The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-13
DRIVEN TO DEATH.
A Newspaper Article That Led
to Suicide.
DR.. I. J. Kaufman Ends His Life by Poison
Ruined in Purse and Reputation, Ee Has
Nothing More to Live For.


years past has had considerable practice as
an electric physician in Oakland, was found
in the throes Of death early yesterday MORN
ing by an old man-servant, at his residence
on Washington street, near Thirteenth in
that city. Medical help was Immediately
summoned, and DIR. E. NJ Patterson, who
diagnosed the case as one of morphine poi
soning, worked over the dying man for sew
eral hours before life was declared to be eX-
tinct
Meanwhile the examination of the apart
ment revealed the fact that the case was
one of deliberate suicide. Beside the phial
from which the fatal draught was taken
three letters were found, which left no
doubt Of the deceased's Fermentation. One
of these was addressed to my dear daugh-
ter, Emma Kaufman another TO the
Coroner, and the third 10 Max Marcuse, an
Alameda real estate man. In addition to
these there was a fourth paper Endorsed,
My last will and testament"
REASONS FOR THE ACT.
The letter TO the Coroner was d full ex-
PLANTATION of the circumstances which led up
to the rash act In it the writer stated that
for eight years misfortune had followed him
step by step. He had suffered financial
losses and loss of health patiently and with
out complaint. but at last his sensitive ma
ture was wounded by the malicious and
cowardly attack of newspaper, which had
ruined his reputation, taken away his
means of subsistence and destroyed all his
future prospects. NJ. II. de Young and the
Chronicle are then named as the cause of all
his later troubles, and reference made to an
article which appeared i'll that paper in Sep
tembr last, accusing him OF serious crimes.
n
The reputation and standing OF an individual
is to-day measured by the weight of gold he
possesses aud judged by the prolnptness of the
payment of his debts. i have inclosed In an en-
velop number of unpaid bills, which shows
that my credit has been good and all business
men now in Oakland with whom l came in con
tact will testify that all my bills have been aid
promptly up 10 the time when The San Francisco
Chronicle committed that unlustItabe crime
against my person. With what can MIR. de
Young justify himself, except by saying, Why
didn't he go TO law?' Unfortunately Tor the
people there is no law for such men as DE Young
except the shotgun.
THE CHRONICLE DID IT.
The newspaper article referred to was
one in which the Chronicle claimed TO have
discovered in him a DIR. Marchand. who,
some years before, bad disappeared from
San Francisco, leaving hosts of creditors to
mourn the fact, and numerous women
whom he had enticed into evil ways. Both
these charges lie Vehemently denounced up
to the day of his death, and over and over
again did be demand a retractioE, but with
out effect.
The matter evidently preyed upon his
mind, and instigated the publication of
lengthy article III the Oakland PTerogatve
of December I'D, under the caption, " Is the
Shotgun the Only Remedy?" from which the
following excerpts are taken:
In justice to Mr.. de Young, l must say that
when first spoke TO him about this matter he
seemed apparently somewhat inclined to do what
is right, but being either too busy, or Tor some
other reasons he referred The whole matter TO
the managing editor, who maintained the novel
idea that they had done me fully justice as they
had The power TO publish good deal more about
me.
The Chronicle tries to justify its Infamy by
Claiming the privilege, as a newspaper, TO send
lis reporters 10 different persons Ior the purpose
of lnterIogating them In regard TO the past lie
ana dongs OF any individual, and reseiYiDg the
right Of publishing the result OF such Inter
view. 1t will not be very hard for me
to prove 10 Mr. de Young and also 10 his
editor The falacy OF their theory by max
ing them swallow their own medicine. 1t can be
easily understood that when | found that the
publication OF that article In question not alone
Injured my business. but also uned all my pros
poets for The future, there was nothing left for
me than to seek redress IN court. consulted
more than half dozen attorneys, and, singular
as 1t may seem, after stating my case, they all
expressed themselves in the same language, to
"There is nothing for you to do but to live 1t
down. MIR. de Young cannot be reached" Be-
sides This, they all used the same expression in
regard to Mr.. de Young's character, which wis
dom prevents me from mentioning here, this
would give Mr. de Young cause for libel
against me. Here comes The ruUl II | eau Sc TO
De printed what these six attorneys said In re-
gard TO Mr. de Ioung's character he will take
good care That the law will reach me, but he him
self cannot be reached.
L have written two letters 10 Mr. de Young
ana warned him not 10 make light Of this matter,
but lie paid no heed 10 my communications
thinking himself too great and myself too insig-
nl1cant 10 stOop.
| have personally no animosity against Mr. de
Young, out decline to have anything 10 do with
any oil his employees, and hold him responsible
Tor the injury done TO me. lie has, without the
least cause or provCcation, attacked me aud
taken away the means of my subsistence, aud L
shall DO all In my power 10 reach him some.
where, unless he comes forward like an honest
man and publicly apologies and gives me that
redress due TO me and my family.
CHANGED MAN.
Many people who knew DR.. Kaufman cor
roborate the opinion that since the publica-
ton of the article in the Chronicle he has
been a changed man. They say that for the
last two months, and particularly during the
last month, he acted and spoke like an in
sane man, was rambling in his speech and
continually referred to the Chronicle article.
The daughter of deceased, Miss Emma
Kaufman, is Frustrated by the tragic fate of
her father. She is II or IS years of age and
very highly spoken of by those who knew
her best She has been a faithful and ten
der hepmase to her crippled father, to
whom she went Immediately upon learning
IL. H