Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-23
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE,
Discouraged, A Victim of Intemperance
Threatens Suicide.
WHITTIER HAS HE GONE.

Threatens Suicide.
The number of persons who end their
lives By suiciding in the Sacramento river
annually is quite large. Many an "un-
known dead" has been pulled out of its
muddy waters, exposed for recognition at
the morgue, then carted off TO the potter's
field. The unknown dead that have
been taken from the river during the past
two months, have been closely scrutinized
by those who were acquainted with Oliver
Sauve, q carpenter who threatened suicide
some weeks ago, and mysteriously disap-
pearing, II is thought he carried his threat
into execution. The following correspond.
ence fell into a reporters hands some DAYS
since, and shows what the demon drink
will do for q man Of intelligence, of indus
try, a good mechanic, who had no other
fault except that of intemperance
SACRAMENTO. Thursday evening. July 2eth.
Friend Peter NeWmdn GOod-by. l have Mt
last come TO a conclusive decision, and when
you read this ] Will be no more. A. L. R0yyer
will give you whatever money is coming to me,
and also my tools, which you will dispose of
ana settle what W you. In fact, l givethem
TO you, as a settlement of what | owe you, as
Mr. Bower does not owe me enough to pay you
IN full. Sell my books also, and If there is any
thing over your bill, pay it to JOIN Keber. /
am sorry that he should lose by me, but, like
other things, it seems that | never realized nm
I'll TOO late that certain things must happen I'M
less J quit drinking entirely. Ny heavy drink
ing since the 4th of July is the direct cause of
what am about to do. 1t has made my dis
grace still greater 1t has made me so ashamed
of myself that | cannotl look anyone in the face
when now sober. 1t has brought me TO the iail
doors again, but take death in preference this
time. l know ! need have he'd but little trouble
about TINS last arrest if l had taken your advice
and also that of Mr.. 4. Z. Bower. But, although
| meant to do so, l failed, and now | must take
my punishment. | say punishment. because
when not drinking love TO live as well as any
body. ! prefer death al this time to a renewal
of the disgrace of jail, which is unavoidable at
present as | could not accept any more favors at
the hands of those whom | have abused. by
peTgisting in drinking after all they had done
for me-that is, you and others. Goodbye.
OLIVER SAUvE.
FRIDAY EVENING.
To VI. heJ1mdn would have done this last
evening but for the interference of kind Minnie
Strong, who, suspecting my intentions, inter
cepted me at the head of the stairs as | was
going to the river. She made me confess the
truth, and, by kind words of encouragement,
etc. she made me promise to give up such
thoughts, and was easily persuaded because l
was under the influence of liquor at the time ::
but have taken nothing intoxicating since,
and have been thinking deeply and earnestly
but cannot see any decent way out of this diff
Guilty, and must do the deed. God bless Miss
Minnie for her good intentions also. for being
the cause that l do this while free from the in
duence o. liquor. God help my children which
| love dearly, but must leave with an uncertain
support. 1t breaks my heart to think of them,
but what can l do? Yours, OLIVER SAUvE.
FRIDAY, July 80, 1851 O'Clock.
For Tho Information Of the Coroner: The cause of
this act Is great dependency, brought on to N.Y.
self by O. prolonged snree. l am entirely free
from the influence of liquor now, having taken
nothing Intoxicating since last Tuesday, and l
am of sound mind, and in good health. but too
discouraged to live. was born at st. Eustache,
Canada East, the 9th of November, 1913. and ar
rived in this state, where l have resided most
of the time, the 10th of May, 1869.
Very respectfully yours,
OLIVER SAUvE DIT LAPLANTE.
+. S.-H I do not use poison, | will use the
Sacramento riyer-prObably this evening.
SACRAMENTO. July 3Oth.
To Mr.. i. I. Boryer-DEAR SIR Deliver to Mr..
Newman, in settlement of what l owe MIN,
everything that belongs to me, and oblige
Yours respectfully, OLIVER SAUYE.
?. s.-Many thanks for all your kindness to
me, ana gO0d-by. O.. s..
FRIDAY MORNING.
To liz. NelGaGn -: Please give those papers to
each of those that they are intended for. But
do not let the reporters see those addressed to
You.
. Ihope that I will give you as little trouble
as possible about my body, which you will de-
liver to the Coroner as soon as found.
viii probably use some easy poisOns, but if
/ fail to secure them l viii use the Sacramento
river.
This writing seems to be disconnected, but it
Is not the cause of a diseased mind. 1t is that
my mind wanders on several subjects at the
same time.
kissed my children good by last Tuesday, and
have not the heart to see them again. 1t is my
wish that my boy he not allowed TO see my
body. But If he comes here TO ask you about
me please give him a kind word. He is young
and win soon forget. Please destroy all private
papers that you win find in my drawers.
Erida-- at . p Nj have SI1ppppdpi in cpttinu
one and 4 half grains of morphine pills, and l
am apt to take them at any time. l have also
taken a little beer and lunch, as 1 had neither
IP. $50 as to be sure to make a good job l
secured t~hree-quarters of a grain more of NOR
phine ortwo and a quarter grains altogether.
Yours, truly, OLIVER SUAVE.
SATURDAY MORNING, at SO o'clock.
To Mr.. NelVmGn: l have come back to die in
my room. l certainly cannot fail this morning,
asI will take four more grains if necessary, hav-
ing prepared for it, and | can die so much more
happily than tn jump in the river, and then,
perhaps. be rescued after all and then Jailed.
Forgive me for the trouble that my body will
put you to. But think that you will find enough
diately. But should I not die after all the drug,
please do not give il out that | have attempted
10 take my life. but say that l merely, accident
ally, took an overdose of morphine as medicine;
Having got it in several drug stores, they Will
not find out the quantity that l bought.
! am sorry for this act, Peter, but cannot stand
the unavoidable falling again. / would have
gone back TO work, but the house upon which l
was working was about completed, and | was
ashamed 10 meet Mr. BOyyer, whit would very
likely and very properly, too, refuse to give me
more work, so after racking my brain for three
DAYS as to what to do, l could find nothing but
the fact that ! did not have money to pay my
fine and must be jailed, so l have chosen death
as the alternative. / have taken about three
glasses of beer this morning but kept perfectly
sober, so that ! am in my right senses except
for the effect of morphine, which has a sleepy
effect on me. and am really going to sleep now.
So rood-by, and God. bless you, as also others
who have dene so much for me.
Worry rasDecttully yours. OLIVER SAUvE.
Y. SEA. NJ have taken y more grams
gone already. must 90 something else. Now
for the Sacramento river. U. ,.