The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-25
He Took Laudanum.

H6 1UUA
Another tragedy was enacted in At
lanta yesterday, and Eugene Fl. Prather
has appeared before his fellow mar for
the last time.
1t vas the same old story of dissipa-
ton, despair and suicide.
At 2 o'clock yesterday evening Officers
Jolly, Whatley and Etheridge found Eu
gene Prather in the back part Of g bar
room at the corner of Decatur end Cal
houn streets in an unconscious condition.
He was carried to the station house at
once and medical assistance summoned.
DR.. Ralph Smith responded, and made
every effort to save the unfortunate mans
life, but gave up the struggle, end at S
o'clock Prather was dead.
Some time before be was discovered be
had taken an ounce of laudsnum, and
the drug had taxed such q hold upon bis
system that all efforts to eradicate it
proved fruitless.
Numerous scquaiutances Of the man
gathered around him and slapped ard
rubbed him for three hours, but fox all
the effect it had the body before them
might have been stone. Not even for an
instant did he show signs of conscious
ness, and the end came so quietly that
those nearest hardly knew when the end
had come.
Eugene II. Prather was about twenty
seven years old, a printer by trade, and a
native of WILLIAMSON, S. O., where bis
mother lives to-day, the matron Of the
Williamson Female school. He was of
q good family and universally liked
where he came from. 10 was a hard
drinker and that eventually proved his
ruin and caused his death.
He had been in Atlanta for about two
weeks, and in that time had done little
work, spending most of his time in dissi.
patton. 1t is supposed that when he dis.
covered bis money was all gone, be grew
respondent and took the step which
ended his life.
This morning Prather was in CONVEX
sation with a friend, and seemed to be
very gloomy. One of his remarks in the
light of after developments was striking.
Turning to his friend he said "Old man,
will you put up so cents towards my
funeral expenses if I die soon?"
A few hours after making that remark
he was dead.
l.. He left no letter that gave a reason for
his rash act. A telegram was found in
his pocket addressed to A. B. Williams,
the editor of the Greenville, s. O., News.
1t read: us there any help for me
| Send to Kelley Institute"
His friends believe that Prather's
friends in Greenville made up a purse to
send him to the Keely Institute, and that
when he got to Atlanta his appetite for
whisky got the better of him, and he
spent all the money and found it impos-
sible to take the course of treatment. he
then wrote the message to MI. Williams,
intending to ask for more help, and to
have the money sent direct to the Inati-
tute, not being willing to trust himself
with it, but despair got the better of him,
and he ended the struggle by suicide.
1t is a pitiful story at best, and his
death will doubtless be a great shock to
his friends in South Carolina.
Wylie & Barclay have charge of the
body, awaiting orders for its disposition
from the friends of Prsther, who have
been notified of his death.
The coroner will hold an inquest over
the body at 9 o'clock this morning.
atlanta Constitution, Oct. 81.