Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-04
HEROIC TREATMENT.
A DRUGGED SAILOR TRIES TO CUT
HIMSELF OPEN.
Doped and Plundered in Robbers Den
Novel Method of Getting Rid
of Poison,

There came near being case of hari carl
IN the city last night, and nothing but poor
craftsmanship with the jack. knife pre-.
vented it. About 10 o'clock small group
OF gentlemen were seated on the sidewalk
in front of the Union Hotel, on Second
street, enjoying quiet smoke. when q
rough-looking man, dressed in blue over.
alls with short frock, or Jumper" to
match, and wearing soiled whitish hat OF
felt, staggered along. He stopped in front
of one of the group, railroad engineer,
and requested the loan of his knife to cut
some tobacco.
The engineer replied that his knife was
good one, and that he didn't like to lend
1t for that purpose. The stranger remarked,
in voice indicating that he had been
drinking, that be simply wanted to cut
some smoking tobacco, and that the knife
would not be soiled.
Thereupon the gentleman took out his
knife, opened the largest and sharpest
blade, and handed it to the stranger.
Then followed lively and exciting
scene. Inserting the sharp instrument in
NAS SAoaALiSs at dOOut LIS I1Sul STClu, ne
gave 1t sweep upward nearly to his neck
The spectators, believing he had ripped
open his flesh, sprang to their feet. but
quick as flash the knife went upward
from the left side of the waist in a similar
manner.
They've poisoned me" yelled the man
with the knife, who was now laboripg I'M
der great excitement. They've put poi
son into me, and l want to get it out"
He was about to make another lab at
his abdomen with the knife, when the
owner of the weapon landed knockout
blow in his face and he fell to the side
walk, while the knife dropped from his
hands.
He was helped up, when it was found
that he had only cut his clothing into
shreds, the knife not having pierced his
flesh. He was then allowed to go, but
officer Stafford was notified of the occur
renee and started on the trail of the DIES.
perate individual. He found him in a J..
street saloon and undertook to take him to
the police station, but the fellow was stub.
born, and the assistance of ex-police officer
Arlington was required to effect the under
taking.
On the way down the man cried like a
child, and frequently asked for knife
with which to open his abdomen and pull
out the poison which he declared was set
ting his internal region on fire. He seemed
quite dazed and stupid, and at first could
not give his name. The officers concluded
that he was an escaped lunatic, but he be-
gan to brighten up somewhat, and little by
little was got to talk, and finally he told a
tolerably straight story.
he said his name was Hugh Powers !;
| that he was sailor and lately from the
| Arctic Ocean, but had been working on a
sheep ranch near Goshen that he came TO
this city yesterday with S14O in his pocket !;
that he went into dive in which there
were several negroes; that couple of them
held him while another poured glass of
| poisoned beer down his throat, and that
was the last he could recollect. He realized
| the fact, however, that he had been robbed
| at the time the poison" was given him.
There can be little doubt about the facts
| in the case. The poor fellow was proba-
bly, drugged and robbed, and-at the time
he attempted to cut himself open with the
knIfe-quite out of his mind.
| He begged the officers to get bis money,
and on being assured that they would do
| SO, he went quietly to cell, where he will
| probably awake this morning a sober, but
sick and penniless pauper.
1t is shame that there should be such
licensed dens of infamy and crime in this
CITY wnere congregate men land women
too, who would not hesitate to take the
life OF victim if necessary to carry out
| their schemes of robbery and plumber.
Whether or not the facts in the case above
referred to are as told by the man is of
little consequence. These hell-holes do
exist, and nightly just such outrages are
practlced. There must surely be some way
by which to get at the root of this evil, for
1t has been done in some cities. Perhaps a
| little reflection and inquiry into the sub.
| lect might suggest a potent remedy.