Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-23
AN OVERDOSE OF MORPHINE
Was the Agency :. dis Sad and Sudden Tak-
 =' ing Off.
2 HANS LABoRED IN VAIN.
He Di Without Regaining Consciousness. F,.yai Ids Take Charge of the Body - md Send It Home-The Details
 of tho Distressing Affair.

Rabbi II. M. Bien of Vicksburg, Miss, who has been in the city since Friday last, committed suicide yesterday morn ing in his room in the Florence hotel by taking an overdose of morphine.
 Some time since vacancy was made at Temple Emanuel by Dr. Marx accepting call from the congregation in Atlanta, and pr. Bien came here to try to get the vacancy. Some of the mmbers of the congregation had expressed themselves in favor of calling a young rabbi from the Union Hebrew college in Cincinnati, but Dr. Bien made an application for the place, and the courtesy of delivering a sermon to the congregation was extended him. He came in from Vicksburg on the Alabama Great Southern at 4:55 a. m., and that night preached upon the old and new religion. His sermon was good one and a number of the congrega- ton were in favor of giving him the vG- cant place. But it seems that a larger per cent were in favor of bringing a young rabbi from Cincinnati.
 Yesterday morning about 10 o'clock one of the chambermaids tried to get into the room at the Florence that Rabbi Bien occupied and failed. She went back again about an hour later and again tried to gain admission, but failed. She went uOWli iO lHG OllCG anu ItDOIleu lHe IUdL- ter. when MT. Butte the clerk, went up and tried to get in He failed, and then went around on the balcony and gained entrance through a window When he entered the room he found the sleeping man to be perspiring profusely. He tried to arouse him, but in vain. Immediately Drs. Talley and Foster were summoned.
 They saw at the first glance that it was an overdose of morphine, and began to use all efforts to revive the then al- most dead man. After working with him for nearly an hour he ceased to breathe and was pronounced dead.
 The drug taken, as stated, was nor phine in pellet form. Dr. Foster says the drug must have been taken eight or ten hours before he was discovered.
 On little table in the room was box containing some of the drug taken, and there were some papers concerning busi- ness matters of his, and also a letter in his handwriting, but having no address or signature
 The letter, copy of which is in pos- session of the Age-Herald is withheld from publication, but the following are extracts: "I have been sick all day with cramps in my bowels" MT $. Rich of the Boston Shoe store will at- tend to all matters of business concern ing me-" "Mr Phillips of the Twentieth street furniture store will please try to realize something out of my patent fan contrivance and turn
 
 The deceased was about 50 years of age and leaves a wife and four children.
 The cause of the rash act seems to have been from despondency and disappoint- ment, as nothing else that would prompt such has been revealed. Dr. Bien was well known throughout the United States, and had written several books, one of which is Ben Boer", an historical story. He also dramatized Esther"
 MT. S. Rich, according to the instruc- tions of the deceased, in company with Dr. Samuel Ullman. took charge of the remains. which were removed to the un- dertaking establishment of Miller & Co.
 pr. Samuel Ullman received the follow ing telegram from Montgomery yester- day afternoon:
 Capitol, Montgomery, April 22.-Samuel Ullman, Birmingham, Ala: Greatly shocked at the terrible news. Wire Lag HirSch, president congregation at VickS- burg. Ship body to Vicksburg.
 VICKSBURG DELEGATION.
 The above telegram was sent by mem bers of the Vicksburg delegation, who are in Montgomery attending the annual ses- sion of the Independent Order of B'Nai Birth.
 Dr. Bien was seen upon the streets as late as 10 o'clock Sunday night and seemed to be in his usual spirits. Just what time he went to his room is not known. but 1t is thought that it was be- tween 10:30 and Il o'clock After taking the drug. which was evidently done shortly after he went to his room he laid down upon the bed without remov- ing his pants. When found he was in a position precisely as dead people are when the undertaken prepares them for burial.
 The body was taken to Vicksburg last night over the Alabama Great Southern road and was accompanied by F. Hess burp of Richmond, Va.