New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-14
DIR. MORTON NOT A SUICIDE.
NEITHER DID HE DRIVE DR.. WELLS TO SELF
pEsrRUcTIoN-A coRREcrIoNv FROM
WILLIAM MORTON.


WILLIAM J MORTON.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: VIII you kindly permit me to correct cruei
misstatement which has crept into your Columns
in connection with the communications on the as
covery OF anaesthesa. In your issue OF OCTOBER H.
TO the effect that DR.. Morton became deraneed
and committed suicide" 1t is matter OF unim-
peachabe record that July l5 1858, Dr. Morton
was stricken with apoplexy while driving In Cen
trail Park in this city. and was at once carried 70
St I.ukes Hospital. where he died the same Gay.
He In perfect mental health up to the Gay OF
the attack though physically under treatment dur
ing about one week by Drs. Lewis A. Sayre ana
Leroy Milton Yale for rheumatism. The records OK
81 Iuke's Hospital OF the date above referred 10
alone dispel this reckless statement. now made Tor
the first time about suicide Drs. Sayre and Yale,
well known In this community. will gladly make
affidavit that he was not deranged.
Not content with the invention OF the taie that
DR. Morton committed suicide the writer OF the
article referred TO goes on to charge Dr. Morton
with being the cause Of DR.. Weiss death. he
SAYS: "A very excited discussion on the SUBJECT
took place between them. This discussion 80
worked on the sensitive nature OF Dr. WeHs thaA
he became deranged and committed suicide THIS
charge demands refutation. and REPUTATION requires
a statement Of the exact truth.
II IL only too true that. as stated By Or cotton
Dr. Wells did commit suicide. This occurred in the
New-York City Prison. where Dr. Wells WAS under
arrest upon the charge or thrOWnS NiLiloi w "S''
upon women who walked along the Bowery This
fact is one OF public record full account OF 1t
and the circumstances which led up to 1t may be
found In The New-Yock Journal of Commerce..
January D. 1913. and in The New-fork Herald
Of abou, the same date It would seem, therefore.
that what $50 worked upon the sensitive nature OF
Dr. Wells" had nothing to do with the ether con-
troversy That Or. Wells had become dcranged by
reason OF DR. Mortons upholdng OF what ne con-
,eyod 20 be his rights is also not only romance
but disproven directly by the statement OF his part
ner that date Samuel A. Cooley, who writes I'M
der date of October 10, is2
left Wells apparently well and actively engaged
about his business. on Friday the day or Wells
arlesp I returned 20 Hartford. and on the next
Monday heard Of his death Statements sup
ported by evidence etc. before committee OF the
Senate OF the United States, Washington, 1853 ap-
pendix. p. 81
II Is plain from the above evidence. which may
he easily corroborated by any one Interested that
Or Morton was not nor ever had been. deranged
thar he did nor-rommit suicide, and that. finally
he was in sense responsible. as Is charged Tor
DR. Wellss unhappy END. Wes's death forms
chapter by Itself. which his friends would have
done well TO leave unveiled
Facts are sometimes unpleasant things TO face
have been well to have let them rest. rather thar
70 have forced them into the light by making the
above mSs'"'emen's "n WI[ hafs u MoRToN
New-York. Oct 49, 1896
going letter. and regrets that any injustice
should have been done to DR.. MortOn's memory
by the publication Of the statements referred
TO- although they never received the stamp Of
& The Tribunes authorty-Ed)
HOW BRYAN INSULTS HIS AUDIENCE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir. Much has been said about the insults offered
% Candidate Bryan by the Yale students. and very
little about the insult offered to their intelligence
by the speaker. II nigh be well 10 look on both
sides The Bov Orator Is master OF tricks o.
speech and he knows it and relies upon II. 1t Is
thus he holds his audiences. lie holds them only
WHEN they are before him. and have not the trie
20 weigh his words Just they appear
. IN cold type and can be examined they cease 10
I charm: they only ridiculous. Here is one OF
his arguments" which is fair specimen OF the
lot Speaking Of the right OF this country to reg'-
late IL affairs. he says:
Did Austria ask our consent when she resumed
sp.cie payment on a gold basis? Did Italy ask our
consent when she resumed specie payment on a
gold basis? Did the other nations OF the word
ask our consent wher they charged their stand
ards, No Then. sir what man VINO wants to be
American wants TO get down on his knees ara
ask any other nations consent when We want 70 90
what please?
That sounds patriotic and independent and lingo
Ike Why should Austria or Italy or any other
country ask anybodys consent TO better their
money standard? Is that what Bryan and his CO.
horts propose 10 do or do they propose 10 deoase
the money standard? And then We need ash.
the consent OF other nation. but We snail
have 10 get the consent OF all nations before We
can pass ,ha currency thus degraded.
This ia the part OF the argument thai the Boy
left ont. It did not suit his convenience to put II
in +, would not have helped him 10 carry MS
audience But he insulted his hearers all the same
No Brother Bryan. THE man who wants 10 be an
American" doesn't need 10 get down on his Knees
to any other nation any other man All thai
h. need TO do Is 10 think. And II ne VIII only ~
that your goose IL cooked sure
New-YOrk. Sept. %. 1896. > > fA' MAXI.