Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-31
BERNARD'S BULLET
PIercss ais own Rrafn-A Suicide Who
Requests that His Body be
Gfemated.
Too lazy TO work, and TOO Proud
TO Beg, He fakes His
Own Life.

L.st Sunday weak q well-dressed man,
with a professional air, rusty valise and
ragged shoes, called at the clearinghouse OF
Mrs. Louder, at III Court street, and en-
gagged lodging, psyirg for a week 10 advance.
He said his name vas A. Bernard. Where
he took his meals is not known. He was
quiet in is manner, and the other INN ates
CT the house saw very little OF him. Yes
terday morning Miss Cora Louder went up
to the room to see il it had been properly
attended 10, but found the door closed. Sac
knocked aud receiving no answer vent awsy,
thinking the LOGGER might be asleep. Yes
terday evening she returned to the room and
found the door still locked. 1t WAS opened
with smother kew, and the lodger was seen
lying upon the bed, fully dressed. young
man named Willism Miller was summoned,
and glance was enough to tell him the man
was dead. He informed Chief Davis at once,
and Justice Spelman was summoned to hold
an inquest. He found the iodger stretched
upon his bsck with his wTiets crossed and
and the haudle of twenty-five caliber
Smith & Wesson pistol in his right hand,
while he clutched the mHzzle in his left
Cnief Davis bent the 6ogers of the corpse to
remove the weapon and instantly a thick
stream of dark blood spouted from his
mouth. No wound was found anywhere upon
tES DOOF, anu tue COuCiuslOu IL lHAl the sui
eide shot himself in the mouth, the ball
lodging in the brain. Scattered abou! the
room were several books, one Of them in
German, and on the table lay the following
LETTER:
III COURT STREET,
MENPHIs, Tenn, May Is, 1883.
NY DEAREST JosEPHINR-I ouce heard you say
that you thought you could forgive a friend al
most anything Ihope the news of my death,
which you will have already received by telegraph
will not tax your friendship oyermueh 1t Is bet
ter that you all of you, should receive one great
suock than that you should be troubled with an
incubus all your lives. Yet it is difficult for you,
with your versatility, to understand the motives
which induce me to give up my lie, weary OF it.
AS far worldly success is concerned sch u6rly,
studious profession was the only liue of life for
which was in the least adapted When aban-
doned nv chances in some such career, 1t was
complete ruin. To attempt anything needing
me to sink into utter insignifcance. 10 an Amer
lean, with his wits sharpened aud trained from
whatever profe- sion he may be destined,
this L suppose is almost uncomfortable;
but TO an European student it is comprehensive.
must also allude to an incident of ten years ago
which leaves its shadow still. / was for some
time, you may remember classical student in
Fermoy College, OF which Dr. Burke was princi-
pal. He had daughter, Miriam, whom loved,
and not without return. lost that gentle lady
through my own fault, and with her the good
part OF myself The death of Sidney lies at my
door But for my failure he would never have en-
tered the Dublin tnk, the long hours and killing
disease. l would there were another world after
this. To meet his shade would risk all the
horrors with which Missionaries have peOpled 1t.
De m0rtEis nil nisi b0ntB II is pleasant to reflect
that by ami by you will come to think of me with
me tn9ughs que 20 long gepa5teo
advisable to seften the shock of my death TO you
by msking 1t appear accidental, but the
my father might be left in doubt
even temporarily, and thus your anxiety needless
| " prolonged leads me to abandon that idea not
hut that wnuld nTpfpr beiDQ sXeDt along in a
| rushing current after death TO the ignominy OF
burial. The most poetical, as well as natural,
mode OF disposing OF the dead is undoubtedly by
| cremation. But this is personal and secondary
consideration. 1 leave instructions that you are
| to be telegraphed to. 1 should think the neces-
| sary expenses would be tIifing. leave no debts
whatever here, my rent for the current week being
| paid in advance, You must never allow yourself
TO associate my death in the least with my Ameri-
can expedition. In Australis, on my twenty third
birthday, airy, I,refected, and, considering the
yicissltude OF life aud how many men die before
their thirteta year. resolved TO live long, but
| no longer. shuddered at the thought Of lonely
| and unhonorsd age. l but adhere TO the resolu
| ton then made, which the seeing you all again
| and the contagion of your energy had somewhat
shaken. Nor must you ever torment yourself witt
| mins when could determine TO abandon life.
| am troubled indeed by the thought OF the grie
| which shall cause you all and yet persuaded
that thus it will be better for you after a time
! Our dear mother cherishes the memory OF he
| Youngest. His unstained name Is consolation u
| her. With him she must sometimes associate he
| next Better that she should know him, too, deaC
than be tormented with all sorts of ipaginings a.
| to his troubled life. May she live to a hale anC
| peaceful old age; well has she earned 1t. Again
| you know that my youth was familiar with thu
| modes of thought of The ancients, who considered
| mans life his own property and attached no dis
| credit to the suicides death, even in some case
holoIing it, SUCH in so far at least as 1t is Ques
| ton OF the individual, has ever been my view 0
| tine matter. J he reasons which induce me to be
lieTe that my death viii ultimately be benefit L
you all, who dear to me, have alread
| touched upon. Let again thank you for tn
| boon which you conferred upon me in bringing
| me to see you all once again. 1t is unspeakab
pleasant 10 be able 10 think of you as we'll happy
| and prosperous. 1 can imagine you a few year
| into great strong men, aud delghting you an
| their father with their college chat. Perhaps
some day, you viii ali visit the old country, an
you will Introduce them to their dear grand
| mother, and their aunts, and cousins, whose nam
is legion. Farewell, my dearest, best beloye
sister, farewell for ever. AUGUSTA.
The following, written in the ssme han,
as the letter, was found lying open on III
table:
Let my sister, whose sddress is below, be con
municated with by telegraph. She will defrs
necessary expenses. MRS. DUANE,
| $50 East bath street,
New York City.
1t is not positively known when the dee
was committed. Some OF the children at tn
house declare they saw Bernard go down I
the cistern aad draw glass Of wster yester
day evening, returning TO his room. AS de
composition had evidently set in when tn
| hodv va. found this IL doubtless a mistake