The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-20
TIRED FIGHTING DISEASE.
Alexander George Suicides 10 Escape
His ASthmatiC Troubles.

A Dose of Morphine Which He Bought
Ten Years Ago to End His Life
Does the work-The Suicide COOlly
Planned and Letter Left Instruct
ing the Coroner Not to Hold an
Inquest - George often Talked
About Poisoning Himself
After fighting the battles Of life for 20
years. the last ten of which were marked
by the terrible suferings Of asthma,
Alexander George yesterday tired Of his
existence, and put an end to his earthly
struggles with a dose of morphine.
The old man coolly and calmly premedi-
tated his suicide and arranged for his
death as methodically as one would carry
out a business transaction.
George came to Savannah from Scot
land thirty years ago. He was first
class blacksmith, and had no trouble in
making a comfortable living. About
twelve years ago he contracted asthma,
and after doctoring himself two years
without effecting cure, he purchased
vial of morphine with the intention of
committing suicide. George told some
of his friends at the time
of what he proposed doing, but
they persuaded him to change his mind
and try the struggle while longer The
old man, however. determined not TO
waste the drug, and put it away, care
fully corked, in his trunk for the future
deadly work IL accomplished.
TALKING OF SUICIDE FOR YEARS.
The asthma increased in violence on
George as the years silvered his hair and
many times he told his friends he be-
lieved he would eventually have to end
his troubles by committing suicide. In
all of these conversations he took pains to
mention the fact that he had morphine in
his trunk and would have no trouble to
find an agency of death when he would
finally decide upon the act.
Two years ago the disease took more
violent form, practically making George
an invalid and preventing him from fol-
lowing his trade for days at a time. He
bearded with Thomas Mckay at No. Az
Indian street, and inmates say it was
pitiable to see the old mans sufferings
when attacked by the paroxysms. He
would have TO walk the floor TO keep
from smQthering, and often had to re-
main up in chair for nights.
THE LAST ATTACK OF ASTHMA.
Night before last George suffered an
unusually SCNbi6 dOubAhs NlllNn hb~
cidcd him that death was the
only relief in sight. He wrote
a note, laid it on his bureau, took
the morphine that had been in his trunk
for ten years and stretched himself on the
bed to await the end. 1t must have been
near daylight when George swallowed
the deadly drug, for he was still conscious
when Mrs. Mckay carried cup of coffee
into the old mans room in the morning.
He seemed unusually weary and told Mrs.
Mckay that he did not care for the coffee,
but she left It in the room.
As George had not come downstairs up
to noon, Mrs, Mckay went to his room to
see if he needed anything, and, to her
surprise, found him unconscious and
gasping for breath Mrs. Mckay alarmed
the household and several willing hands
started to work to try and rouse the old
man from his stupor. The fatal drug,
however, had done it's work well, and
twenty minutes after Mrs. Mckay's dis
covery George was corpse.
TUE NOTE OF EXPLANATION.
The following is copy of the note
which Justice Naughtin, acting coroner,
found on the bureau:
Chatham County, State OF Georgia. Savan-
nah. June is, 1898. To Coroner Dixon: Dear
Sir-There is no use for an inquest in this
case. / have been an invalid for these two
years, and got so bad that L could not walk
around for want Of breath. l have suffered
awful, and take this morphine to get clear
of 9ain.
p. S.-Samuel Cherry. Drayton street viii
take charge Of my remains and have them
buried in my lot in Laurel Grove cemetery.
'Good-by to all. ALEXAN DER GEORGE.
Justice Naughtin decided an inquest un-
necessary. In accordance with Georges
request, Mr.. Cherry took charge of his
body and turned it over to Undertaken
Dixon, who will prepare it for burial to-
day
George was widower He leaves two
daughters, Mrs. Archibald Paul of Pooler,
and another residing in Troy, N Y.
There is something sadly pathetic in the
old mans long and unsuccessful struggle
against disease and his final act of self
destruction when he had almost run the
sands of life, and was practically on the
verge of the grave from natural causes.