The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-27
SUICIDED IN A SALOON.
HENRY Won BBRGBN SWALLOWS
AN OUNCE OF CARBOLIO ACID.

whisky and Dependency Over
Losing BIS Job Cause Sim to Take
His Idfe-The Acid Secured Under
Pretense Of Using It on q Horse.
Henry Won Bergen suicided last night
shortly after o'clock in August Karsten'i
saloon, at Bay and West Broad streets, by
drinking an ounce Of crystal carbolic acid.
He died in five minutes
A combination of oauses-lOve, whisky
and despondency-is responsible for Won
Bergea's act. He was employed at George
Movers wholesale beer establishment. Hes-
terday he was drunk, and in the afternoon
had a quarrel with his uncle. John Won
Bergen, who is also an employe Of Mr..
Meyer, creating considerable disorder at the
establishment.
Mr.. Meyer called Won Bergen at 6 o'clock
and told him that on account Of
his conduct he had decided to
discharge him and that he could
come in the morning and get bis money.
Won Bergen left and went to his boarding
house, No. 200 Bay street, where he waited
for his uncle. When the latter arrived the
nephew renewed the quarrel, but was pre-
vailed upon to 60 to his room.
DEATH THE BEST THING.
A few minutes aflerward he started up
from bis bed where he had been lying and
turning to his uncle, said: Il avn no good
70 myself or anybody else, and l believe the
best thing l can do is to kill myself. !
have made statements about you TO Dir.
Meyer, which are untrue, and l can't bear
Co face him in the morning. l think I'll
put an end to myself"
Little attention was paid to the threat,
and in few minutes Won Bergen went out
be said, to get glass of soda water In
stead no went to Karsten's saloon and took
a drink of whisky. Then he called for 10
cents worth of whisky in bottle and asked
10 have it charged lie appeared to be IN
splendid spirits, and whel leaving told
Charles Emo, the barkeeper, he would be
back in few minutes.
WANTED THE ACID FOR A HORSE.
From Ksrsten's saloon Won Bergen went
to Barie's drug store, at Bryan aud West
Broad streets, and asked for an ounce of
carbolc acid When Druggist Sweat in
Quired what he wanted it for. Won Bergen
said for a solution to battle his horse, which
had the 'scratches." He wanted the strong
est acid, and while it was being prepared,
walked around humming tuue. The drug
glst took Won Bergen'9 address, as re-
quired by law, and in doing
80 casually mentioned to MIN that the pre-
caution was taken 80 prevent accidents and
oNOAut IL pOAoAIiCt hbllthk AU4bOiA 10 DbEbOus
bent on suicide. Won Bergen laughed aud
remarked that it was a wise law.
At the very moment Won Bergen was
planning to do the very thing which the
law tries 20 prevent Returning to Kar-
stems he walked into the saloon and called
for bottle Of soda. While Emo was pour
ing i5 Into the glass Won Bergen said:
INVITED A FRIEND TO HIS FUNERAL.
Charley, you have besn a good friend
of mine. | want you to attend my funeral
when l ain dead, VIII you promise me TO
do this2"
Thinking Won Bergen was talking in
that manner on account of being slightly
under the influence Of liquor. Emo, to
humor him, answered: That's all right,
Hs1rv; I'll go to your funeral"
w oil, if you DON'T replied Won Bergen,
81 will come back and haunt you"
He picked up the glass Of soda and, hiding
the bottle Of carbolio acid in the palm Of
his other hand, poured the contents into the
glass. Emo saw the movement, but did not
suspect anything wrong aud thought Won
Bergen was putting medicine into the soda
Emo was called into the grocery apart
ment to wait on a customer, aud as he came
back into the bar he met Won Bergen com
Ing out. lie yes staggering, and a moment
later fell to the floor with the remark:
"Good-by Charley. an going"
DEATH CAME QUICKLY.
Emo and another clerk picked him no and
carried him into rear room, intending to
send for physician, but as they laid him
on the floor, he gave gasp and groan and
died.
The acid had done its work quickly, and
in few minutes Won Bergen's body began
to turn black in spots His face and necl
swelled up aud the skin turned almost a
dark as that of a colored person.
The news of the suicide spread quickly in
the neighoorhood, ana In short while th,
streets around the saloon were filled by
crowd Of curious people anxious to get
look at the dead man, and policemen wer
required to keep the sidewalks clear. Coro
ner Dixon was notified and gave permission
for the removal Of the boiy to Won Der.
gems boarding house. He win hold an in
quest this morning.
TRIED SUICIDE ONCE BEFORE,
Won Bergen belonged to Hoboken, N. j
where his father and mother live. He wa
20 years old. He came to Savannah abou
three years ago anu after working her,
awhile fell in love with girl about his owl
age. He proposed 10 her, but the girl re
fused him because he was too Young an,
coulu not support her.
Won Bergen was very sentimental and lef
at once for his home, saying he couldn'
live any longer in Savannah. A day OF
two after his arrival IN Hoboken, Vor
Bergen took dose OF morphine, and afte,
writing a note saying be had nothing &
live for lay down to die. He was discov
cred before the poison had time to producl
fatal results, and by heroic remedies he wa
brought around.
HIS UNREQUITED LOVE,
Won Bergen returned to Savannah abou
two years ago. and renewed his attention
TO the young lady on whose account ne haf
tried to kill himself. For several month
he wrote love letters TO her from his plac
of employment whenever he could get :
spare moment from his work 1t is said
that Won Bergen again laid his heart az tho
young lady's feet few days ago and it was
declined. The second rejection causet
him to turn to whisky for conso
lation with the result that he
lost his job. The double loss OF girl and
employment was too mucn for him and he
tried suicide with more success than on the
first occasion,
Won Bergen was a member of the Sa
vannah Turn Verein, which will attend his
funeral this afternoon at / o'clock,
SECURITIBS TAKE A Squirt