Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-05-27
HE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
A CARBONDALE MAN TRIED TWICE
TO END HIS ILL-SPENT LIFE.
Dosed Himself With Laudanum and Az
Ter Failing in That Tried to Choke or
His Breath With a Towel-He Claimed
Drink Ruined His Life.

His Breath With a Towel-He Claimed
Drink Ruined His Life.
Shortly after o'clock on Friday even
Ing man about 55 years of age stepped
into DR.. Schilchers drug store. He
quietly asked for 10 cents worth of lau-
danum, and when the bottle was handed
to him he calmly raised it to his mouth
and began drinking the contents. The
druggist happened to notice the act and
succeeded in knocking the vial from his
lips before the full amount was taken.
The man then quickly left the building
and started down Centre street. DIR.
Schilcher Immediately sent word to
Burgess Mclaughlin, who was in the
neighborhood, and the would-be suicide
was captured by the burgess and Officer
Jones while crossing at Front street.
With much difficulty he was taken
back to the drug store, where an emetic
was given him by DR.. Schilcher, not,
however, without protestations on the
part Of the stranger, who said he was
anxious to die. He fought stubbornly
and resisted every effort to take the
poison out of him.
The officers then started with him to-
ward the lookup, but the drug COM
menced to get in its work before they
proceeded very far, and he was uncon-
scious by the time they reached the Jail.
DIR. Morton was called and worked over
him for some time. Finally he succeed
ed in overcoming the effects of the lau-
danum and brought the man out of
danger.
When the fellow returned to con-
sciousnoss he gave his name as Patrick
Grier, of Carbondale, in which city he
was at one time an alderman, and where
his wife and five children reside. He is
connected with several respectable fam
lilies in tho Lackawanna region. He
would give no reason for his desperate
attempt to kill himself, except that he
was ruined by drink and had become
tired OF life. He said he attempted sui
eide in the same manner twice before,
once at Easton and later at Carbondale,
and would give it another trial at the
earliest opportunity.
When he was somewhat improved he
was placed in a cell. Several parties
were standing about in the corridor and
no particular attention was being paid
to Grer, who was apparently sleeping
on his bench. About 10 o'clock he took
towel, which had been given him to
wipe the sweat from his face, and twist
ed IL about his neck until he was nearly
choked. This was done quietly and his
actions were not noticed for some time.
The man was thought to be sleeping,
and his twisting and turning supposed
to be due to restlessness.
As soon as his object was discovered
the burgess ordered that everything
with which he could harm himself be
taken away from the prisoner. In a
few minutes Grier was stripped of all
his clothing but his pants and an under
shirt. Suspenders, stockings and such
articles as could be used by suicide
were placed beyond his reach, and after
being handcuffed he was locked in the
empty cell.
When Grier saw all his opportunities
for self-destruction taken away he broke
down and begged pitcously for the Off
GERS to shoot him and end his misery.
An officer was stationed in the lookup
all night to keep the man from doing
himself, injury, but no further trouble
was experienced.
The man, with two other companions,
had been around town for three days
previous. He had been drinking heay-
ly and was not at his home for some
years past.
Grier is still at the lookup, slowly re-
covering from his sickness. He says he
will try suicide no more.