The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-07
DIED BY HIS OWN HAND.
J. o. NELL TAKES POISON AT HIS
WIFE'S GRAVE.

A Central Railroad Carpenter Tells
His Family That He Is Going to XII,
Himself and Keeps His Word-He
Swallows a Dose of Morphine by
His Wife's Grave in Laurel Grove
Cemetery-Desponde Leads Him
to the Rash Act-God's Blessing
Asked on Himself and His Sons.
'My burden is more than l can bear. y
These were the words Of J. .. Mell Friday
afternoon, and their meaning was known
when his nearly lifeless body was found by
the side of his wifes grave in Laurel Grove
cemetery-a suicide by poison. A note was
found in one Of his pockets addressed to his
sons stating that his death was the result Of
dose of morphine. He had committed
suicide! He asked Gods blessing on him
self and them.
MIR Nell as a carpenter in the Central
railroad shops where he has been employed
for over thirty years. He was SO years old,
and lived with his son, at Drayton and Sec
ond streets.
MOURNING HIS WIPES DEATH.
Little more than three months ago his
third wife died, and ever since he has been
lOw-spirited and respondent His strange
conduct at times was noticed by the family,
anu ever Julllk IudI was pOSslDlc was uOIe
to cheer him up, but their efforts were fruit
less. Friday he seemed lower in spirits
than he had been for several days, and the
family did not think when they saw him
pass out of the gate and start down town
that he had gone on a mission that would
end his life. But such was the case. On
his return he held conceded in his hand
small package containing five grains Of
morphine, and when all the members of the
family except Mrs. Julia Nell his sons
wife, were absent, he unfolded the paper
before her and told her that he was going to
kill himself.
NOTHING TO LIVE FOR.
There was nothing left on earth, he said
for him to live for, and his burden was
more than he could bear He had said sew
eral times before that he intended to take
his life, and his daughter thought then, as
before, that in fit of dependency he
meant little of what he said. She tried,
however, to disabuse his mind of such a
desperate step, and when he entered the
house apparently in a happy mood, she
thought she had succeeded. His purpose
had not been turned by her pleadings,
however, and the moment she left him he
secured a tumbler and the morphine pack
age, and passing out Of the gate started to-
ward the cemstery-and his grave. He
was seen by the grave-diggers kneelng
found lying beside his first wife's grave.
FINDING THE BODY.
His son, who is an engineer on the Central
railroad, Mr.. w. S. Nell, reached
home about o'clock. When he was
told that his father had not been seen since
early in the afternoon he began immediate
search. A little before o'clock he found
him. He was in an unconscious condition,
and life was nearly extinct. He was taken
back to his home and DIR. Bulloch was
summoned. 1t was too late, though.
The poison had entered his system, and
his life was beyond hoping for, and he died
at 3 O'Clock yesterday morning. One of his
sons, w. j. Nell, an employe Of the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western railway at Way |
cross, was telegraphed for, and he arrived
IN the afternoon, and was present at the
burial at o'clock.
The deceased was brought up in Liberty
county, and came to Savannah as a car
penter in the Central railroad shops. He
owned the house in which be lived, and a
place at the Isle of Hope He leaves three
sons.