New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-15
DEAD BY HIS OWN HAND.
SUICIDE OF A wELLKNowN PHYSICIAN
AZ OFFERS sTRYCHNINE TO HIS WIFE, AND
THEN TAKES THE DRUG HIMSELF.


THEN TAKES THE DRUG HIMSELF.
Dr. George X Gyles. who has been practising
physician in this city for nearly forty years. ended
his life yesterday by his own hand at his home,
No. Az West Twenty.third-st About half-past
8 o'clock yesterday morning DR.. Gyles went TO his
office. where he kept large amount of drugs, and
took several bottles from the shelves. He scanned
the labels closely and finding the one that suited
him. took from it about half goblet OF white
powder, which he mixed with water. He then
went to his wife's room. and after chatting with
her for awhile on commonplace subjects, he asked
her to take a drink from the glass which he held
his hand. Mrs Gyles thought that the mixture
was magnesia, which the doctor had been IN the
habit Of taking frequently, and refused to touch
it. He gently persisted in his request ana told
his wife that he thought that she would be oene-
fitted by the drug. She again refused to take
it, and the doctor said something in an undertone
in petulant manner and went to his room.
A half-hour afterward maidservant passing
the doctors room. heard him moaning and on
entering the room found him lying on the bed IN
semi-conscious condition. She shook him and
inquired what the trouble was. The doctor
opened his eyes and said in feeble voice. " l am
dying" Mrs. Gyles and her son fastened TO the
bedside. but the dying man could not be aroused
N-N-N-
tried to tear the clothes from his chest. The son
raised his fathers head from the bed to give him
relief and he died in his sons arms.
DIR. w. H. Weston, of No. 400 West Twenty
second-st, had been sent for, but DR.. Gyles was
dead when he arrived. The death was reported
at the coroner's Office, and Deputy-Coroner Jen-
kns made an investigation as to its cause. DR..
Gyless family refused to give any information
TO reporters, and the deputy coroner had o hard
time @tting at the facts
The iar from which DIR. Gyles took the powder
in his Office was found to contain strychnine, and
some of the drug was also in the glass which he
had offered to his wife to drink from. No one saw
him take the drug but Dr. Weston, who saw him
soon after his death and got an account OF the
symptoms from the family, believes that he TOOK
tho strychnine with suicidal intent.
DR.. Gyles was a native of Ireland, and was sixty
Eve years old. He came to this country when he
was eighteen years old, and was apprentaced to
druggist. It could not be learned from which
medical college he received diploma He kept
drug store at No. 112 Ninth-ave. for number
of years. He was married thirty-6ve years ago.
His business rapidly extended, and several years
ago he had large practice on the West Side HIS
health has been poor for the last two years After
the death of his daughter, about year
ago, the doctor worried great deal about
visionary financial reverses. A patient sued
him and recovered a Judgment against
him for $1,000 for setting o leg impeer-
fectly He felt that this was a reflection upon his
standing as a surgeon, and afterward did not pay
much attention TO his business. lie became
prostrated and finally broke down completely.
lie showed signs of mental disorder, but never
manifested any disposition to do violence either 70
himself or others IL wns believed thnt he was
suffering from paresis. For the last few days he
has been despondent and melancholy. Dr. Gyles's
family deny that he committed suicide, but a
Jenkins believes contains conclusive evidence that
| it was a suicide Upon 1t was written Sunday
| morning-nobody to blame G. r. Gyles.'
Mrs Gyles is deeply affected and is suiierng
from nervous prostration, which is aggravated by
the narrow escape which she had from death. 1t
was evidently DR.. Gyles's intention to have MS
wife die with him. The arrangements for the
funeral have not been made