The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-04-03
cuIsHis OWN TONGUE our.



A very singular and a very mysteri-
ous case was brought TO public notice
to-day, says u letter from Los Angeles,
Cal. when It was announced that a
stranger in the city had. while perfect
~ sane. cut his tongue out with raz-
or.
The man who mutilated himself in
this way came to the city from no one
knows where. Every Indication points
to the fact that while here he labored
under some great mental excitement.
and he has gone and his disappearance
is as mysterious as his advent. The
power of speech is lost 10 him forever
and while no one doubts that he had
some great reason for the act, or per-
haps some great wrong to right by per-
sonal punishment. the motive is un-
known.
1t happened Sunday morning ut a
boarding house on Broadway, where
the stranger, who was inclined to ex-
treme taciturnity. gave the name of
Wilson and refused his initials. Dur
ing the three weeks he had been in the
city he lived on bread and water. al
though he is known to have had plenty
of money. and the landlady was a little
surprised 10 hear the bell ring Just as
she returned from church, for it was
the first time it had tinkled since he
came into the house.
She answered the EeIl personally, for,
being woman, she was naturally cur
ious to find out what she could of the
mystery as he was called. On the
outside of the door was found a news
paper, on the margin of which had been
scribbled: Send for surgeon to stop
the bleeding"
On the room being entered the lodger
was found bending over wasIl-basin,
the blood pouring from his mouth. He
was perfectly calm and was attempting
to stop the hemorrhage with a wet hand
kerchief. A bloody razor lay on the
bed aud spots of blood had ruined the
CARPET.
A doctor was at once called and the
mans injuries were dressed. He stood
the painful ordeal with a wonderful
nerve, for while the flesh ouiyered un-
der the surgeons needle. the man him
self gave no Indication of suffering
The severed portions of tongue had
been thrown away by the man. whose
every act showed the utmost delibera-
ton He had shaved himself cleauly,
taken a bath. carefully dressed himself.
with the exception of his coat. and
then evidently seizel his tongue,
pushed the razor into his mouth far as
it would go. and with quick slash cut
off the offending member The accom-
plishment of the deed seems to have
been the mans sole aim. as he carried
out the surgeons directions for treat
ment to the letter. Calling upon the
surgeon the next day. the latter en-
deavored to gain the mysterious mans
confidence but he only gave shrug of
his shoulders. and on Il little tablet he
brought with him asked for his bill,
which he paid.
He then returned to the lodging
house and endeayored to get the land
lady to accept money for the trouble ne
had put her 10 by his singular act. He
then bade her good bye. and she heard
nothing of him until this morning.
when she received money-order for
S25 from Yuma. which must have come
from him. She describes him as a
scholarly. polished man. of dark com
plexion. medium heighth of exquisite
politeness. and. in her opinion. lie was
priest. He had no intercourse with
any one. and seems simpy to have
come to this city to carry out his sim
gular scheme of self mutilation. He
had expensive baggage with him. but
no clew of any kind can be found which
will Indicate who he was or why he cut
his tongue out