Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-07
DIR. KNIFFEN's SUICIDAL EFFORT.
He Says All His Friends Have Gone
Back On Him.

He Says All His Friends Have Com
Back On Him.
Trenton, Nj, was treated to new sensation
IN the Knifen case yesterday when it was learned
that DR.. Kniffen had tried to commit suicide
| DR.. Kniffen and the brother Of Miss Purcell
David Purcell, had been sitting talking viii
| DIR. Palmer of New Brunswick, the brothsr-in
Law Of DR.. Knifsn, during the night. Shortly
| after the departure Of DR.. Palmer, who tool
the 80 o'clock train in the morning, Purcell
and DR.. Kniffen, who were in the front bed
room in the third story, began making prepa-
rations to retire, they both occupying the same
bed. As Mr.. Purcell was about ready to 60 to
sleep DR.. Kniffen said:
David, think will take bath; am tired
and ii may refresh me-" 4.
PREPARING FOR SUICIDE.
With this remark DR.. Kniffen went down 70
the second story, where the bath room II
situated, and Mr.. Purcell fell asleep.
Upon entering the bath room, which 10
directly back of the reception room, in which
the body Of his murdered wife was lying, DR..
Kniffen at once started to make ready to take
his own life, and the methodical way in which
he went about it shows that he must have been
contemplating suicide for some time.
the window so as to shut out all chances OF being
seen by any watchers at the rear of the house.
Another blanket q large yellow one, was care
fully folded up and placed in the corner. The
doctor had in his possession razor, which had
evidently been secre ted in the bath room by
him during the day and also pint bottle con-
tanning aconite.
USING THE RAZOR.
With the razor DR.. Kniffen first cut himself
across tho left wrist, attempting to sever the
radial artery. After making the cut, DR.. Knf-
fen seated himself in the corner of the bath
room in the blanket, and holding his wounded
wrist away from his body so that blood would
not soil his clothes, waited in the expectation
Of slowly bleeding to death.
Although he lost large quantity of blood
from this cut, he had not severed the artery,
and after a time realizing this he made a fresh
attemptto end his life. Again taking the razor
he inflicted cash in his throat about four
inches long.
His nerve had evidently failed him, for the
cut was not deep enough to reach the jugular
vein. When he saw that even this wound was
not to prove fatal the doctor drank from the
bottle containing aconite enough to have killed
dozen men. The only effec. of the overdose
OF the poison was to make him deathly sick and
to cause fit of vomiting which relieved his
stomach of the drug.
Mr.. PURCELLs DISCOVERY.
only matter of conjecture, as DR.. Kniffen him
self cannot give any account of the time. ''At
$3.50 this morning. said Mr.. Purcell, Il was
awakened by DR.. Knffen getting into bed and
tossing about as If in great pain. questioned
him, saying: Doctor, are you sickT Although
he said that he was not felt sure that some
thing was wrong and getting up saw that be
was very sick and vomiting"
Upon seeing this MIR. Purcell at once began
to dress, with the intention Of going for Dr.
Sheppard, who lives but q few doors away
Before he had finished dressing he saw the
blood on the clothing of Dr. Kniffen and realiz-
ing that something terrible had happened ran
out of the house and into the street, half
dressed and summoned help.
DR.. sheppard responded to the call at once
and almost at the same time that he entered
the house DR.. Cooper, who is also neighbor,
entered
IT WAS BETTER TO DIE.
The doctors quickly went to work to dress
DR.. Kniffen's wounds, which were at once seen
not to be fatal. While doing this their atten-
ton was attracted by DIR. Kniffens continual
vomiting and he was sharply questioned as to
whether he had taken any drugs. To this he
answered:
Il used the razor first and then swallowed an
ounce OF aconite afterward fearing that l
would not succeed the other way"
Dr. Sheppard administered an antidote and
after an hours hard work DR.. Kniffen was pro-
nounced out OF danger
While dressing the wound in the dentists
throat DIR. Cooper who has for years been a
close friend and neighbor of the Knitfen family,
said
What is the matter, Knifen2 Why do you
want to dep
Il think it is better so. 1 hope that 1 will
Que; Look at the prospect before me. What
will become OF me?"
HIS NERVE FAILED HIM.
"Why," said DR.. Cooper, ''you have friends
who believe in you and will help you
To this DIR. Kniffen moaned. disconsolately:
mo, haven't. They have all gone back on
me-"
After recovering somewhat DR.. Kniffen
stated the attempt on his life was made in an
unguarded moment when he was overcome by
his great loss. Very little credence is placed in
that statement by either the police or the doc
tors who attended him. They have no hesta-
ton in saying that DR.. Kniffen bad been watch
ing his opportunity for hours, In fact ever since
he found himself under police surveillance,
and that he did not succeed was because his
nerve failed him when he undertook to use the
razor.
Tothose about him after he had recovered
from the effects Of the poison DIR. Kniffen ex-
pressed great sorrow for his attempt at suicide
and said that his loss had made him desperate