The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-02

SUICIDE NOT HIS MOTIVE.
AnOdd Proposition That Failed to Arouse
an Attorneys Sympathy.


an Attorneys Sympathy.
"Huhr'
Everybody seated at Edwin Corbin's
table in the cafe instantly gave his whole
attention to that talented young attorney
from whom the ejaculation had come It
was his signal for informing those about
him that he had story to tell. Corbin is
noted for his originality.
''Had an odd proposition made to me a
few afternoons ago." he began. II am
used to listening to schemes. A consider
able part of my business is putting such
as may possess any worth upon legal
footing and giving them start. Many a
wild eyed one has been presented to me.
This one would travel in the wild eyed
class. had received a note in the morn
ing from the proposer. He was an old ac-
uuaintance of mine and the son of prom
inent ex-governor. When he came at the
appointed time he sat down and for sew
eral moments didn't speak.
"'The truth u.s. he said after while, 1
don't exactly know how to begin. feel
great deal like the Irishman who, to get a
good start, ran three miles to jump over
a hill and then walked over it,
81 babe him collect his thoughts" said
Corbin. "He thanked me and did so.
az have a scheme he finally began,
and if you are willing to go into it you
can make 5000 upon small outlay and
run absolutely no risk
81 told him the proposition seemed prom
Using, and asked him to proceed.
"sWell,' he said, L am just sick of liv-
ing. I've got absolutely no use for this
earth
81 could understand by the bitterness Of
his tones that he was suffering from a Sc
we're case of the blues, but motioned him
to proceed.
1.-two nights ago took what had been
told was a fatal dose of morphine he said.
And let me tell you, Corbin. never have l
been SO surprised in my life as when on
the next morning l woke up and found
myself alive. When / recovered from my
establishment was so mad | swore. There
had gone all through the hard part of
suicide and failed after all. But | might
have expected it, for have always had the
worst luck that ever fell to the lot of a
mortal
"T learned this morning that Ihad made
a mistake in the dose and / procured an
other, a correct one this time, to take
again. he went on. Just then a thought
occurred to me that possibly l might do
good deed while shutting off the mortal
coil and this is it: | haven't any money.
But you have Now want you to pay the
premium on a ten thousand dollar life in
surance policy which / shall take out. The
policy will be taken out in your benefit
and YOU will receive the whole amount.
But / want you to give $1,000 to my sister.
You can keep the other five. VIII you do
it?'
"'How do / know you will carry out
your part of the contract?' asked, not a
little nonplussed by the scheme.
HE looked hurt to think should doubt
him, but he assured me solemnly that he
would certainly succeed this time. tried
to argue him out of the idea by showing
him that no insurance company would pay
a policy under such circumstances. But
he was obdurate. Then began to ridicule
him by laying stress on the risk I ran in
my not being assured that he would kill
himself after l had paid the premium.
az will prove it to you that SHALL he
exclaimed.
"'How?' asked.
"Any way you like he replied.
"'Well, I'll tell you what you do said.
He jumped to his feet ready to give me
proof 60 cut into the hall, and when
an elevator starts to go up you slip under
it before the door is closed and drop to the
bottom of the shaft. If you do that I'll be-
lieve you are in earnest
Immediately he saw that | was making
fun of him, and with an oath he grabbed
his hat and rushed out of the office"
did you run after him?" some one
asked.
mot STEP" replied Corbin.
why, he might have done as you said"
"No, he wouldn't" said Corbin. "He
was blue. No doubt about that. But he
was blue because he was busted. 1t wasn't
suicide he had in mind. He simply wanted
to work my sympathies for a tenner.
Chicago Post.