The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-13
SUICIDE.
JAMES w. HALL. THE WELL
KNOWN FLORIST, SHUFFLES
OFF THE MORTAL COIL.
Tired of Earth and its Temptations.
He Seeks the Consequences of
the Other World.

One of the bast known characters
of this city has been James W. Hall.
He was somewhat eccentric in his
conduct but withal he was man for
whom nearly all who knew him
had kindly feeling, for
he was social and generous to fault
and not many men had fewer enemies
than he. He was native of Tennes-
see and in his 38th yea when he died.
Coming to Austin when mere lad he
has lived here since. He was florist
by profession and one of the most
skillfui in the south. His reputation
in this regard was as wide as the con-
tinent and at the time of his demise
he had orders from parties in the north
to gather 10000 Texas plants for
them, 5000 different varieties to
be gathered for one man. Such
was the general standing of the man
who committed suicide Sunday morn
ing in this city. He
HAD BEEN DRINKING
nearly all night and perhaps INDUCING
in other dissipation until his mind was
so completely unstrung that he had
little or no control of himself. About
seven o'clock he met his uncle, M. p.
Hall. on the Avenue and the uncle be-
gan to upbrade him for being out all
night. saving that he ought to have
been at home with his family. Eyes,
I'm Gle" he replied, sit is a shame for me
to do as have done and am going to
stop it." He then asked his uncle to go
to a drugstore and get him some NOR
phine. His uncle asked him why he
did not get it himself. The reply was
that he did not believe the druggists
would let him have any. The uncle
Then asked him what he wanted with
the drug. and he told him he was tired
of living and wanted to kill himself
The uncle told him he would not as
sist him to get poison for such pur-
pose. and tried to induce him to &c
home with him and get strong cup
of coffee He then told his uncle that
he did not intend to kill himself, but
simply wanted little
TO MAKE HIM SLEEP.
The uncle says he thought it best to
go with him and see that he got a
small dose, so they went together TO
Samotz's drug store but it was closed;
they went across to the new drug
: store of Morris & Co. where Slmp
| SOL 3 "oo, oAo Va
they found closed also. The uncle
tried again to pursuade him to &C
home with him and get cuI
of coffee saying it would DC
him more good than the morphine
NO." he replied; Il am going to XII
myself. 1 will find the drug some
where, and with it end my worthless
life" His uncle saws he had hear
| 4,1tr hot hofnrn and lao ri (
H.. surniise he bad my such lnten
ions, notW outstanding he shook hard
with him and babe him good bye, say
ing as he did so it would be 9TH
last time he would see him. WheI'
he got the drug no one seems to know
, but in some manner he
PROCURED MORPHINE,
and took very heavy dose of tn
stuff. About s o'clock Sunday morn
/ ing Col. Bob Russell, the attorney
was walking down Congress avenue
, and saw man drop to the Sidewalk
near the Gold Room saloon. He cam,
up to him and saw it was Mr.. Hall
He called the police and the man wa
taken to his home. which is OF
the street car line not IA
Col. Driskilps. DR.. Wooten was sum
moned, who at once detected the NOR
phine poisoning, and applied all th'
antidotes known to science, but thu
effects of the drug had gone too far
and he died after lying in a comatost
: state for some time. He has been IL
, the habit of using morphine for con
siderable time, and many of hi
friends think he did not really lnten(
to take enough to kill him. His dec
larations to the contrary would
seem to show that
THE POISON WAS USED
with suicidal intent. He was mar
ried man and had quite family. Il
is said he was very kind and domestic
in his home relations and really LOVED
his wife and children, He was alst
an industrious man, seldom idle eX
cept when spreeing, ma0e money cas-
ily, and had large number OF valu
able contracts at the time of his death
and there was no reason seem
: ingly for the rash act; ye'
r he tried to get the dish-washel
at the Gold Room to buy
,, the drug early the evening before
! saving he intended to kill himself witt
! it. His funeral occurred at IL O'CLOCK
yesterday and was largely attended
Justice Tegener also held an inques
over his remains, but nothing further
was developed than is s. ated herein
1t is one of the saddest things in al
human conduct to tcontemplate-th'
: takingSof life with ones own hand
particularly young man of only 81
years in position where the Lines o
, life would lead him. if he would bu
follow them, into happiness for him
self and those depending upon him
But the best of men commit suicide
some Intentionally to produce death
the most of them without so intend
ing-few there are who do not haster
death by their own hand in one way
or another.