Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-11-30
The Mystery Of Suicide.

There Is often an unfathomable nfvs.
terry about suicide. In some instances
seli-dcstruction tells is own tale. The
causes that lead 20 il are not in doubt.
But Ia others they are hidden from all
human eyes No conceivable explana-
ton presents itself and the d~e,ibcration
and method attending the act only serve
- render u the more unaccouniable. II
confounds the understanding when an
Individual who seems 10 have every in
ducement tolive voluntarily seeks death.
In such a case the mystery can never be
solved The grave is silent.
IL has been said that suicide i never
committed except when the functions Of
the brain are impaired and the action Of
the mind perverted and directed in i'm
proper channels. Yet history furnishes
Instances which seem 20 destroy this
theory. Among the ancients self-de-
structiOn j. sometimes considered an act
Of courage and virtue. Cleopatra killed
herself by the poison Of an asp ia pref.
erence 30 being carried In a triumphal
procession 20 Rome by Augustus. The
Carthagenian Hannibal sought death
rather than surrender himseifa prisoner
90 the Romans. Cato died by his own
hand 10 avoid living under the despot.
ism Of Caesar. Il is only by a H~c-spun
theory that such act can De attributed
90 q dis0rdcred brain.
Nine. de Stael believed that suicide
was sometimes justifable. Gi0bou and
Hume defended what most people re-
gard as a crime. Communities have
differed as well as individuals in their
views Of self-destruction. Suicide has
sometimes been pronounced a felony. 10
be followed by penalties after death in
the coniscaiion OF The property Of the
deceased and the refusal OF a Christian
burial 20 his remains. To-day an al
tempt az suicide j. made a penal ofense
under our new code.
In very many Instances. doubtless.
disorder 81 tho brain Is the cause Of sui
eide. An illustration Of this was az
forted BY the case Of Sir Samuel Rom
lily, he famous Erglish Chancery law
I yer, who cut bis throat While Temporal
Fly insane through grief a. his wife's
death. The loss 81 blood relieved the
pressure on the brain. restored the sui
cide's right mind and caused him 10
look with horror on the deed.
The deliberate and scientific manner
In which suicides sometimes perform
their work is remarkable aud does not
ht with the theory OF a disorlered brain.
The lamentable case al Utica Is an H.
lnstration. ThoIe j. no mystery about
the causes which led 20 that sad tragedy.
But the method with which Mr.. John.
son proceeded Is most singular. lie
had studied from a work on anatomy
the exact position Of the heart, and
directed the pistol with his left hand
while he pulled the trigger with his
right. Tho book lay open on the table.
He had left his lesson 30 carry lis teach
ings into effect Lord Casilercagh. the
British statesman who killed himself
sixty years ago, studied anatomy 20 find
out the exact position Of the carotid
artery. He attended lectures and dis.
sections 10 perfect his knowledge. and
waen confident in his skill ended his life
by severing that artery with the point
OF a pen-knife.
Many singular suicides have recently
occurred. A boy fourteen years OF age
Killed. himself not many weeks ago.
The suicide Of Amasa Stone. the Cluve-
land millionaire, was rcr,arkahle.
Others quite as unaccountabic are with
in everybody's recollection. How can
we account for such acts on the part Of
persons to whom il would appear that
life must be very desirable? Is il not
true that there are skeletons in closets
Of which the world does not dream, aud
that the heart Is a closed book which no
one but the mar in whose frame il beat,
can readily. a. World.