Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-22
FOUND DEAD.
,RsuoN JOHNSON suCCUNBS TO DELIRIUA
AND COMMISSIONS,
Brought On By the Sslf-Inhictsd Gashes In bis
Fhpat-Hs Dies Upon the Floor
Of HIS Room.

The attempt at suicide which the aged
stranger Absalom johnson, made last Sun
day, and which proved unsuccessful at the
time, ended most sadly in his death yester-
day afternoon. In the morning he ap-
peared to be resting comfortably and there
seemed to be no doubt Of his recovery, but
about two O'Clock P. NJ. he became feverlsh
and by three o'clock was in raving deli
rum. 1t was impossible to keep any
covers upon his bed, as he would fling
them off faster than they could
be replaced, and at times his
shrieks would cause people to stop upon
the street. At last he became so violent
that the landlady, who was attending him,
was afraid to remain in the room, and after
securing the windows to prevent him from
throwing himself out, she went out and lock-
ed the door, thinking that possibly his fren-
Nv might wear itself out. Butihe still con-
tinued to rave, and his cries, which could
be heard to the farthest parts ofthe house,
attracted quite large body of school chill
dren, who crowded around the door of the
building. He seemed to be in agony
and constantly shrieked ''Ohn and
"Oh, Ny Godr This continued
until about half-past four o'clock when his
cries gradually became fainter, and finally
subsidized into low groans and mutterings.
By listening at the door the lsndlady sur
| missed that he had again laid down upon
the bed, and when he became quieter she
| into %6a Che fnnnI him
stretched upon the bed with the covers
scattered about the floor. When he saw
her he began to groan again, and
begged her to send for doctor,
at the same time declaring that he was
dying. She attempted to cheer him by
making light of this declaration but he
kept exclaiming I'm dying, l tell you,
and want doctor" He then began to
rave again, and when she said, IF you're
dying you'd better have preacher" he
cried mo, | don't want any of your
preachers. | won't have them ~ She then
replaced the covers upon him and at last
by persuasion she managed to soOth him
into comparative quiet. She then tele-
phoned to DR.. Garrison to have physician
sent to the house, and at about halt-past
CLOCK Ut. w llSOu dTIlNtu'
After inquiry of the landlady concern
ing the old mans condition the two pro-
ceeded to the ROOM The door was shut
and refused to open easily, but thinking
that probably one of the quits had become
wedged under it they applied their united
force to it and succeeded i'll showing it
open. On entering the room they were
Mortified at discovering the old man
stretched upon the carpet with his feet
planted against the door, dead. His frame
was stiffened and he had seemingly been
dead for some time before they found him.
The lower port of his body was tan
gled in Il coverlid which had
been dragged from the bed and
upon examination the doctor decided that
he had expired in conyulsion. The
doctor, with the assistance of two of the
male boarders had his remains laid out
upon the bed, which had been soaked with
his selt-spilled blood.
Coroner Schultze was notified and an
| inquest was held last evening, at which
DR.. Wilson testified that in his opinion de-
ceased had died from commissions caused
by an attempt to kill himself and a YER
diet was rendered accordingly. His re-
mains were then taken to the establish
ment of Undertaken Took and were pre-
pared for the funeral. The interment will
take place to-day, at the city graveyard.
1t looks as if ,JohnsOn's case had not
been properly looked after by the county
authorities, but this is probably owing to
the absence from the city Of both Commits
sioners Peterson and Prince, one of whom
usually looks after both Madison and Clay
districts when the other is away. Com
missioner Picket yesterday telephoned the
county physician TO call at the house. which
he did, but his visit was too late.