Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-29
THE DEADLY DRUG.
y. p. Eggman a Prescription
Clerk Found in a Stupor.
Whales oHLoRoroRn REuKLEssIY

Obtains tbs 0alate Under False Rspresen-
tstiens Evide atty With salcida, Intent
Afrer1. oslag His situattoo, Bat the At
temSs Is Uns1ccessful.
When p. Eggman, . prescrip-
ton clerk who came here from La
mark. Ills. about ten days ago to ac-
cept a pesitioa at the Fourth avenue
drug store. hurried breathlessly into
Thomas pharmacy Sunday morning
and asked for an ounce of chloroform
which he represented DR.. E. NJ. Sala
Immediately desired to employ in q
desperate case. Clerk Will Battles
didn't anticipate that the customer
intended to use the LIQUID himself
with suicidal intent. But such is
evidently the case. Eggman made
two more visits to the store with the
same excuse and each time pur-
CHI ased four ounces of the soothing
drug. which did not have the de-
sired effect.
Only Supplied Him.
The chloroform only stupefied Egg
man, although a sufficient quantity
was purchased to kill several persons
if properly used. The prescription
clerk was discovered in such q con-
dition at his room in the Commercial
house yesterday morning. DR.. j. P.
Comegys, was summoned and upon
the application of restoratives soon
revived the Mould-be suicide, who
was returned to his home in East St.
Louis last evening. Eggman is a
gentleman of about Is years and of
good address. He came to Rock ISL
and about ten days ago accompanied
by fattering recommended ous to &C.
cept a position as prescription clerk
at Reiss' Fourth Avenue drug store.
He proved himself a competent man
in every respect and evidenced not the
least intimation of being a victim of
morphine until week or so after
ward when his employer discovered
his failing in finding Eggman dream
ing under the effects of q large dose
in the rear of the store. MIR. Reiss
discharged him forthwith.
Overcome With Despondency.
1t is supposed Eggman endeavored
in his new position to ward off the
influence which opiates exercised
over him and when again responding
to his cravings resulted in the loss
of HE situation, a gloom of despond-
ency came over him and prompted
the desperate attempt. He had been
taking meals at the Commercial
house about week. just before
noon Sunday be rushed into Thomas
drug store and urged the clerk
to hurry with an ounce of chloro-
form, as DR.. Sala had a case which
necessitated its immediate usage.
The clerk obeyed. Early in the af-
noonEggman came for four ounces,
and later for like quantity, but his
actions never aroused the clerks sus.
picions. Eggman became acquainted
with DIR. Sala's name from his visits
to where be was formerly employed,
AND forged it as a means of obtain
Ing the chloroform, which could not
otherwise be secured without q pre-
scription.
Made Three Attempts.
Eggman made three attempts to
destroy himself. whereas either one
OF the doses was strong enough to
complete the job had he not become
stupefied and wasted the drug before
il proceeded far enough with it's
work. In using the chloroform. Egg
man saturated cloth and held it
over his nose and inhaled it. 1t ap-
pears that each time his arm would
relax when weakened by the influence
and remove the application. Then
Eggman would recover and attempt
it again with the same result.
After restored by DR.. Comegys,
Eggman was sent home to East st.
TOnio