident in the Career Of Jesse
j nmes.

A Striking Incident in the Career OF Jesse
James.
An Adairsville (Ky.) correspon dent
of the Louisville Courier Journal mar
rates this striking incident in the career
of the notorious outlaw, the late Jesse
James
While so much is being said and
written about Frank and Jesse James,
am forcibly reminded Of an incident in
connection with them in which l was o
party. 1t may prove not uninteresting
to your readers and serves to illustrate
some of the characteristics which their
notable career has rendered so promi-
nent since. At the time of which l
write Jesse was suffering from the
effects of gunshot wound in
his right breast, and from the
long continued discharge was rather
thin and in feeble health, and was spend
ing some time with his uncle, Major
George B. Hite, who lived within two
or three miles of Adairville. In a fit
of despondency, produced partly by his
low state of health, and partly, as l
afterward learned, by his bitter opposi-
tion to the prospective marriage of his
sister Susie to Allen Farmer, whom she
afterward married, Jessie determined
to commit suicide, and impelled by his
impetuous nature lost no time in his
efforts at executing his desire. For
this purpose he rode to town and pro-
cured sixteen grains of morphine, which
be took at one dose Immediately on his
arrival at his uncle's, which was late in
the afternoon of January day. When
he felt the drug beginning to produce
its effects and he deemed it too late for
any remedial efforts to prove effective,
he called his brother Frank and sister
Susie to him, advised them of what he
had done, and gave such directions in
regard to messages and trusts as he
wished.
Frank, in order, if possible, to frus.
trate the design, Immediately posted
a messenger after physician. 1t was
about 7 o'clock P. NJ. when l ar
rived, and found him apparently in the
embrace of death, in profound stupor,
insensible to his surroundings, except
under the influence of the strongest ex-
citement, pulse slow, full and very for
chile, and respiration OF that heavy,
slow and stentorous nature characteristic
of opium poison. There had been some
degree of tolerance to the drug acquired
by resort to it for some weeks previ-
ously to mitigate the violence of the
sufferings incident to the wound above
referred to. 1 found willing and very
capable assistants in Frank and Susie,
whose attentions and ministrations were
unremitting throughout the night. In
addition to the usual remedies it was
imperatively necessary to combat the
narcotic influence of the poison by all
sources of mental and physical ex-
citement that could be brought
to bear. L shall never forget the
powerful excitement he evinced and the
prompt response he continued to make
when Frank would whisper to him Ger
tain warming words as if certain per
sons very obnoxious to him were
coming aud 1t was necessary to escape
Whenever he would seem sunk into the
fatal naicotism Franks cabalistict
would for hours bring him to his feet
and he would call for his pistols and
flourish them while carried around the
room between two assistants, every few
seconds relapsing into profound slum-
ber, even while walking, but instantly
aroused again by the same talisman
His eyelids seemed to have millstonei
suspended from them, and it was i'm
possible for him to keep them open
About 4 O'Clock A. NJ, all efforts to keeI
him awake proved futile; his pulse
had reduced in volume to q mer'
thread, his breathing was feeble an(
very slow, and it seemed the deatl
angel was lowering over him.
sat with my finger on the pulls,
for perhaps half an hour, when it begal
TO show evidences of improvement il
volume, with greater regularity, ant
with more frequent and natural breath
ing. When this improvement hat
continued till there could be no longe
any doubt of it's existence, the fact wa
communicated to tie relatives ant
friends. Within an hour he was sleep
ing Natural and refreshing sleep
which he really very much needed from
the exhaustion induced by his Ion,
continued forced efforts to keep awake
and moving.
By 6 o'clock he aroused and recog
nized his friends. and by the tim
breakfast was announced he was read
for hearty meal. When conscious
ness was thoroughly aroused he ez
pressed considerable emotion of jo
that he had failed in his efforts at self
destruction, and was profuse in thank
to Mrs. Hite and all parties for thei
strenuous efforts through the lonl
night to restore him. He evinced bot
shame and contrition for the act.