The Delta independent., 1889-06-18
MURpER OR sUIcIpE7
A Party of Medical Students Help
Man to Take His Own Life.

one evening last summer and discuss
ing the new law in the state OF New
York for the execution of criminals by
electricity. There were three of us,
nll medical students, who were putting
In time ut the hospitals at Paris. We
held different opinions on the subject
and were discussing it rather warmly
when tall young man who had been
sitting at a table near us rose and
came over to where we sat.
"Gentleman," he said, Il have been
listening to part of your conversation
and am very much interested in the
subject which you were discussing.
have been in Paris for three months
md intend to leave the city to-mor-
row. l intend to go by way of the
Seine. In other words, gentlemen, 1
proposed to commit suicide. After
what have heard you say have been
convinced that this would be waste
of valuable material. 1 therefore offer
myself to you, gentlemen, to be exc
cuted by electricity or to have any of
the experiments which you propose
tried upon me as long as the expert
ment will result in a speedy and pain
less death. l am not particular as to
the methods you use or to any plan
you may try upon me as long as it in
wolves no extra suffering to myself.
l confess / do not at all look with
pleasure toward the committing of
suicide by throwing myself into the
river. 1t seems waste of good ma
terial and it is so absurdly convention
al. Therefore, if you will take my
offer am at your disposal"
We looked at the young man with
astonishment. know that l thought
he was probably insane and the others
doubtless had the same opinion. had
n glimmering of an idea that it might
be n practical joke of some kind, whose
point was unable to see.
"Gentlemen," continued the young
man, 'if you have no objections will
join your group, that we may discuss
the matter at our leisure. Please fill
up your glasses, gentlemen, and drink
with me-"
''You say you have been in Paris
three months Are you studying any
thing?"
mo, I am studying nothing; I am
here for treatment"
''And what is your idea-that is.
what is the reason that you propose
the act which you told us of? Financial
difficultiesp If that is the case we
might be able TO help you OUT
mo, my finances are all right, and
that reminds me / know medical
student is not too well blessed with
this worlds goods. If the, experiment
which you propose to conduct costs
spend you may draw on my bank ac-
nnr,nf n fvh ~
There is nobody to whom 1 wish in
particular to leave what money / shall
leave behind, and so if it will help you
any in your experiment my cash as we'll
rs myself is at your disposal"
care you fully determined on sui
cidep"
Certainly, made up my mind to 1t
n week ago. You see ! am afflicted
with IN incurable disease, in fact my
case and that Of the late crown prince
arc very similar. l have seen the
best specialists in France and Germany
and they offer me no hope. I have no
desire to linger long. I have no in
tention OF dying a lingering death.
The moment that l satisfied myself
that my malady was incurable / rcsol-
we'd to commit suicide and I can see
nothing that would induce me to change
my mind. Now, gentlemen, you will
probaly desire to have some conversa-
tion together about this proposal,
(which presume You will look on as
sextraordinlry,Sand If you win give mo
the address Of one of you or If you will
meet me here tomorrow morning /
shall keep any appointment that you
choose to make. My time is entirely
unoccupied and one place OF meeting
is as convenient for me MS another"
gave him the address at which l
lodged and asked him to call the next
day at about II o'clock. With that he
bade us ''good bye' in very gentle
manly manner, and, paying his bill to
the waiter, disappeared down the bule-
ward.
"Well, boys" said Brown, .do you
think he is in earnest?"
II don't know, / am sure" I said.
at seems to me he has some kind of
practical joke to work on us. but 1
hardly see what his object would be.
1t is well known that medical students
never commit practical jokes on any
body else and therefore fail to UNDER
stand why he should want to try a
practical joke on u.s."
"He might find it rather n serious
practical joke" said Smith, "if he once
got into our clutches. Perhaps tho
quickest way OF killing him would be
to undertake to cure his trouble"
"If he's in earnest" said Brown,
who'was the most serious of the party,
''suppose that We arrange an interview
between him and our professorp"
s'He will tell us at once whether his
throat trouble is incurabie or not. II
1t is incurable, /, for my part, think it
no harm in assisting the young fellow
to carry out his design. 1t would be,
as he says, a waste of valuable mater
ial II he threw himself into the Seine
and were fished out by some waterman
md taken to the morgue."
very WE'LL" said, 1--WE can arrange
with the professor to call up ut my
rooms at IL o'clock tomorrow and
then he will examine the young man,
and II he still persists in his intention
propose that we take him at his
word"
Certainly" answered Brown.
'Now, the fault that 1 have with the
proposed method OF execution is
not that it will not kill q
man quick enough, but that the
appalling preparation adds an agon Y
to the death, which makes it quite as
Objectionable as hanging. 1t is pro-
posed that the victim shall take his
place upon reclining chair and that