The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-11-09

Grafton Eagle
A more persistent and determined
attempt at self destruction was prob
ably never known, than that made
by John Armbuster, of Grafton, who
now sleeps in a suicide grave. just
before cutting his throat, some three
weeks ago he went into the office of
DIR. A. S. Wardsr, jr, and purloined
bottle of his deadliest poison but
the Doctor discovered and took the
vial from him before he got out of
the Office A few days later, as
everybody knows, he severed his
windpipe with razor but again the
promptness of the physician saved
him and he was slowly recovering.
Since then he has lain and plotted
his own destruction with the persis-
tence of maniac and all the watch
fitness of his son-inl law, w. F. Clark,
and his grandson John E. Hosiutler,
has been required to keep him from
accomplishing his object and even
that proved of no avail at last. No
fewer than three ropes did they take
from him at different times during
his illness which he had somehow
secured and each one had been skill
| fully made into a moose with which
to hang himself. Monday morning
about one o'clock he escaped from
the house while his grandson, who
was wearied out with constant watch
ing, dozed in his chair for a moment
and climbed to the roof of W. O.
Boyd's tall residence and business
building where he lay concealed un-
til daylight while his relatives, the
police and others who had been
aroused when he was missed, search
ed for him everywhere in the rain
and darkness without success
About six o'clock, however, Mr.
Clark saw him leaning from the high
roof looking down on the street be.
low and, divining his intentions, he
hastily ran around and assembled the
building from the rear. He had al
most reached the would be suicide,
when his approach was discovered
and with one dispairing look over
his shoulder the unfortunate man
threw himself from the building
He struck first on the corner of the
balcony below, bounded from there
to the heavy iron awning which bent
like bow under his weight and then
landed on the pavement in a heap
Both legs were shivercd to the knees
the bones sticking out through the
flesh, one arm was broken, eight ribs
on the left side crushed and his face
was badly cut at the forehead and
chin. He died about four o'clock
that afternoon. On disrobing him
for burial preparation the undertaken
was Mortified to find that his body
in front was perforated with wounds
which the deceased had evidently
inflicted by stabbing himself with
some sharp instrument, probably 6
pair of scissors. One of these stabs
had penetrated to the stomach and
all had the appearance of having
been inflicted several days before as
they were mortified and would hav,
produced death in short time any
how if he had not taken his murder
Gus leap. What the old man suffer
ed in his last hours, mangled ant
MANNED as he was, must be left t.
the Imagination and the mental ag
ony must have been terrible tina
would drive him to such horribl,
self butchery as he resorted to. III
was about Ga years of age and dur
ing all his residence here which date
back some thirty-five years or so, h
was one of the most industrious ant
hard working citizens in the com
munity. BY economy and persever
ance he had amassed a competenc,
and leaves behind him money ant
, property to the value of many thous
ands of dollars. But he made the mis-
take of fixing his mind too much OF
money getting and it was this ankle
ty and the fear of coming to want il
his old age that led to his menta
arrangement and suicide. The re
: mains were inferred in Bluemon
cemetery ON Wednesday afternoon
Rev. j. H. Hess conducting the fun
, eral obsequies at the residence oil
Main street. The deceased leave
, an aged wife and step-daughter, Mrs
, W. F. Clark, to mourn his tragi
, death.